Car Crash

Yes, sadly I am sitting here, recovering from some nasty bumps and bruises and swelling. On Thursday, I was going out to run some errands before getting ready for us to drive up to Orlando to go to the temple when I got in the left turn lane in back of a big truck. Before getting in back of the truck I had not seen (but not well enough) any oncoming traffic. I made one of the worst decisions of my life and went for the turn. I can tell you everything in chronological order that went through my head from that point on but I'd rather not think about it. I keep trying to push it out of my mind. It's hard because I'm in my room, just lying in bed with my legs elevated and if I don't keep myself busy with the computer, my i-touch, or phone calls, the scene will replay in my head over and over. I've had so many great people help me out. Like right after the crash (my car spun around and the other driver's ran into a light pole, bending it over), someone came from a nearby office building and got my scared and crying baby out of the car seat. I was trying to comfort him with the only way I could at the time-my voice. I knew I was pretty banged up. My left heal, right ankle, left knee on the inside (I have no idea what hit that), fourth toe on the right foot, right hip, skin scraped off from the left arm, and a nasty seat belt burn across my neck. The worst injuries were my ankle, knee, (which make it difficult for me to walk or stand) and seat belt burn. What keeps me in bed right now are the knee and ankle. They are just bruised and swollen and I'm sure I'll get better soon. It could have been a lot worse. And the baby. I went to a safety baby gear workshop (aka "sales pitch") and there was some good information. What we learned is that the Cosco-Scenera car seat is the safest on the market. So we got that one and in the crash, the baby was perfectly protected. NOTHING was wrong with him. Just scared from the whole thing, but after he was picked up he stopped crying and acted normal. One of our friends came and stayed with me until my husband came and that friend also drove us to the yard and back to figure out what to do with the car. Another friend made us dinner and babysat the baby while I was recovering/signing for the car at the towing place. My in-laws who were going to have left after a job down here (who in the mean time also helped us plant our garden!) decided to prolong the job to stay and help out.

Here's our new garden!!!

Friends have offered to do things and my husband has been absolutely amazing. As far as costs go, we should be able to, in the end, only have lost a car. Which, of course, is a huge disappointment, especially since we just got it. It was like my baby. The first car that was ever "mine." Tell you what. I'm just glad we only spent $4000 on it. Still, for us that's a lot of money.
In trials I always ask, "why?" Yes, I'm guilty of asking "why me?" but if you stop there, you are not growing. I also ask "what?" "What am I supposed to learn from this?" In the words of the lady I hit (who only had a banged up knee, thank goodness), "...the Lord had different plans for me today." Of course, I have totally beat myself up over this (I know better than to turn without knowing 100% no traffic is coming!) and I expected everyone to be disappointed in me, especially my husband. But his unconditional love reminded me of Christ's love. I asked for a blessing from my husband and his father and besides the blessing of recovering quickly, I was told that this experience would teach me about the blessing and things I have in life (I guess like my home, family, tender mercies, not getting seriously injured, etc.). I really am blessed and I really will be fine. I just never thought it would happen to me. I'm not sure about driving any time soon though...that's ok, right?
Here are just a few pictures. They don't really show everything (lighting, angle, etc.), but maybe you'll get the idea.

Lest you think I'm a wuss, these injuries are a lot worse than they look! But like I said, they could have been even more worse.

The next day was also sad...but this picture was taken before the game started.