So Rudely Interrupted

Earlier this week Zeb and I were driving peaceably along, enjoying our day.  We had been to the elbow doctor (don't judge, it hurts) and to Sam's. We were loaded up with prescription pain killers and groceries.  

Due to Almost Isaac, the younger kids were being released from school a few hours early, and Big Z and I were on our way to get them.  

So there we were, cruising down 319 when the two cars ahead of us slowed and stopped.  Being the consciencious driver that I am, I slowed and stopped as well.  Somehow or another, the driver behind me didn't get the memo.  You know, the memo about slowing and stopping.  

She didn't slow.  

She didn't stop.

She never even touched the brakes.  

And we had set such a good example for her.  

Honestly, I didn't even know what hit me.

As any good blogger would do, even slightly dazed with pounding head and aching neck, I took a picture. Or three. 

Oh, you'd like to see?  Ok...  Here's what hit me.  Here's what chained the dull ache to my neck and my head.  Here's what makes me want to eat painkillers like they're skittles.  Here it is. 

Brace yourselves...

BOOM! There it is.

If you look closely, you'll see that both her airbags deployed- even her steering wheel tried to slow her down.  

I'm thinking she may need a new hood.  And possibly a new "everything that goes under" it.

My van looked pretty amazing, if you ask me...

The damage is worse than it appears.  My inner bumper - the one that's not plastic- is completely bent up into my floorboard, leaving a warped floor and zero protection if we're so rudely interrupted again.  The little hole you see at the bottom of my back hatch invites carbon monoxide to join the war in the back seat; and as much as I'd like the two littles to hold it down a bit back there, I don't think CM poisoning is a viable solution. 

Both the insurance adjuster and the guy who owns the body shop are quite impressed with how well my car held up- especially since we were hit sooo hard.  

Thankfully, we didn't barrel into the car in front of us- who just happened to be my sister-in-law.  She saw the whole thing in her side mirror and was braced and ready to join the party.  All things considered, I know it's a miracle we didn't hit her- and I don't use the M word loosely here, folks.  

  We were both buckled up. It's the law. Zeb hit his head on the back of the passenger seat and then whipped back and knocked himself on the back of his own seat.  I hit my head pretty hard on the back of my headrest.  

Yep, it hurt pretty dang bad.  But I didn't say the first ugly word.  Cross my heart. 

Within minutes there must have been 30 people on the scene and they were all more than helpful.  It was dry as a bone when the lady hit me and then- as if the heavens were shedding the tears I so valiantly held at bay- it started to POUR. I mean POUR.  And I had just washed my hair. Errrr.  

It could have been 1,000 times worse.  Seriously.  Other than being painfully inconvenienced, everyone is fine. Sore and achy, but fine.  

Although my body is a bit sore, my faith in friendship and small town camaraderie  is stronger than ever.  Our county's service workers were helpful and diligent.  Friends and family showed up to check on me and see if we needed anything.  Even my insurance agent offered to pick me up and take me home. 

Gotta love small towns!

*********

On a side note, I am very thankful that Isaac didn't rear his ugly head here, and my heart goes out to those affected by his wrath.

BEhappyHAPPYhappyHAPPYhappy

Last week my dad asked me to come up with a list of modern conveniences.  You know, things that- in theory- make our lives easier and, well, happier.  Much has changed in the last few decades that are worth smiling about.  So just in case you need a reminder of how good we have it, I'll share with you the list I sent him...  

We live in homes that are cool in the summer and warm in the winter. 

We drive cars with radios, televisions, satellites and built in navigation systems.

Gone are the days of washing our clothes by hand or hanging  them out to dry.

Rubber dish washing gloves have been replaced by automatic dishwashers, and ice trays are dinosaurs. 

Movies, music, and books can be downloaded in seconds from the World Wide Web; and we can talk to people halfway around the world face to face thanks to web-cams.

Candle-making, canning, sewing, hunting, and gardening are no longer chores.  They are hobbies. 

Chicken comes from Winn-Dixie- not the back yard; and when was the last time you heated your bathwater over an open flame? 

Hot water heaters, refrigerators, ovens, computers, lawnmowers, remote controls, and cars are integral parts of the American family. Most microwaves have a “popcorn” button on the control panel. 

We have storage containers, storage sheds, and storage units; and we won’t even talk about the number of shoes the average woman owns. 

The handheld computers we call cell phones have replaced dictionaries, encyclopedias, phonebooks, newspapers, cameras and calculators. 

We can put tracking devices in our cars, our pets, and our kids so we can find them if they are lost. 

Our water comes from pipes and bottles- not an open well or a nearby stream- and unlike much of the world, we don’t have to worry if we’ll die when we drink it.

Our hands are less callused and our bodies less weary than ever before in history.  

So, someone, please tell me why we’re not happy!

  

I hope this list encourages you to smile.  And to not kill yourself.  'Cause every 15 minutes, someone in America does.  

Life is good!

Live it well.

XXOO 

25 Things (plus a few more)

Back in January of 2009, I wrote and posted to Facebook 25 Random things about myself.  Thought I'd share...

1 I'm obssessive compulsive about my house being clean and in order.
2 My kids make me laugh.
3 I'm thoroughly in love with my husband. He still makes my heart flutter!
4 Wen I was little, I thought we were rich (I was way wrong!).
5 We adopted our 1st kid because I didn't feel like taking fertility drugs.
6 We named our 2nd after her dad (He's Lee Michael).
7 We birthed our 3rd because it was way easier and cheaper.
8 My DNA plus Lee's DNA produced a Category 3 Hurricane.
9 We will adopt our 4th child!! :)
10 I failed the gifted test-- my brother passed.
11 I taught English for 3 years at the High School where I graduated.
12 I'm trying to break my addiction to Coke (a-cola, that is).
13 When I was little I wanted my name to be Lisa and I wanted black hair.
14 My son wet the bed one time and blamed it on the dog. He was four.
15 I've always wanted to be a waitress.
16 One day I want to go to cosmotology school.
17 My mom calls me Luce; my dad calls me Maria; my husband calls me Karol.
18 I danced with an 86 year old man last weekend. He was a great dancer.
19 I can paint a room really well.
20 My husband and I met at church on an Easter Sunday morning.
21 We were married by Christmas.
22 I've owned a Toyota Landcruier for over 10 years. I can't bring myself to get rid of it, although I only drive it 4 or 5 times a month.
23 I have a bidet in my bathroom.
24 I dream big, crazy things.
25 I love asking questions.

So not too much has changed since 2009.  We did end up adopting again, this time from Ethiopia.  My mouth is still in love with Coca-cola, and I still want to be a waitress. A friend of mine and I thought really hard about going to hair school last year, but...  

I still dream big, crazy things.  My latest recurring dream- which happens 2-3 times a week- is that the house is on fire.  I've stopped waking Lee up in fits of panic, though; and now just take a few deep sniffs--I swear I really do smell smoke--and get up myself to check things out.  No midnight visits from the fire department as of yet.

My house is still in relative order but it seems to get a bit messier than before- I'm totally blaming that on kid 4; and we sold our Land Cruiser last year.  It was hard to say buh-bye, but we did.  I'll have a cool car again one day, I know, but until then, I'll just let my four super cool kids continue to put a hurtin' on my mini van.

Oh! and about number 18...  that was a  one time thing.  I can't dance.  At all.  

So today I went to Walmart...

So today I took the Fabulous Four to Wally-world.  

Although Walmart and Hell must have a lot in common, I was glad to see this shirt and be reminded that I was still living, breathing, and trying to love Jesus amidst all the chaos:

YESSSSSSSSSSSS... (long exhale, here, folks)

THANK YOU! 

Pleeeeeeease, put down the eggs and do it.

Do it NOW!!!!