Today – July 2 – is the anniversary of the day that we loaded our suitcase, our baby and a bag of Salsa Kettle Chips into our car for a quick trip to Black Butte to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday with my family. Whitney was 13 months old and REALLY fussy from a lingering cold she’d been fighting and she spent exactly 100% of the minutes in her car seat wanting NOT to be in her car seat. I considered taking her out. I had done it before on long trips, though not often…we just really wanted to do something to make her feel better. I can’t really explain it – all I can say is that every time I reached for her, I just felt a giant NO. About 45 minutes into the trip, we rounded a corner on the curvy mountain pass and came face-to-face with a car being driven by a guy who’d been celebrating the holiday early. (Um…who drinks a bunch of beer and then throws the empty cans and TWO LITTLE GIRLS in the car for a road trip? Turns out, it wasn’t his first time driving in that condition.)
I don’t remember the impact, but I awoke to an eerily quiet world, wrapped in a jumbled mass of metal. A doctor who happened to be a few cars behind us was helping Whitney. His wife – a nurse – was helping me. Steve was wandering up and down the road in a shocked stupor, trying to figure out who and where he was.
Though it was a really tough day and a long recovery, I can’t think of a time that was filled with more destiny or hope or peace. I’m so grateful for God’s mercy and protection in the middle of a road on an ordinary trip on an extraordinary day. I’m thankful for His grace in taking us through it and not around it. I’m thankful that my baby lived to tell the story – and shares the scars on her beautiful face with the world without shame or regret. I’m just really thankful for it all. And I’m also reminded that God can do the greatest things with the hardest times. He blessed us then…
He blesses us now…
Twenty years later.
Amazed by grace,
Bo
Freaking A Bo! That one made me cry too. You need to stop it with these cry-worthy posts
I cry every time you tell that story (especially when Steve tells it – yikes!)…and now is no exception. It’s insane how a moment of such terror and tragedy can become so beautiful and purposeful when seen through the eyes of someone looking for Jesus.
P.S. I love the way you write and speak and communicate and I think you need to manufacture a pill that can get me to sound as good and wonderful as you. 🙂
Re-read it…crying again.
Kristin – sorry. I’ll try to lighten things up around here! Also, btw, not to get too heavy or deep or meaningful, but I saw you on worship with Luke tonight and I…hmmm…I know it sounds silly but I was just really…in a word? Happy. Really happy about who you are and all that you guys are becoming. Nicely done. Actually – there was more than that – look me up because I’d love to share it with you.
Katie…um…wow. You don’t need to ever ask me for any help with communication and I hope that preaching the Word tonight made you certain of that. I couldn’t be more proud of you if you were my very own. 🙂
And Whit & Corey: I didn’t mean to make you cry in Mexico, but this day – this big anniversary day – just does it to me. Every year – no,every DAY – I’m so thankful for your life, Whit. And every day I’m so grateful for your presence in our family, Corey. I love you guys and am excited for you to be home.
This post makes me really excited for 15 years from now… the stories and scars my little bro Elijah will share with the world. He already shares them… but i’m sure it will be even better when he’s a little bit older.
there are few things that delight me more than to see someone living in God’s purpose and in victory over the enemies attacks!!! Way to Go Whit.. and Corey =)
I even teared up just reading your response to Whitney on here..
YOU SAID YOU’D LIGHTEN THINGS UP
and I would love to hear what you have to say.
I quit my job.. so I’ll be 50% more available in about a week and a half. So we should get together – I’ll buy you coffee, you give me eternal wisdom.. sounds like a good trade to me???
On a different note (and a shameless plug)
I started a new blog (new job = new blog)
and you should visit it.. and tell your friends about it (and maybe they’ll click on my real estate blog while they’re there.. and they’ll let me help them find a house.. and we will be able to eat this month)
anyway.. I’m working at Perry Jones Interior Designs. and my new blog is http://designbend.wordpress.com
I just have to say, your whole family is so inspirational. I don’t get to talk to you much, but I love you, and love how you freely offer so much wisdom. You’ve had such an impact on my life Bo!
Thanks Jennifer and Cassie…you ladies are amazing.
Kristin…shameless plugs are what the worldwide web is all about! I like you’re new blog (wow, I wrote “bog” like 17 times before I got it right)…I totally LOVE design sites and really need a lot more ways to spend my free time. 🙂 Coffee…yes! I have a fabulously open couple of weeks before I leave on vacation. Shoot me an email with a couple of options!
Oh, I just HATE that I wrote “you’re” instead of “your”. That’s one of my grammar peeves. Tori got home from Mexico at 3:00 a.m. and I clearly haven’t recovered from the sleep interruption.
All of you are all so gushy on this blog! But I must admit that I cried, and soon after me Corey was crying after reading this, so way to go. To add to the crying mess of things, the sunburn on my forehead makes my scars stand out even more, but I really like it that way. I consider myself lucky to have these scars – and how many people do you know that want their scars to be MORE visible than they are? Anyway, we’re having a blast in Mexico, but we’re both so terribly excited to be home. We’re sad we’re missing you on the 4th of July, but maybe we can have a late celebration when we get back since it’s the holiday with all of my favorite food! Thanks, Mom, for the beautiful blog. I feel so fortunate to have the wonderful family that I do. Don’t miss us too much today. Love you lots, talk to you soon! -Whitney
PS Congrats on the new job, Kristin!