I live in Wyoming and a true Wyomingite lives by certain truths.  One, you don’t plan trips during winter.  If there happens to be a nice day and the roads are open then go somewhere.  You should take advantage of those moments in winter because more than likely, the weather may not be conducive to driving and the roads may be closed.  It’s a truth or merely a fact of life here in Wyoming.  But life doesn’t stop just when the snow comes.  Sometimes you have to make plans even in Wyoming.

Lyn’s baby’s blessing was scheduled for the first weekend in February.  One-hundred eighty seven miles away.  This winter has not been pleasant and so I started watching the weather report as soon as the weekend popped up on the 10 day forecast.  I checked a few forecasts to see if any promised good news.  They actually agreed on one thing, I probably would have no trouble getting there on Friday but coming home on Sunday was not going to be pretty.

I have driven on my share of bad roads in my life but the older I get the more I’d rather not.  My plan of action for the forecasts was to hope they were wrong.

They were not wrong.  Saturday night the storm came and closed the roads home.   I didn’t panic.  The blessing wasn’t until 10:30 with a luncheon to follow.  Surely, by then the roads would be open again.

I said a prayer in the morning and felt calm and peaceful about the decision.  Twelve years ago I remembered I had said a similar prayer when I needed to get dad home after having surgery [read here].  It was a plea but it had worked.

That February morning I remembered that prayer twelve years ago and my plea was a little more bold.  Some of the language included a reference to when Moses faced the Red Sea and asked for it to be parted so that the Israelites could pass on dry ground.  I asked for clear, dry roads even though the roads were closed.  I asked for my own ‘parting of the sea.’

About 1:00 the roads were still closed but I decided to head for home anyway.  Dad was with me so the rest of the family was a little nervous.  “What if you get to Wyoming and the roads are still closed?  You won’t get a motel room.  You will have to wait in the car.” With the words of my morning prayer giving me courage I stayed the course and left.  We told them we’d send word once we got to Wyoming to let them know how the condition of the roads.

The roads in Utah were not bad at all which helped buoy my hope.

Dad wanted to stop at a rest stop about thirty miles from the border.  If the roads were closed, the rest stop at the state line was going to be crowded.  While he used the restroom I checked the road report.  Still closed.

We continued on our way.  I noticed there were a few cars coming the other direction.  Just a few.  “Where are those cars coming from?” I asked.  “Do you think the road is open?”

I’m sorry, but I checked the road report while I was driving and saw the roads had just opened.  We were 10 miles away from the border and didn’t have to stop.  We kept going.

But what condition were the roads in after being closed for several hours?  On a scale from 1-10 with 10 being the worst roads I have ever driven on and 1 being the best the roads that day were a solid 2.  Maybe 2.5 because there were some wet spots.  Not slushy but wet.  The sun had also come out and the sky was blue.  There was no fog.  In short, there was no problem and we made it home safe and sound.

As I thought about that day I realized my confidence came because I had received a ‘clear, dry road’ miracle years ago.  I continued driving toward a road closed because I felt sure the roads would open.  Let me stress, it wasn’t blind faith.  The roads had been closed since the early morning.  Based on experience, I figured the roads would probably open that afternoon because the truckers need to keep America moving.  So, I didn’t really anticipate being stuck for too long or at least, I hoped I wouldn’t. But I did brace myself to drive on some typical winter roads.  I expected slushy, slick roads and possibly fog.  The fact the roads weren’t that bad was, well, a bit of a surprise.  A pleasant surprise.

I felt a duty to tell people my story because that was also part of my prayer.  I’d let people know that God answers prayers.  He has answered at least two specific ‘clear, dry roads’ pleas for me.  I have been able to witness my own, personal ‘parting of the sea’ miracles.  Heavenly Father answers prayers even small ones to help a Wyoming girl get home.