Sometimes when we wake in the morning and start our day...we are never aware of just how it will turn out or what events will shape the rest of our day, week and sometimes our lives.
It was like any other busy day, we bustled around and ran some errands. We went to the orthodontist and had some amazingly delicious fresh baked cookies on the way out the door. (can you believe that the orthodontist offers fresh baked cookies to their patients?) But, it was shortly thereafter that things went differently then I expected the day to go.
We were driving home, in fact, less then 6 miles from home...we had a car accident. The first real accident since I was 16 and began driving. It all happened so very fast and the main thing I remember once we came to a stop is just yelling "ARE YOU OKAY?" to all my children. I had all but my oldest with me that morning.
Everyone looked stunned but looked good, except I did notice that my oldest son had redness on his cheekbone and the beginnings of a bloody nose. He was in the back of our van wearing the lap belt and on impact he hit his face on the captain's chair directly in front of him. But, we were all okay...minus the jackrabbit heart racing that comes in a situation like this.
The other gentleman was okay too. No major injuries to any of us...Thank you God for your hand of protection! We did all the necessary exchanges of information, insurances and filling out a police crash report. All in all, if it had to happen, it was the best of scenarios. Everyone was respectful to one and other, the police officer was kind and efficient and no one was seriously injured.
After we got home I have to admit that the day wore on and I wasn't in the best of moods. My insurance company responded very quickly, the adjuster came out the same day and I was given a rental car that I forgot was even part of my insurance coverage. However, the adjuster told me that my car was a total loss and I would get a claim settlement, though not nearly enough to replace what I had. Afterall, I knew this van, my husband and I had purchased it "almost new" some years ago and had paid it off. We knew it was mechanically sound, we had traveled countless miles in it and it was a very dependable vehicle. I was quite disheartened.
I will have to say though, to my husband's credit, he never said a negative word about the whole situation.
My children could tell I was unhappy, and a bit grouchy as I had already begun looking at what was to be in our price range from the insurance settlement...it was not looking good. Somewhere between phone calls from insurance agents, adjusters, rental car companies, and various other things I recall my 11 y/o daughter bringing me a flower she picked outside. I was on the phone at the time and mouthed a quick "thank you." But, to be perfectly transparent...I did not really pause in what I was doing.
It wasn't until later that night when the children were in bed and I was cleaning up the kitchen that I saw that flower again for what it was. A reminder. A reminder that things could have gone much worse. A reminder that I needed to be thankful, not irritated. I needed to be thankful that 11 y/o was still here, in one piece, to pick me that flower. I wasn't visiting a hospital or receiving devastating news. I didn't have the guilt of having a seriously injured loved one, or even a stranger to worry about. I was safe in my home, my children were all safe. I had a home, food to eat, a husband who has a job. Life is very good and I am very blessed.
It was like any other busy day, we bustled around and ran some errands. We went to the orthodontist and had some amazingly delicious fresh baked cookies on the way out the door. (can you believe that the orthodontist offers fresh baked cookies to their patients?) But, it was shortly thereafter that things went differently then I expected the day to go.
We were driving home, in fact, less then 6 miles from home...we had a car accident. The first real accident since I was 16 and began driving. It all happened so very fast and the main thing I remember once we came to a stop is just yelling "ARE YOU OKAY?" to all my children. I had all but my oldest with me that morning.
Everyone looked stunned but looked good, except I did notice that my oldest son had redness on his cheekbone and the beginnings of a bloody nose. He was in the back of our van wearing the lap belt and on impact he hit his face on the captain's chair directly in front of him. But, we were all okay...minus the jackrabbit heart racing that comes in a situation like this.
The other gentleman was okay too. No major injuries to any of us...Thank you God for your hand of protection! We did all the necessary exchanges of information, insurances and filling out a police crash report. All in all, if it had to happen, it was the best of scenarios. Everyone was respectful to one and other, the police officer was kind and efficient and no one was seriously injured.
After we got home I have to admit that the day wore on and I wasn't in the best of moods. My insurance company responded very quickly, the adjuster came out the same day and I was given a rental car that I forgot was even part of my insurance coverage. However, the adjuster told me that my car was a total loss and I would get a claim settlement, though not nearly enough to replace what I had. Afterall, I knew this van, my husband and I had purchased it "almost new" some years ago and had paid it off. We knew it was mechanically sound, we had traveled countless miles in it and it was a very dependable vehicle. I was quite disheartened.
I will have to say though, to my husband's credit, he never said a negative word about the whole situation.
My children could tell I was unhappy, and a bit grouchy as I had already begun looking at what was to be in our price range from the insurance settlement...it was not looking good. Somewhere between phone calls from insurance agents, adjusters, rental car companies, and various other things I recall my 11 y/o daughter bringing me a flower she picked outside. I was on the phone at the time and mouthed a quick "thank you." But, to be perfectly transparent...I did not really pause in what I was doing.
It wasn't until later that night when the children were in bed and I was cleaning up the kitchen that I saw that flower again for what it was. A reminder. A reminder that things could have gone much worse. A reminder that I needed to be thankful, not irritated. I needed to be thankful that 11 y/o was still here, in one piece, to pick me that flower. I wasn't visiting a hospital or receiving devastating news. I didn't have the guilt of having a seriously injured loved one, or even a stranger to worry about. I was safe in my home, my children were all safe. I had a home, food to eat, a husband who has a job. Life is very good and I am very blessed.
