Jesus Take the Wheel

She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn't even have time to cry
She was so scared
She threw her hands up in the air

Jesus, take the wheel

Take it from my hands

Cause I can't do this on my own

There are moments in your life that carve themselves in your heart and in an instant you know you'll never be the same...you'll never forget...God is in control.

As I sit to type this, knot in my throat, tears streaming down my face all the emotions rush back and sucker punch me like nothing I've known before. I've lived through my fair share of hard roads but even adding all of those up pales in comparison to how I feel about last night. The thought of not having this sweet little pumpkin by my side is just too much to bear...

Grace and I were on our way home from her painting class with Mrs. Laura. We had made it all the way back to town, just a few minutes from home, when suddenly we were in a car accident. The moment of impact and the seconds that followed as our car spun out of control over the side of the road and down into the trees is one I will never forget.

I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on
Jesus, take the wheel

It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat
Sleeping like a rock

I keep seeing the trees covering our windshield, keep feeling the back & forth jerks of the car, keep hearing my baby girl's fear stricken "Mama!" ...in slow motion over and over again and the only thought I remember having from those horrible seconds is
"Jesus save us".

And that He did! When our car finally came to a stop, nose dive into the trees, I unbuckled my seat belt, got out and got Grace out of her carseat in what was probably 5 seconds flat. I didn't even turn the engine off. That thought haunts me as I keep thinking what if there was a gas leak, why didn't I turn the engine off. But I didn't. My only thought was to get my baby girl out and get out of the way as fast as possible.

I remember feeling the hot burn across my left shoulder and chest, feeling something wet from behind my right knee down my leg and a stabbing pain in my right hand but adrenaline is something else and a mama + adrenaline = something not to mess with. My baby girl was conscious, talking, hugging my neck as tight as ever, no visible injuries that I could tell.

God is in control.

I was holding Grace. We started making the trek toward the road, one shaky step after another (darn heels!). A gentleman appeared. He offered to carry Grace. I politely declined. He reached out, took my hand, and helped us walk up toward the road. He was a pediatrician. At a trauma hospital.

God is in control.

Someone called 911. Another gentleman turned my car off. While we waited for the paramedics, the pediatrician examined Grace's neck and clavicle since she was saying her neck hurt. He remained calm and reassuring to me when I needed it the most. He said her clavicle was intact. She would be okay. And then my tears - big hot tears - started rolling down my face as I held my baby girl tight sitting on the side of the road. God is in control.

My mom arrived minutes later, Lance and Hudson followed at the hospital. The other driver was okay. On the ambulance ride to the children's hospital, Grace told me, "This is fun. When can we do it again?" God has a sense of humor...He shares it with us through our CHILDREN. The paramedics & the hospital staff were amazing. My dear friend Bridgette met us at the hospital with Princess coloring pages, Wonder Pets, gummy bears & juice, and a Pillow Pet in hand. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for putting a smile on my little pumpkin's face in the middle of all this!

We walked away with only bruises and sprains. Grace's only "ouchies" ...from the car seat's straps. The straps that did their job flawlessly. The car seat that didn't budge an inch, the 5 pt. harness that kept her IN the car, safely restrained, her head & neck cushioned between the energy absorbing foam head restraint (a Britax Boulevard if you're wondering).

My mama nerves are shot. My prayers of thankfulness keep getting interrupted by flashbacks and what if thoughts, the alternative not plausible to my heart. Every time Grace says, "Let me give you a big hug Mama" or talks about "the big bump" and being "lost in the forest" my mind goes back to those fateful moments. And I don't know what I would do without this sweet, silly girl by my side...

Jesus, take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can't do this on my own

I'm letting go
So give me one more chance
To save me from this road I'm on

Oh Jesus, take the wheel
Oh, I'm letting go
~Carrie Underwood

Thank you to all who have been lifting us up in prayer and helping us these past two days.

God is in control.

Thank you Jesus for taking the wheel.