In October 2008, I made a last minute decision to make the trip to Ohio for Kami's baby shower. I looked at the invitation for weeks and one day while I was sewing it hit me to GO... I called Donnelle and her brand new baby Chase to see if she would go with me. With no hesitation, she agreed to go also. We piled all our stuff in and headed out leaving our husbands behind. I'd made several trips by myself so I was excited to have someone with me. We jibbered jabbered all the way out, enjoyed family and friends while we were there, I went to McMaster and Storm for birthday shopping, and had so much fun seeing all our friends at the shower. It was a quick trip and we headed back home. Half way home in Charleston, I had an accident. Due to a breaking car ahead of me in three lanes of traffic, I hit my breaks heavily and we were slammed from behind by a large delivery truck who then did a 180 blocking all lanes of traffic. It was a hard hit so it took a second to register, then Donnelle took control. Looking back, I think that I was just plain frozen. She told me to pull forward, so I did. She told me to pray, so I did. She told me to call 911, so I did. She told me that everyone was safe, so I believed her. She told me to pull off the highway so we could get everyone out of their seatbelts and carseats, so I did. Then we pulled into a safe spot, Charleston Civic Center parking lot to be exact, and that's when it all started registering. My knees still go weak thinking about grabbing our kids and holding on tight. At that point and still to this day, I could care less about my car, or waiting hours and hours on help, or the mess of paperwork for insurance claims, all I knew was that Praise God! we were okay. My boys were in the third seat and the truck's bumper had to have been just inches from the backs of their heads. Brave Drew never said a word or made a peep, he just crawled out the front seat and stood in the parking lot and began shaking his hoodie to get the glass out. Six-week old Chase was tightly buckled in and so were Donnelle and I. Looking back again, I think it was a blessing that the truck blocked all lanes because if there would have been any spinning cars around us, that could have been even worse. I know that God is in control and he holds us in the palm of His hand and I trust Him, but it never fails, I always begin the cycle of what if...? could have... should I have...? blaming myself, etc. The police were hours getting to us, they said it was a busy night in Charleston?! and there was a building supervisor that found us and let us into a conference room while we waited. Did I say supervisor? I meant angel. By the time the police got there and insurance calls finished up, then came our Knights in Shining Armor. Ryan and Nate. I'll never forget the feelings I had when their car pulled in and they jumped out and ran up to the doors of the Civic Center to find us... It was a long four more hours home, but I finally felt completely safe again with the men being there to drive and letting us unload our stories. The soreness began the instant I woke up the next morning, but I didn't want it to go away. It was a reminder of God's protection over us and I didn't want to ever forget it. This is why I retell the story, I do not ever want to forget.
My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion's fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:20-26
This I know:
God still has a plan for Donnelle, Chase, Drew, Finn, and me.
God still has a plan for Donnelle, Chase, Drew, Finn, and me.
If you're in a crisis situation, Donnelle is a pretty good friend to have around.
If you'll look a little bit closer to what was in the back window....
If you'll look a little bit closer to what was in the back window....
1 comment:
Tears fill my eyes again, just thinking about God's protection over us. 3 little ones, multiple lanes of traffic, on a bridge...the "what if's" are terrifying. Yet, in spite of all the broken glass & smashed luggage - a crown of thorns, completely untouched. God surely does have a plan for us! When I think of how strong His presence was to me on that day, I'm humbled & reminded what an awesome God we serve. May He bless your day, Joni!
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