It's a NEW YEAR!!!

One of my RESOLUTIONS for this New Year is to SLOW DOWN and really ENJOY life and especially our kids...because sooner than later they will be gone and onto their own individual life experiences. I was looking through my journal I have on the computer this morning and I came across a talk I gave in our ward when we moved in. It was such a great reminder for me to read and reflect on why it is important for me to slow down.

It’s Monday morning April 17^th 2006. It is a very snowy day, kids are off school for Spring break. Mom says come on guys get in the car we need to get Will to swimming lessons. Hurry because we don’t want to be late. Get your coats and shoes on and be sure to buckle up. Mom makes sure Sadie is in the car and is buckled. It seems Sadie’s coat is kind of tight with the seatbelt so the buckle that goes around the legs is bothering her. Today mom decides to put the lap belt over Sadie as well so she is very secure in the car. Something mom never does. We’re heading up 3900 south. Rachel who is almost 10 and occasionally likes to ride in the front seat says mom I think I should get in the back. OK Rachel just be sure to buckle up. Mom looks in the rear view mirror and notices Jake does not have his seatbelt on. Jake please put your belt on it is very snowy and we are getting on the freeway. We are on the freeway in between 4500 south and 6200 south on I 215 heading South. Mom decides the roads seem kind of slushy so she decides to get in the middle lane to avoid water pockets and slushy sides. When mom changes lanes to get in the middle the car hits something slippery and goes out of control. Mom puts on the breaks and the car gets pulled to the right putting us head on into the right freeway barrier wall. Mom doesn’t panic she holds it together she says oh my gosh we’re going to hit the wall and hopes when we are done everyone is OK. The car hits and bounces off causing the back right side of the car to hit the wall as well. Both airbags go off. Mom looks back and sees 8 big eyes looking at her... how glad she is no body was hurt. The children by now are over the shock and very upset screaming it smells like smoke we better get out. Mom struggles to get her door open so she has to kick it. Rachel helps Sadie out of her car seat and they all walk to the far edge of the freeway away from the car. The children are very upset. Moms purse and phone are in the car but the children don’t want her to go get it and she doesn’t want to leave them unattended on the side of the freeway. The snow is coming down quite hard. A few cars go by and don’t stop. Soon a man in his truck pulls up to the far right side of the freeway and says get in my car I will keep you and the children warm until help can get here. Mom is very upset by now because she realizes how lucky we are. She uses the mans phone and calls dad at work and says Mike I got in an accident on the freeway and I totaled the van. Dad immediately says is everyone OK. Yes we are all fine. How different his news could have been. The kids are quite shaken up but we are fine. The ambulance comes and says is everyone OK. Mom says yes we were all wearing our seatbelts and nobody was hurt. The nice man in the truck keeps telling the children you are OK now look at all the snow outside and you are in my nice warm truck. It is going to be OK. The police and dad come. The car is towed off the road and Dad takes his family home. The end of the story is we did total the car so we had to get a new car....but how lucky we were no one was hurt. How grateful mom is that the children listened and were obedient in putting their seat belts on. I am so grateful that Rachel listened to the Holy Ghost and got out of the front seat because who knows what the impact of the airbags would have done to her.

Sometimes I feel like life is leading us. We need to slow down and just enjoy life and our children. I spoke with a good friend of mine shortly after the accident and I told her how I felt I needed to enjoy life more she just had her fifth child and she said me too. She said if I want to hold my baby today and let the laundry wait until tomorrow than I am going to because soon those precious times will be gone. I know for a fact we were watched out that day because to cross the whole freeway and not be hit by another car was truly a blessing from our heavenly father. I hope this NEW YEAR brings lots of happiness and good things to all my family and friends and may we all ENJOY the little things in our life that bring us JOY.I hope we NEVER have to experience a wreck like that EVER again!!!