"A Day of Extreme Pain....A Day of Blessings....."

It all began yesterday morning, shortly after 8am...... I received a call from Heather (my daughter) and before I had even answered "Hello" she was screaming and crying on the other end. 

It didn't really alarm me because I'm used to dealing with instances like this with Heather. It did however alarm me as time went on and I could NOT make out any of her words. She was trying to talk, but it would only come out in high pitched shrieks and non- comprehendible language. As time went on, I thought she had said something like "David just jumped off a really high bridge....!!!!" I thought David (her boyfriend) possibly had tried to commit suicide in front of her. She was THAT upset!! I didn't know what to think at this point. I just kept trying my best to get her to calm down enough so that I could understand SOMETHING she said. I finally was able to make something out about Shiner (her dog) jumping out a window and being dead. I repeated it back and she is shrieking all over again..... 
I just kept trying and trying to figure something ....anything out. She got across to me that she was on West Lake Houston Pkwy and finally was able to understand where. It was right across from our church. I asked her if we came would she still be there? I couldn't understand her again because of crying and she finally just hung up on me. 

Meanwhile..... 
I went and woke up David (my husband) telling him Heather was hysterical and we needed to try and figure out how to help her. He groggily got up because he had taken Benadryl the night before. We set out driving, even though not sure WHERE we were going. That's when she called me again and was finally speaking understandable words. She was now at an Animal Hospital which was very close to the accident. She made sure we were coming and hung up. We found her car parked in an alley way with flashers still flashing.....and our poor daughter sitting on a bench inside....crying. 

As we sat down with her, she began to try and talk through her crying. She shared that she was driving down the road and had a window only slightly opened. Shiner is a good sized medium dog....still trying to figure out HOW he ever got through the opening so quickly. While enroute, he jumped out....but possibly got hung up on his leash still attached and went straight down (as best we can figure out)....causing him to be ran over. Heather said she didn't know what to do....put the brake on, go forward, go backward! She jumps out of her car, running into traffic, and comes to find her poor dog flopping and flailing around. She said he was trying to get up, but blood was gushing from his mouth. 

That's when her angel showed up....... 
A man in a work truck who worked for the electric company was following her. As soon as it happened, he immediately came to a stop behind her. He jumped out and ran to her and told her very abruptly "Get back in your car and call your Mom. Just get back in your car and call your Mom now!" ----- my own Mother would later ask me "How did that man know to tell her to do that? Call your Mom and not your husband or boyfriend or such?" I told her because we believe it was an angel sent from God and he knew Mom was the very best to call....in ALL situations. He then took out cones and put it around Shiner so no one would hit him and he covered the dog with his own jacket. At the next point, she says 4 doctors showed up somehow (from the animal hospital). It was quite unclear how they were notified so quickly and the scene wasn't in their view. Again.....God sent. They were taking care of the dog (hand carried him back to the hospital along with man who stopped behind her helping too). One doctor stayed with Heather and even drove her car,with her in it, to the animal hospital. They made sure she stayed in her car to catch her breath and brought her out a Dr Pepper. The man who stopped behind her (the angel) came back to be with her after the doctor left her. He made sure she was going to be alright....that her parents were on their way....and that she was following directions correctly. She got out of her car and took other dog inside with her. The nurses were VERY sympathetic to her. 

This is where we come in..... 
I had assumed that since we were at the Animal Hospital then Shiner must still be alive and they were working on him when we arrived. But as she told us her story she said "And Mom...he's deeeead." Then it all clicked in. She had been told that she could go back and see Shiner one last time if she wanted. She waited on us to get there. I went back with her, but before we did, the nurse warned us that the dog would not look the same as before. Who KNEW what we were about to see?? We went back and there was a covered body laying on a table. It felt like we were going to identify a body or something kind of eery like. They pulled back the towel and there he was. It wasn't anything really gory or overwhelmingly awful. Simply he was asleep with blood from his mouth still dripping and blood from his ears. I asked how he died. She said quietly....It was a head trauma accident. Massive injury to the brain. She was very respectful of Heather and stood quietly by as Heather cried and mourned the loss of her sweet dog. She petted him and stroked him. Saying this isn't real. She finally knew she couldn't take anymore and had to leave. The nurse asked me what we wanted to do. There was a standard burial at no fee and an ashes one with a fee. I told her it was up to Heather. Heather chose the standard burial. Once again they were very considerate and kind. Another big blessing.....there was NO fee whatsoever for all they had done to go out of their way to help her!! We were thankful. 

David drove her car, with her other dog in it, to her apartment......while I drove my Jeep, with Heather in it, to her apartment. Neither David or I had been to Heather's apartment. But I knew once we got her there that we needed to go in and be with her. So we did. We let her talk and cry and talk...... I then got her involved in getting her mind off of the situation by telling her we would play her some video games. That's one of David's (boyfriend) favorite thing to do and hers to. So we went with that for awhile. She did well and even made mention at one point of feeling guilty for feeling possibly happy. I assured it that it was not wrong. As time went on, I was concerned about my David (not to confuse you with her David). He hadn't eaten and had a lot on his mind dealing with other matters .....but he was doing well in the situation. She assured us she would be alright. And we decided to leave. 

Once home.....I started receiving texts of her feeling so bad and hurt. She was even throwing up at this point and said she couldn't stop. The memory of it all just kept replaying. She asked me when it would stop and would the hole fill itself? I told her when she fills it with God then He would fill it in his timing. And that the memory would be there, but that didn't mean God wasn't helping her through it. I assured her that each time she had the memory - to give it to God and look to him and trust in him to help her through it. I also told her to get our christian radio station playing on her radio.....to which she said "Mom, they just keep playing sad songs." I told her "KEEP listening.....listen to the words and not the melodies." I told her to read Psalm as well. Later.....I called her and she told me that she was upset so she called each her brother and her sister while they were at work....telling them about it.

Well.....
She had Savannah crying at work now and her brother concerned for her. I was proud of Savannah though....she came through. She asked Heather "Have you had anything to eat?" Heather said "no" Savannah then said "I'm picking us up some sandwiches and bringing them to your apartment." As soon as Heather hung up, there was a knock on her door. It was Taylor (Savannah's husband) standing there holding a Sprite and giving it to Heather. Perhaps Savannah had quickly told Taylor about Heather throwing up a lot and he headed over right away (they live across the street from each other). He came inside and sat down and talked with her for awhile. 

All in all......
I know this was a very DIFFICULT experience for my child.....but I also know God was there to protect her, help her, and even bless her through the ones that he chose to surround her with help. He is good.....always he is good. And as my Mother In Law reminded me - God always brings good from that which was hard or bad. He brings beauty from the ashes.....how very well I know this to be true! Romans 8:28 "And we know that ALL things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

As I try to point out to my child....look for the blessings of how God provided and protected - even in the worst of circumstances. So I also encourage you, my friend, ...... look for the blessings of how God is providing, protecting, and taking care of you....even in the worst of your circumstances. Be blessed......

"That Phone Call No Parent Wants!"

I really thought I had Blogged about this story already. I guess the time was never right til now as they say. It has been crossing my mind ever so often to share with you.

Four years and seven months ago (April 08) I received a phone call from my daughter, Savannah, who would have been about 2 months from turning 17.  She told me she had been in a wreck. It wasn't the first time for me to receive such a phone call. Our daughter, Heather, previously had multiple wrecks herself . This would be Savannah's first one.

As I remember, she didn't have panic in her voice....most likely she just matter of factly told me we needed to come. I gave the phone to her Dad and thats when he was put on the phone with the Fireman. Wait....the Fireman?!? Hmm....a little unsettling, but still nonetheless we assumed all was well.

We got the location and we're off to find her.

As we are driving, we see countless flashing lights ahead. Hmm.... As we are nearing the lights, we see that the entire FOUR lanes of traffic, on Hwy 1960 going both directions, are completely closed down!! We pull over and begin walking. Still not understanding the sights we are seeing! Savannah had simply said "I've been in a wreck. You need to come." (My heart is starting to race as I'm just thinking back and relaying this story with you.) Closer we come upon the scene. . . there in front of us in a vehicle turned over on it's side. It's laying in the grass median of the intersection of 1960 and Will Clayton. I quickly exclaim to David, "Look someone's car is turned over!! O my gosh!!" It is nightime. We are walking around it and that's when we notice......this isn't just someone's car anymore. This is our daughter's truck!!!!!!!!!!!! (I seriously did not think I would have this reaction while sharing this story with you...but my heart still is racing remembering this moment!)



That's when my mind just started going numb I suppose. 

As we kept walking towards the now visible Ambulance, I wasn't quite thinking clearly. David had to reach for my hand and pull me back from being hit by some passing cars even. All I could think is "How can this be happening? Cars turned over are serious! She just simply said 'Ive been in a wreck'. This isn't a wreck, this is a WRECK!!"

We found Savannah with the Fireman. He had put a neck brace on her and they were about to load her onto a stretcher. Still puzzled, I can't believe my eyes. She appeared to be visibly alright. She was shaking. She remained calm. As her mother, I wanted to reach out to her and hold her in my arms. I was SO thankful she was alive after seeing her truck and would be even MORESO thankful later as I heard the details of the story to follow. But....I couldn't. We, as her family, had, have, and will always love her dearly....but we were not close in fellowship. She was living with another family pretty much during that time. And it would be them who would reach out to her. That hurt deeply as her mother. But, I hold no remorse for this family. As she was placed on the stretcher and shaking....I simply reached out to touch her leg somehow hoping she knew just how very MUCH I cared.



Savannah was with a friend (daughter and neice to family reaching out to her) and so they both were transported to a hospital in another town. As I watched her ambulance go away, I just sat there and wondered helplessly what was happening to my daughter. David went and talked with the police and witnesses. The story goes as follows: Savannah and Jessi were leaving Chick Fila entering 1960. As they came upon the Will Clayton intersection, they both were talking and NOT noticing the very RED light in front of them. Savannah drove through the intersection and 1 van and 1 car hit her hard at the same time. This would send her truck spinning in circles AND rolling over several times before coming to a rest on it's side in the median, right beside a pole!

Jessi would later say that she could remember looking over and seeing Savannah's hair flying all over the place and wondering what was happening to them. Terrifying to say the least!! Once they came to a stop there were some friends that had seen the wreck and ran up to it. They first started trying to rock the truck back over. Once that wasn't accomplished, they got the passenger side door opened and tried to get the girls out. Savannah remembers smelling something and thinking her truck was about to catch on fire. No way was she going to burn alive! She tried to get Jessi to crawl out quickly, but apparently she was too dazed to move. That's when my dear daughter puts plan to action and actually crawls literally over Jessi and out the passenger door!!! They did get Jessi to crawl out as well. :)

In time, we arrived at the hospital. I was very anxious to hear how my daughter was and where she was. They were only allowing 2 people back at a time to talk to her. Again...WHAT is happening here....going through my mind! Heather, her sister, had receieved word about the wreck and actually beat us there to the hospital. She was back with her at the time. I went when allowed and found my daughter sitting up in bed smiling and talking as usual like nothing major had even happened! She had some minor cuts and scratches from the flying glass and probably some bruising later. I was so very THANKFUL!! I had to ask her if I could hug her....and again very THANKFUL I was that she let me!! It was quick, but it was a hug that I needed to give. I left her room and went back to the waiting area to do what you do in a waiting area......wait. Jessi, her friend, was complaining about a little more serious injuries. So we waited with her family. Before not too long, Savannah was released and comes walking out. She sat with us to wait to hear Jessi was going to be. In time, Jessi was released and both girls miraculously walked out and away from that hospital on their own!! We would later hear just how serious of a wreck that was through others as well as our insurance agency. Many, many people do NOT walk away from a wreck such as that....in fact many die!! These 2 girls were given a giant miracle as well as a very BIG BLESSING!! We hoped that we could and tried to convey that as much as possible to Savannah. She seemed to understand.

In the following days, we located her truck in a junk yard.

Can I just say here that as David and I came upon this truck in full daylight, the full reality and somberness of this event really hit us H A R D. There is just something about the fullness of a tragic situation being brought to full terms that makes you realize just what a beautiful blessing you have just been given. It was almost eerie looking at this mess and leaning inside the doors to realize what your precious child just went through.



Pictures don't always do justice, but here are some:

You can see the grass in the frame from rolling over.

That wheel is in the wrong place by the way!

Needless to say....the truck was totaled.

But thankfully....our daughter was not! :)

There is one very special picture I will leave with you as I close at this memory and story. This picture I share speaks a 1,000 words to this Mother. Although it may not speak as many to you, know that it holds a very dear place in my heart.

This picture was taken after the fact that this truck had not only spun, but rolled as well. This picture was also taken after the fact that this truck had been righted up, hoisted up, taken to a junk yard, and placed in the position it now was in. In this picture, you will see one penny lying in the driver's seat...my daughter's seat.

For those who know and those who don't know, pennies have meant so very much to me. For on them, as we know, it says In God We Trust. Each time I see a penny on the ground I pick it up and it to me it symbolizes a reminder that I CAN trust in God for He is there reminding me to and showing me that He is with me. So when I saw this one lone penny sitting there in her seat, it was as if God Himself was saying "See...just keep trusting me. I took care of her through this terrible accident. I will continue to take care of her as the days come and go." And in that I say ..... "Yes, God. I do and I will trust you. For YOU alone are trustworthy!" Although there have been bumps in the road and I don't always understand all that He allows and doesn't allow.....I will trust my heavenly Father. For in Him I find my hope.



Thanks for letting me share a very special time in my life.

I hope that in reading it, you also will find God to be trustworthy in your own life.

For He is.

"Your Sept. 11th, my Sept 11th - it is ALL for GOOD! :)"

As most people are probably aware of, in 2 weeks we will be honoring the 10 year date that marks a tragic time for our nation. . . September 11. Many countless lives were changed during that time. Lives were taken and lives were given. But one thing remains. . . through all the tragedy God brings good. For an unbeliever reading this, I'm positive they would strongly disagree. For how could there be ANY good found through all of this in their eyes? But to the believer. . .we KNOW God brings good from the ashes. "And we KNOW that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28.  He strengthens, He restores. He does what only God can do. . . He heals. With this healing I believe He brings a deeper faith and an equiping to be used in greater ways than before.

Today I read a story of woman who was the very last to be rescued from the rubble. Questions formed in her mind of many "what-ifs". What if she had left the 64th floor earlier and escaped unharmed? What if the ground hadn't been falling out beneath her at the 13th floor as she was getting closer to escaping? What if she hadn't been stuck under rubble and debris for 27 hours before they could free her? She goes on to say she would have been grateful, but knew she wouldn't have looked any deeper at her life. She would've chalked her survival up to quick thinking or quick moving or plain good luck. Instead it caused her to re-evaluate her life entirely. She celebrates a relationship with God (being the very best), she also celebrates her survival, her health and her family. She volunteers with the American Red Cross, as they were there in her time of need. She lives with no fear. She knows God has changed her life to the good.

There are thousands upon thousands of stories of how God changed their lives through what was thought to be for bad. As one man put it into perspective, he referred back to the story of Joseph and his brothers. How that they betrayed him, abandoned him and sold him. "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive."

Not only does God work through tragedy in our lives to bring good, He also works through our failures and mistakes to bring about the same. . .  good. "Christians need to see and know that failure/mistakes do NOT end your usefulness to God! For even the great ones of the faith failed, yet God continued to use them, often in a deeper way AFTER their fall. It is those who have fallen into the depths of failure to who God gives the call to shepherd others. This is not a call given only to the gifted, the highly trained, or the polished as such. Without a bitter experience of their own inadequacy and poverty, they are quite unfitted to bear the burden of spiritual ministry. It takes a person who has discovered something of the measure of his/her own weakness to be patient with the foibles (weaknesses) of others." "God brings blessings from the ashes of our failures."
<taken from a devotion>

I have not visited the first paragraph in any sort of tragic way in my lifetime. I know it would take great dependance upon our merciful God to know and believe that He would see them through regardless the pain and suffering. Faith would be deepened for sure. But just as I know faith would be deepened for them, it would also be deepened for those who have visited the second paragraph. . . for I was there. There is much to be said concerning this second paragraph, but I believe I have covered alot of it throughout my Bloggings over time. I am here to testify that God indeed does bring great GOOD from bad, wrong, evil, mistakes and when He does He uses it for His own glory for all to see! He uses it to show His strength in you, to show His deliverance in you, to show encouragement for others ..... in you. I know that God has me here to urge you on. . . . to encourage you. . . . to give you hope. . . and to tell you that no matter WHAT you have faced/are facing in life whether it be tragedy, failure or mistakes, God will use it for your good and His glory.
Trust Him. And not only trust Him, but wait on Him for it often can take awhile to turn a painful situation into a good one. He has a timetable and it's right on schedule as with everything else in His plans!! Who knows what He will reveal to you as you wait and trust Him.....it could be a higher purpose than you ever dreamed possible!

So as we look back and remember this time, September 11, 2001, let us not look back with a heart of bitterness of all the bad that went on throughout that day - but rather let us look ahead to all the lives that were forever touched in a positive way. . . to bring about God's GOOD for ourselves and His glory for all to say HOLY IS THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY!!

What has God allowed in your life that you thought was for bad but turned out for your good? I'm betting there is plenty if we take a honest look. Also plenty of grace, mercy, love, forgiveness and plenty of better- than -we- ever- could- have- been- befores! :)

I leave you with this thought: "Contentment is not governed by circumstances. Contentment comes from within. It is the knowledge that God is in control (no matter what) and He will work everything out right."

There is HOPE!