Happy Anniversary....

Today, Michael and I have been married for 8 years. We have been a "couple" for 16 years. This was the first anniversary in those 16 years that we were not going to be able to be together and have dinner and see a movie. Michael, as part of his police academy class, was on duty for the funeral of a fallen police officer and left home that morning before we got up. He was then scheduled to attend class until late that night. I was very sad about not being able to be with him on OUR day, but did understand that sacrifices had to be made. I was going to get the house cleaned up and the boys were going to spend the night with my mom, just because they could. I had taken Makenna to daycare that day so that she could ease back into the routine of going to school. I left my grandmother's house around 2:30 to go pick her up from school. I asked the boys to go with me, but they were more content playing without their sister bothering to go with me, so I left them with Mama. As I approached the "bad" curve on Kathleen road, my life changed. As I entered the curve I saw the other car. I hit the brakes as fast as I could, but there was no place to go. The girl was in my lane headed straight for me and we collided. The trooper estimated we were going around 60-70 miles per hour total, if you add our speeds together when we hit. The last thing I remeber before the crash was thinking "Oh my God" and then the hit. My van ended up on the side of the road about 3 or so feet from going over into the ditch. The other car was spun around and facing the same direction as me in the middle of the road. The girl and the two passengers in her car were able to get out of their vehicle, walk around and no major injuries. I was in shock, the whole world was still moving, even after the vehicle stopped, and I was shaking all over. I was not able to open my door because it was bent too badly, the fire department pushed it open when they arrived. One of the passengers from the other car came over to me and made sure I was ok and that I had no kids with me. He had a cut on his face, the girl was very shaken-up, and the other guy was dizzy, but coherent. I called 911 as soon as I put my car in park and could see straight. Luckily, there was a good samaritan in the lane of traffic who happened to be a paramedic. He checked everyone and held my neck in a brace until paramedics arrived. All four of us went to the hospital to get checked out. Luckily, by the Grace of God, none of us were seriously injured. I ended up with a severe chest contusion, bruised feet, and bruised shoulder and my van ended up totaled with more than $14,000 in damages.

December 27, 2011 will never be a day I will forget. I am so thankful for the little things that happened that day so that my children were safe and kept from harm, that I was not injured more seriously, and that the people in the other car were kept safe as well. I am thankful for airbags, for the technology of today's vehicles, for 911, and for my family. I am thankful for people who are willing to stop and help, even if it inconveniences their day, that there are some people who are still concerned about the well-being of their fellow human. I am thankful that I was able to walk away from such a crash and be home that night for my babies.

Michael and I ended up spending the evening with eachother after all, but it was definately not the anniversay I had in mind, but am glad for the lessons learned and the time I still have!