What a month! It all started with the TJEd Forum, which my family all attended and were inspired by. The following Tuesday, I went to Alpine for my last postpartum chiropractic adjustment and then to Ikea for some furnishings for our new family room/workspace that we were working on. After a long day, and nearly home, I must have been more tired than I realized because as we were only a minute or so from our house with the sun was setting in my eyes, I dozed momentarily. The next thing I knew, I was pulling myself off the steering wheel, shocked and dazed, wondering why my chest hurt so bad, and what in the world just happened??!!
It's amazingly scary how much damage can happen in a split second when driving. In dozing involuntarily for a moment, I veered to the right and drove right into a parked SUV at 30 miles an hour. Unbeknownst to me, I pushed the vehicle two carlengths ahead, hit another parked car, which shook the battery cable loose, disabling the transmission, ultimately causing the car to roll 200 ft. into the next intersection!!! Finally, the SUV hit a lamp post when it came to rest. I knew it was bad at the time of the accident (the impact was enough to throw off my glasses, my earrings and my cell phone into the engine area), but I had no idea I caused this much damage until the kind policeman explained all this to me later that night. I was very sad about this- I am not one that likes to hurt anyone or anything.
The bad news is that I totaled our van as well as the other two vehicles and damaged the lamp post.
The good news is that our insurance is covering all damages and we have been blessed to find a replacement van that is a much better fit for our family with less miles at a better price, to boot!
Even more miraculously, not one of my six of seven children that was with me in our van at the time or myself was seriously hurt. Shaken, definitely... but not hurt other than a few minor bumps and bruises and a few bones that got knocked out of place- nothing that a handful of trips to the chiropractor couldn't fix. We all were wearing our seatbelts, and interestingly, our airbags did not deploy. (I do have to say that a seatbelt injury to the sternum is extremely painful for a couple of weeks. Thank goodness it wasn't anything more than that!) I was told by several different people including a policeman, the EMT's, the ER doctors and our chiropractor that our injuries should have much more severe. They all believed that someone must have been watching out for us that day, as do we. There were glass chips in the baby's carseat, but she wasn't touched- not even a trace of whiplash. My son that is nearly twelve was sitting in the front passenger seat was hardly touched, and looking at the pictures of our van, we wonder how he walked away with no more than a couple of bruises below his knees and a small one on his head. Heavenly Father has been very merciful to us, and we are extremely grateful.
Of course, before the accident, we were very busy, and already feeling a little apprehensive about starting a remodeling project (but needing to get it done SO badly!)... and then this! Needless to say, we have been very engaged in all that we have on our plates for quite some time, and I haven't posted for too long again. *sigh*
We are blessed. We are healthy. We are safe. We have a van that fits our needs. Our new family room is proving to be a welcome and needed change in our home. And I am thrilled that we get to celebrate Easter this weekend!
I am always one that loves to celebrate, and I refuse to give my kids junk food just because it's a holiday. It's one of those quirky things about me. So I thought you perhaps might be interested in what I am choosing to put in my children's Easter basket this year. (Yes, that is singular. My sweet friend, Suzanne, inspired me to give up the individual baskets and present one special family Easter basket.) I have worked to focus this week on the true meaning of Easter, teaching and testifying of our Savior and His resurrection (it's great practice for my Sharing Time on Sunday, you know!) So our basket will be filled with things that I can feel good about- items that feed the spirit and a few homemade goodies that will nourish our bodies!
Here's a list of what I am putting in our basket this year:
•Coconutty Fudge (Eat Fat, Lose Fat, page 212) frozen into Easter-themed chocolate molds and wrapped in foil (they look so authentic!)
•Apricot Bars (Nourishing Traditions, page 548)
•Homemade Macaroons (Nourishing Traditions, page 532)
•Painted hard boiled eggs from our chickens
•Medjool dates and dried pineapple
•Raw cheese and homemade coconut crackers (Eat Fat, Lose Fat, page 209)
•New ties for the boys
•Pretty new hair clips for the girls
•Scripture marking pens
•Booklet about how to mark scriptures
•CTR pencils
•Spiritual bookmarks
•New Book of Mormon reading charts
•Rise and Shine book with CD
•Missionary figurines
•Angel Moroni figurine
•Davey and Goliath activity/coloring books
I love nourishing my family- in body, mind and spirit. I don't believe we have to compromise our health to make our holidays special. In fact, I think planning ahead and properly preparing our food with love makes it even more special. And isn't it nice to feel good even after the holiday is over? :)
Have a blessed Easter weekend!