Events that change us

So how does one change the every day get up, go to work, work and then go back home routine?  Day after day we go through life just like robots.  Just as if that is how life is.  Then bam something happens and it wakes us up and changes our pattern for a bit.

Our family had one of those changes.  First off I am ever thankful for Heavenly Father and his whisperings to me or someone in our family.  One of the dreaded parts of being  a parent is the call everyone will get at some point in life that says...  Dad or Mom I've been in an accident.  First- question back is always are you okay?  Second- is usually is anyone else hurt?  Then how does the car look?

It is interesting to note here that Mike is always the recipient of the I've been in the accidents calls.  I get all the other fun calls like Mom!  I'm in love or Mom today was a crappy day at work!!!  I have always like how that has been divided up.  I have however gotten a few of the crash calls.  I have discovered AFTER that I had a feeling something was going to happen.  Almost like it is hanging in the back of my head yet I haven't honed in on that feeling in time to call our kids and say...  Stay where you are for a bit.  One morning I awoke to the sound of heavy rain.  The thought came to me and I started to send out a text to the kids.  Alyse's went first and as I was typing one for Kristen when she called.  Mom I was just in a small accident.  Awe that familiar feeling was correct yet again.  I sure wish I could recall that BEFORE the calls come.

Mike has been flying to Ca every other week for the past year and a half.  So every other week I am pushed to the front of  "Everything is in your lap" line.  Upon reflecting about this now my mind is called up to the biblical story of David and Goliath.  I have learned a lot from that wonderful story.  David wasn't just thrown into the ring with Goliath but he was given smaller opportunities to practice and to succeed which in turn gave him confidence in his new skills.  David killed the lion and the bear before he got into the match with Goliath.

And so it is with us.  Heavenly Father gives us smaller opportunities to try our hand in life and to gain confidence for bigger things to come.  Kristen's accident was the lion or the bear for me.  And upon hearing from Mike... "you did exactly what I would have done" I unknowingly gained confidence for future life issues.

So came Feb 9th.  Michelle drove down to Shands for some tests and a chance of being admitted to the hospital for some issues she was having.  I told Bryan I would pick him up and take him to work (they only have one car.  We have been there ourselves with just one car many times so it was no big deal).  Mike was in Ca and I came up with the idea of getting Mike's car out of the airport parking lot.  I would drives the Highlander and I would let Bryan drive my car until the end of the week.  We had done that before a few times.  We both worked and I was on my way to pick him up from work.  The director of our center's husband is in the final stages of cancer and so on my way to get Bryan from work I called the temple to put their names on the prayer roll.  As I was doing that I added a few more names including Michelle's name.  Just as I said Ladle a thought came into my head to add Bryan's name as well.  So I did.

I picked Bryan up and out to the airport we went.  We found Mike's car and I said to Bryan I'm starving lets stop for dinner.  We did and had a great time talking.  I had purchased some curtains that needed to be hung and Bryan was going to spend the evening helping me do that.  So we left the restaurant and headed home.  Bryan leaving right before me.  I passed him in the turning lane.  The whole way home I kept looking for him and wondering where he was.  I would scan the cars looking for my car and to no avail I never saw it.   I got home and was greeted Alyse.  It was a bit of a surprise to see her but I am always happy when my children spend time with me and I thought great I have two kids to help me.  But I now know she was up at the house for a more important reason then to help me hang curtains.

The phone rang and Alyse answered and came running to me saying-  BRYAN'S BEEN IN A BAD ACCIDENT.  She gets her emotions from me and was very concerned by what she had heard on the phone and her big brother was in a jam.  She knew the questions to ask him... is he ok?  Yes, Is the other person okay?  He thinks so.  How's the car?  Not good.

As I drove away from the house I knew this was not the time to be emotional.  But I felt a heavenly calm.  Alyse was assigned to call people I thought needed to be there and to ask them to meet us at the accident.  First on the list Devin (Mike's brother), Kristen and Lance.  I knew I needed two priesthood holders there just in case.  She went to call Mike and Michelle and I said NO don't  call them right now, not until I know what is going on. 

She called Bryan again and he said I have to go they are trying to cut me out of the car.  Well that caused Alyse to burst into tears.  I said Alyse he said he was okay this will be just fine.

My mind raced to how would be the quickest way to the accident scene without traffic.  The accident happened in a very bad spot and those roads are always crowded.  I knew it would be hard to get there without traffic.  My mind was given the directions on how to go and I followed.  Devin was the first on the scene.  As Alyse and I parked and walked towards the red flashing lights Kristen and Lance joined us in our walk.  Alyse said... I see Bryan and he is standing on the side of the road.  As we walked up to the accident the air seemed to be filled with adrenaline and car crash smell. 

Since the car was flipped to it's side and  laying on the drivers side and he had been t-boned on the passengers side Bryan made his escape through the sunroof.  I was relieved to see my son with not a scratch on him. I felt as though I was looking into a miracle.  The car looked totaled but Bryan was safe.  I stood in amazement looking at my car.

It had been whispered in my mind at that time that he was not harmed because of the Temple Garments he wore.  I thanked Heavenly Father over and over again as I stood looking at the accident scene.   Bryan was told he could go so we all walked back to the cars. I asked that Devin and Lance give Bryan a blessing.  Once again heaven interceded and everything was made right again.  Devin took Bryan over to the Urgent Care.  Now the interesting thing is I kept wondering why Devin was taking Bryan and not me to Urgent Care.  But it seemed to be the right thing to do but odd.  Alyse and I drove back home and we weren't back to the house not even 15 mins when I received a call from the tow truck driver telling me that our sunroof was still open AND it was raining and it would rain all night.  If we wanted to spare any items inside I would need to come and close it.  I told him we lived 30 mins away and he said he would for me.  Alyse (by this time is my trusted wing man!) and I jumped into the car and drove down to the collision place to close the sunroof.  We grab all of the valuables we could see at that time. 

As my mind thought of Michelle who was down at Shands hospital dealing with her own issues and now Bryan who was just in a very bad accident, I said in my head...  Why can't these two seem to cut any breaks? To which I was told- "They were tonight.  I took care of Bryan during the accident."   I said OH-  repented for that thought and said another thank you!

The following morning as I was in the shower my mind was taken back to the previous afternoon as I heard myself calling the temple.  I was given a prompting by adding Bryan's name to the prayer roll about 4 hours before his accident.  I don't know if his name had made it to a prayer circle by then but I did know it was in the temple.  It was then that I cried at all the miracles that had taken place and how thankful I was for the sweetness the gospel brings!

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me- confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me- Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me- Oh, it is wonderful- Wonderful to me!