Thursday, January 8, 2009
Monday, December 29, 2008
Divine intervention and protection
Living 5 hours from "home" means traveling a lot. We have driven I-40 so many times we can both number and name most of the exits. I can also identify where to stop for safe potty breaks when traveling alone with 4 kids. We know which McD's have play grounds and where the cheapest gas can be found. The 5 hour journey has become routine and therefore gets little worry or thought put into it. We always pray before leaving our garage and then travel on.
On Sunday we left after our morning church service. We had to be at David's parents' house by 6:30. After a very hurried departure (lots of kids, luggage and gifts to get packed) we headed out. The trip was quite ordinary, gas in Lebanon ($1.39...wahoo), lunch at White Castle and Ice Age on the dvd. As we were getting into Knoxville, Alex and Olivia had to go to the bathroom. I could tell David was a little frustrated at having to stop again, he has a thing with being on time and we were just going to make it as it was. I went in with the kids and he stayed in the van with the twins. After a quick visit to the, well, you know, everyone was back in the van. David hurried across the highway and into the entrance lane for the interstate. I thought he was going too fast and as he turned onto the on ramp the tires scraped the curb. "The seconds you save by driving this fast will not matter." He thought I was silly and we both laughed it off. If you have traveled through K-town lately you know that I-40 is closed. All traffic is diverted onto I-640 for several miles. On this Sunday afternoon the interstate was packed, buzzing along at 70-80 mph, but packed none the less. As I watched from my reclined passenger side seat I noticed drivers who were obviously in a hurry and not happy to be sharing the road. So many cars were weaving in and out, jockeying for position. There were semi trucks, mini coopers and everything in between. I didn't feel a sense of danger, more a sense of pressure and anxiety. My thoughts were of the people around me...where they angry? did they know peace from Jesus? what where they hauling in those trucks? One truck was a pickup pulling a trailer packed full of furniture. I wondered how long he had to drive with that load? (my own little stream of curiosity running in my head) All along I was watching the road and trying to guess David's next lane change. David pulled into the far left lane and I wondered what he was doing, the middle lane was completely empty. A semi truck soon pulled into the middle lane and I was glad we were out of his way. Just as we passed him, I looked out my window to see the pickup truck with the furniture making a turn into the path of the semi. Within feet of our van I witnessed the trailer of furniture strike another car and then be hurled into the semi. The loudness of the impact was so jarring that I screamed. David never faltered. He picked up speed and kept us out of the impact zone. As I turned to see what happened behind us, I was horrified. The semi crushed the trailer and then jack-knifed. The car immediately behind us was powdered with furniture remnants and forced into the center wall. We were the only car to escape. Every other car was part of the crash, covered with debris or trapped behind the now closed interstate. After the seconds of fright, we had to take a deep breath and recuperate. There were no other cars around us, we were alone on what had just been a crowded 6 lane interstate. David said he had been told to go into the far lane. I looked at him, knowing he does not exaggerate. He had planned on staying in the middle lane, Divine intervention chose the lane of safety for our family. Then I remembered my words from the potty break...that extra second made all the difference in the world. It meant our lives, the lives of our children were saved. He tells us in his word that He will protect us, that He is always present. On this Sunday was present and protecting us. Thank you God!
"You are Way,
You are the Truth,
You are alive in me,
Jesus you are...LIFE and BREATH to me"
On Sunday we left after our morning church service. We had to be at David's parents' house by 6:30. After a very hurried departure (lots of kids, luggage and gifts to get packed) we headed out. The trip was quite ordinary, gas in Lebanon ($1.39...wahoo), lunch at White Castle and Ice Age on the dvd. As we were getting into Knoxville, Alex and Olivia had to go to the bathroom. I could tell David was a little frustrated at having to stop again, he has a thing with being on time and we were just going to make it as it was. I went in with the kids and he stayed in the van with the twins. After a quick visit to the, well, you know, everyone was back in the van. David hurried across the highway and into the entrance lane for the interstate. I thought he was going too fast and as he turned onto the on ramp the tires scraped the curb. "The seconds you save by driving this fast will not matter." He thought I was silly and we both laughed it off. If you have traveled through K-town lately you know that I-40 is closed. All traffic is diverted onto I-640 for several miles. On this Sunday afternoon the interstate was packed, buzzing along at 70-80 mph, but packed none the less. As I watched from my reclined passenger side seat I noticed drivers who were obviously in a hurry and not happy to be sharing the road. So many cars were weaving in and out, jockeying for position. There were semi trucks, mini coopers and everything in between. I didn't feel a sense of danger, more a sense of pressure and anxiety. My thoughts were of the people around me...where they angry? did they know peace from Jesus? what where they hauling in those trucks? One truck was a pickup pulling a trailer packed full of furniture. I wondered how long he had to drive with that load? (my own little stream of curiosity running in my head) All along I was watching the road and trying to guess David's next lane change. David pulled into the far left lane and I wondered what he was doing, the middle lane was completely empty. A semi truck soon pulled into the middle lane and I was glad we were out of his way. Just as we passed him, I looked out my window to see the pickup truck with the furniture making a turn into the path of the semi. Within feet of our van I witnessed the trailer of furniture strike another car and then be hurled into the semi. The loudness of the impact was so jarring that I screamed. David never faltered. He picked up speed and kept us out of the impact zone. As I turned to see what happened behind us, I was horrified. The semi crushed the trailer and then jack-knifed. The car immediately behind us was powdered with furniture remnants and forced into the center wall. We were the only car to escape. Every other car was part of the crash, covered with debris or trapped behind the now closed interstate. After the seconds of fright, we had to take a deep breath and recuperate. There were no other cars around us, we were alone on what had just been a crowded 6 lane interstate. David said he had been told to go into the far lane. I looked at him, knowing he does not exaggerate. He had planned on staying in the middle lane, Divine intervention chose the lane of safety for our family. Then I remembered my words from the potty break...that extra second made all the difference in the world. It meant our lives, the lives of our children were saved. He tells us in his word that He will protect us, that He is always present. On this Sunday was present and protecting us. Thank you God!
"You are Way,
You are the Truth,
You are alive in me,
Jesus you are...LIFE and BREATH to me"
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Christmas card
Merry Christmas from all of us. May your holiday be filled with the peace and joy that comes only from our Lord Jesus Christ!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The Legacy lives on...
At our last church we had an annual dessert auction. It was a great night of sweets, laughing and lots of bidding and out bidding. It was a thrill for each lady as her special dessert went up for auction and the bids began to be made. Each year there were a few desserts that everyone looked forward to...anything by Mrs. Judy, Mrs. Binkley's coconut cake, Joy's banana pudding. Well, for some unknown reason, my red velvet cake was a favorite of one special bidder. Old Man always won the bid for my cake. It has been a couple of years since my last dessert auction but I always think about those nights when I make red velvet cake.
Today I am trying to insure that my red velvet legacy lives on...Olivia helped me bake today. We made cupcakes instead of a big cake (her choice). She loved breaking the eggs and running the mixer. I have decided that red food coloring is not a good choice to use with high energy little girls :) Even on "low" a mixer can sling red batter all over a kitchen. Cabinets and floors wipe off easily, curtains and pink shirts are a different matter.
Today I am trying to insure that my red velvet legacy lives on...Olivia helped me bake today. We made cupcakes instead of a big cake (her choice). She loved breaking the eggs and running the mixer. I have decided that red food coloring is not a good choice to use with high energy little girls :) Even on "low" a mixer can sling red batter all over a kitchen. Cabinets and floors wipe off easily, curtains and pink shirts are a different matter.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Conversations...overheard
No pics of this great moment, I didn't want to interrupt the story...
I fixed breakfast for the 3 little kids and turned my back to load the dishwasher. After a few minutes of nibbling and silly conversations about sippee cups, things turned serious. "Suddenwy der wer wots of angels" I stopped to listen, trying not be obvious. "heoor is his bed"..."dis is his piwo"...By this time I had to turn and look. There at my kitchen table was the Christmas story as told by 3 preschoolers and "acted out" by poptarts and breakfast bars (yes, they eat poptarts and breakfast bars...eggs, bacon and pancakes are what Cracker Barrel is for, but I digress). They were more than happy to share their story with me. I heard all about baby Jesus and his bed, all the angels, his mom and dad, the animals and the stars. Poptart pieces (you know the edges that no one eats) were crumbled to make a bed, a big poptart was his pillow, a breakfast bar had been nibbled down to fashion a barn, little crumbs were stars.
In the middle of running around, rehearsals, shopping, parties and all the other busyness of the season, it was a 4 year old and 2 three olds that brought me back to the real reason for season. A simple baby...who changed the world.
What sweet precious moment for me as a mommy. Children are never to young to learn, just ask them!
I fixed breakfast for the 3 little kids and turned my back to load the dishwasher. After a few minutes of nibbling and silly conversations about sippee cups, things turned serious. "Suddenwy der wer wots of angels" I stopped to listen, trying not be obvious. "heoor is his bed"..."dis is his piwo"...By this time I had to turn and look. There at my kitchen table was the Christmas story as told by 3 preschoolers and "acted out" by poptarts and breakfast bars (yes, they eat poptarts and breakfast bars...eggs, bacon and pancakes are what Cracker Barrel is for, but I digress). They were more than happy to share their story with me. I heard all about baby Jesus and his bed, all the angels, his mom and dad, the animals and the stars. Poptart pieces (you know the edges that no one eats) were crumbled to make a bed, a big poptart was his pillow, a breakfast bar had been nibbled down to fashion a barn, little crumbs were stars.
In the middle of running around, rehearsals, shopping, parties and all the other busyness of the season, it was a 4 year old and 2 three olds that brought me back to the real reason for season. A simple baby...who changed the world.
What sweet precious moment for me as a mommy. Children are never to young to learn, just ask them!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Carols...Anyone?
I love pulling out the Christmas CDs. Each year I fall in love all over again with so many songs. I also find myself remembering Christmases past when I sang one of the songs or someone at church sang them. Some bring a special memory embedded in the beautiful harmonies.
So I thought I would ask you my family and friends or random strangers who stumble onto this page to share your favorite lyrics. Just post a comment of your favorites...
"We're not that far from Bethlehem,
So I thought I would ask you my family and friends or random strangers who stumble onto this page to share your favorite lyrics. Just post a comment of your favorites...
"We're not that far from Bethlehem,
where all our hope and joy began,
for when our hearts still cherish Him,
we're not that far from Bethlehem"
Point of Grace
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