*trigger warning for the next images*
Easter is one of my favorite holidays. Not just for the obvious reasons like celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, Springtime fun, egg hunting, and of course- Reese’s eggs, but because it’s a reminder of God’s blessings, grace and mercy. In 2019 something happened that would shape my outlook on life forever.
First, let’s go back to Fall of 2018. We needed a second vehicle, but with essentially no money our options were limited. A coworker was nice enough to let us make payments directly to him for an old red blazer. The front seat was broken, stuck in a semi reclined position a little too far from where I liked to sit while driving, but everything else was perfect (This tidbit is important for later in the story). To some this may seem crazy, but I knew already that God was on our side with his provision. What I didn’t know was what would happen the following Spring.
We just found out we were pregnant with our second child and were announcing it on Easter to our family. The day before Easter I decided I needed a new shirt or dress to wear for announcement pictures. After shopping for a bit and not finding anything, I moseyed over to Panera for their famous mac n cheese. I was just killing time- you know how it is when you finally get some time to yourself, you just kind of wander around enjoying not hearing “mama” 5000 times.
Anyway, I left Panera and was on my way home on the interstate. I was in the right lane, going about 65mph- again just lost in thought on what I was going to wear the next day, how was it going to be announcing baby #2 to everyone, etc. Something caught my eye in my side mirror and in a split second everything changed…
A car hit me on the side! I did everything I could to keep my car from turning sideways, but it was futile. I slid and then rolled… and rolled and rolled… eventually I slid on my roof for what seemed like forever and finally flipped upright in the grass! How I didn’t hit the guard rail is a miracle.
What. Just. Happened??!
Before I could really process anything, people were already stopped, out of their cars, and helping me get out. As far as I knew, I wasn’t hurt. I walked away, sat on someone’s tailgate, and people were telling me what happened. An ambulance just happened to be in the area, and she helped me out until the official EMTs arrived. I was fine, but she was so nice to help just calm, assess, and assure me.
As I was retelling the story to the police officers, I remembered that I got hit in the head by the roof. But just barely. Remember earlier when I said the seat was broken? That seat being broken had me sitting lower in the car and further back than I normally would have been driving. I like to sit up high, close to the steering wheel because I’m short and it’s easier to see. If I had been sitting up like normal I would have definitely been hurt by the roof. God already knew what was to come and that seat needed to be the way it was for a reason!
After being assessed and talking to others the truth came out that a drunk and high driver hit another car in the left lane, bounced off of them and hit me in the right lane. The other car was fine thank goodness! I was the unlucky one of the day. The drunk driver took off! Some good citizens behind us followed him while they called police to make sure he didn’t get away! He got off at the next exit, turned around and headed the opposite direction where he was officially caught- hallelujah!
While I was sure I was okay, I did opt to go to the hospital just to get checked out. I was pregnant after all. Luckily everything was fine, and the only injuries I had were one tiny spot on my left hand from glass and a tiny piece of glass in my right foot. And whiplash. Oh, the whiplash! But I couldn’t complain too much. I just praised God for sparing my baby and me.
After all of that, I still had to worry about getting a new car seat for my son, getting to/from work, a new car, settling with insurance, and all the things. But the blessing kept coming! A social media friend offered to buy my son a new car seat. We had already been in the process of moving in with my mom, and we worked at the same company. So, she changed her schedule so we could ride together. The insurance company originally offered me $5000 for everything. I knew that wasn’t right, so I hired a lawyer. We waited until the baby was born to officially settle. Waiting was not easy! My lawyer found out that the drunk driver never changed his insurance from his old state to Tennessee. The insurance company could have denied the claim, but since I was pregnant, they offered me the maximum settlement to just get it over with. They did not want us to sue them!
I was able to get the car I had been dreaming of, had savings, a healthy baby, and a crazy story. Through it all there were so many God moments. Even today I drive by that stretch of road or when Easter comes around, I can’t help but thank him for sparing me from injury and death that day. For sparing my baby- she was a girl, My beautiful Chloe! For showing me that his plan is always greater, even if it’s not always rainbows and sunshine. That life is messy & wild, but beautiful. We can go through hard things if we keep our eyes on the Lord and lean on him in every situation. Bad things happen, but sometimes it might just be for a good reason.
Psalm 121 (ESV)
My Help Comes from the LORD
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keep you will not slumber 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 the Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from the time forth and forevermore.