Yes!  We were in it!  Driving!  In Chicago!!  Just as the blizzard hit in Chicago at 2:30 on Tuesday, January 1, we {and all of Chicago} evacuated -garsh!  It took us 4hrs to travel what normally takes 1hr!!!  It became clear that we would have to stop and continue on in the morning ...so we called some dear friends along the way and spent the night.  Thank you Pat & Randy for such great hospitality! 
Visa's have now been applied for ...and now we wait {approx. 2-3 weeks} for the Italian consulates favor/approval.   All you prayers -keep on a pray'n!

us and Chicago on the road

from my view

darkness sets in

the carnage

white outs