Christmas Miracle
I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. - Psalm 40:10
I hope you all had a blessed and restful Christmas and holiday break. My family had every intention of doing the same, but as I have found, life rarely goes as we plan. We set out for a trip from Nebraska to California. Just me and my four kids. Headed to see my husband who has been working out of town, I was not as worried as my family. I am a cautious person, and assured everyone I would be safe. As we traveled, we drove through a bit of a snow flurry, signs in Wyoming of slick roads, I drove slow, we made it through. I got the kids all settled in for the night. The roads and skies were clear. The kids were sleeping and I was wide awake. Thirty minutes from my halfway stop point, I remember thinking "I could keep going to the next town, the weather is so great."
Within minutes, I found myself slipping on black ice.
I tapped my breaks to turn off my cruise control (both a big mistake on black ice), and I turned sideways on the interstate. I went to correct it, but not quick enough, I headed straight for the ditch going way too fast. It was out of my hands, nothing I could do to stop the inevitable. Immediately I began to call on the name of the Lord, "Jesus help us!" The van started flipping so fast after we went off the road. We flipped and flipped, and I remember thinking, "It has to stop eventually". Finally the car game to a stop, right side up *thank you Jesus*. The kids were awake and hysterical, I couldn't see, my glasses flew off in the wreck. As I searched frantically for my glasses and my phone, I alternated between "Is everyone ok?"..."It's going to be ok, we're going to make it."... "Where is my cell phone?!?!" At some point, my daughter says "Mom Sophia is outside the van!!" I look up to see her walking up the van! "What are you doing?!?! Why are you outside?!!?!" She says "I rolled out". I told her to get back inside right away. I was worried other cars would crash into us, and was honestly just in shock. She got back in the car, and I checked her to see if she was ok. She was! Amazingly she was ok!! I told her "God gave you a miracle! People can die when they fly out of the car, but you are just fine!!" She told me, "God put soft snow for me to land in." Not a scratch on my sweet girl. *thank you Jesus*.
Searching through all our stuff that was tossed everywhere, mixed with snow, mud, and ice, I finally found my glasses and my phone. I checked the kids over, they really were ok *thank you Jesus*, and I called 911. The emergency vehicles were on their way. I contact my husband, who hit the road within minutes to drive the 14hrs to get to us. Then I called my parents. My poor parents, who were so worried and hoping not to get a call like that. But the good news -- we are all ok. *thank you Jesus*. We just kept thanking, and thanking God.
All we could do was wait; we sat in the freezing cold van, with windows smashed out in the middle of the interstate. We found coats, and we waited for the help to arrive. About 15 minutes later, a young man pulled over to see if we were ok. We told him we were, but he said he would wait with us until help arrived, and offer his empty, warm van for us to wait in. Who else could pull over with enough room for my crew!?!? He even had 2 fluffy kittens for the kids to play with while we waited. I'm still not sure he wasn't actually an angel. *thank you Jesus*.
While we waited 3 semi-trucks jackknifed, and crashed about 600 yards from us, and several other vehicles ran off the road as well. They eventually closed down the interstate. When the emergency team arrived about an hour later, we were nice and warm in the van. They went over all the details with us, and were amazed that all of us, especially Sophia, were ok. No one needed medical attention *thank you Jesus* The Sheriff determined that Sophia's seatbelt failed to lock on impact, allowing her to be thrown from the van. They were quickly off to assess the other accidents.
We waited with our angel for another hour before the tow truck arrived. He towed the van, and us back to the closest town. We arrived to the local motel in Wamsutter, WY. We got the last room with 2 beds. The kids headed up the stairs to our room, with no phone, no hot water, and the tv didn't work. Still, thankful for a room, a bed, and 4 healthy kids. I had no cell service, and my phone was quickly dying. No charger in sight. I had to run to the motel office to use their phone and let everyone know we made it safe. Then off to a deep sleep.
The next day we got ready and walked to the tow company to collect what we could of our stuff from the van. It was crazy to see the van in the light of day. Still wrapping our heads around what actually happened, the kids kept saying "it feels like a bad dream". Again, we were just so thankful we survived. We bagged up our things, and a nice lady at the tow company gave us a ride to and from a restaurant for lunch. Back at the motel we got a call from the local First Baptist Church. They heard about our accident and wanted to know what we needed. So thankful for the kindness of our brothers and sisters in Christ, they gave us food and drink, and a ride too! *thank you Jesus*
We finally got a hot shower, and the tv working. Sometimes the little things make life a little easier. Then we slept another night, expecting my husband in the morning.
As the sun peaked through our curtains, pulling us out of our sleep, we heard a knock at the door. I raced to open the door and we were greeted by my husband's strong embrace. "Daddy!!!!" Did I mention it was my birthday too. :)
He wanted to hit the road to CA right away. A storm was behind us and other was coming our way tomorrow. We headed to the gas station to fill up. As we were waiting, our 1 year old said "bird, bird!!" We looked around and found the source of her excitement, a big black bird sitting on the gas pump right in front of us! The bird was so big! I thought it was a crow, but I didn't remember seeing a crow that big! It was looking right at us. Then it flew over our path and landed on another gas pump. Wow. Pretty cool.
We took off down the road, with clear skies. As we drove again we saw the bird, circling the car as we drove. What?!?!? What's going on? I started thinking about this crazy movie I saw where the crow in your path was a bad omen. (I know crazy right!) Then I saw the bird on a fence post as we passed. No other birds in sight. So, I started looking it up... I found that the bird was actually a raven, much bigger than a crow.
Native Americans say the Raven signifies that danger has passed and that good luck will follow. Whew! Good news!
I hope you all had a blessed and restful Christmas and holiday break. My family had every intention of doing the same, but as I have found, life rarely goes as we plan. We set out for a trip from Nebraska to California. Just me and my four kids. Headed to see my husband who has been working out of town, I was not as worried as my family. I am a cautious person, and assured everyone I would be safe. As we traveled, we drove through a bit of a snow flurry, signs in Wyoming of slick roads, I drove slow, we made it through. I got the kids all settled in for the night. The roads and skies were clear. The kids were sleeping and I was wide awake. Thirty minutes from my halfway stop point, I remember thinking "I could keep going to the next town, the weather is so great."
Within minutes, I found myself slipping on black ice.
I tapped my breaks to turn off my cruise control (both a big mistake on black ice), and I turned sideways on the interstate. I went to correct it, but not quick enough, I headed straight for the ditch going way too fast. It was out of my hands, nothing I could do to stop the inevitable. Immediately I began to call on the name of the Lord, "Jesus help us!" The van started flipping so fast after we went off the road. We flipped and flipped, and I remember thinking, "It has to stop eventually". Finally the car game to a stop, right side up *thank you Jesus*. The kids were awake and hysterical, I couldn't see, my glasses flew off in the wreck. As I searched frantically for my glasses and my phone, I alternated between "Is everyone ok?"..."It's going to be ok, we're going to make it."... "Where is my cell phone?!?!" At some point, my daughter says "Mom Sophia is outside the van!!" I look up to see her walking up the van! "What are you doing?!?! Why are you outside?!!?!" She says "I rolled out". I told her to get back inside right away. I was worried other cars would crash into us, and was honestly just in shock. She got back in the car, and I checked her to see if she was ok. She was! Amazingly she was ok!! I told her "God gave you a miracle! People can die when they fly out of the car, but you are just fine!!" She told me, "God put soft snow for me to land in." Not a scratch on my sweet girl. *thank you Jesus*.
All we could do was wait; we sat in the freezing cold van, with windows smashed out in the middle of the interstate. We found coats, and we waited for the help to arrive. About 15 minutes later, a young man pulled over to see if we were ok. We told him we were, but he said he would wait with us until help arrived, and offer his empty, warm van for us to wait in. Who else could pull over with enough room for my crew!?!? He even had 2 fluffy kittens for the kids to play with while we waited. I'm still not sure he wasn't actually an angel. *thank you Jesus*.
While we waited 3 semi-trucks jackknifed, and crashed about 600 yards from us, and several other vehicles ran off the road as well. They eventually closed down the interstate. When the emergency team arrived about an hour later, we were nice and warm in the van. They went over all the details with us, and were amazed that all of us, especially Sophia, were ok. No one needed medical attention *thank you Jesus* The Sheriff determined that Sophia's seatbelt failed to lock on impact, allowing her to be thrown from the van. They were quickly off to assess the other accidents.
We waited with our angel for another hour before the tow truck arrived. He towed the van, and us back to the closest town. We arrived to the local motel in Wamsutter, WY. We got the last room with 2 beds. The kids headed up the stairs to our room, with no phone, no hot water, and the tv didn't work. Still, thankful for a room, a bed, and 4 healthy kids. I had no cell service, and my phone was quickly dying. No charger in sight. I had to run to the motel office to use their phone and let everyone know we made it safe. Then off to a deep sleep.
The next day we got ready and walked to the tow company to collect what we could of our stuff from the van. It was crazy to see the van in the light of day. Still wrapping our heads around what actually happened, the kids kept saying "it feels like a bad dream". Again, we were just so thankful we survived. We bagged up our things, and a nice lady at the tow company gave us a ride to and from a restaurant for lunch. Back at the motel we got a call from the local First Baptist Church. They heard about our accident and wanted to know what we needed. So thankful for the kindness of our brothers and sisters in Christ, they gave us food and drink, and a ride too! *thank you Jesus*
We finally got a hot shower, and the tv working. Sometimes the little things make life a little easier. Then we slept another night, expecting my husband in the morning.
As the sun peaked through our curtains, pulling us out of our sleep, we heard a knock at the door. I raced to open the door and we were greeted by my husband's strong embrace. "Daddy!!!!" Did I mention it was my birthday too. :)
He wanted to hit the road to CA right away. A storm was behind us and other was coming our way tomorrow. We headed to the gas station to fill up. As we were waiting, our 1 year old said "bird, bird!!" We looked around and found the source of her excitement, a big black bird sitting on the gas pump right in front of us! The bird was so big! I thought it was a crow, but I didn't remember seeing a crow that big! It was looking right at us. Then it flew over our path and landed on another gas pump. Wow. Pretty cool.
We took off down the road, with clear skies. As we drove again we saw the bird, circling the car as we drove. What?!?!? What's going on? I started thinking about this crazy movie I saw where the crow in your path was a bad omen. (I know crazy right!) Then I saw the bird on a fence post as we passed. No other birds in sight. So, I started looking it up... I found that the bird was actually a raven, much bigger than a crow.
Native Americans say the Raven signifies that danger has passed and that good luck will follow. Whew! Good news!
Then a friend emailed me...
A raven was sent out by Noah from the ark. ( Genesis 8:7 ) This bird was not allowed as food by the Mosaic law. ( Leviticus 11:15 ) Elijah was cared for by ravens. ( 1 Kings 17:4 1 Kings 17:6 ) They are expressly mentioned as instances of Gods protecting love and goodness. ( Job 38:41 ; Luke 12:24 ) The ravens carnivorous habits, and especially his readiness to attack the eye, are alluded to in ( Proverbs 30:17 ) To the fact of the raven being a common bird in Palestine, and to its habit of flying restlessly about in constant search for food to satisfy its voracious appetite, may perhaps be traced the reason for its being selected by our Lord and the inspired writers as the especial object of Gods providing care.
What a great God we serve. He even sent the Ravens as a sign of His protection as we continued our journey. Amazing. So, so, so incredibly thankful.
We arrived to California in time for Christmas. We beat the bad weather, and relaxed and rested comfortably to our hearts' content. As I worked through the details and "what-ifs" of the accident, I kept coming back to God's goodness and mercy. Even in our own error or misjudgment, God is still willing and able to protect, guide, and care for us. *Thank you Jesus, it's not all up to me.*
A raven was sent out by Noah from the ark. ( Genesis 8:7 ) This bird was not allowed as food by the Mosaic law. ( Leviticus 11:15 ) Elijah was cared for by ravens. ( 1 Kings 17:4 1 Kings 17:6 ) They are expressly mentioned as instances of Gods protecting love and goodness. ( Job 38:41 ; Luke 12:24 ) The ravens carnivorous habits, and especially his readiness to attack the eye, are alluded to in ( Proverbs 30:17 ) To the fact of the raven being a common bird in Palestine, and to its habit of flying restlessly about in constant search for food to satisfy its voracious appetite, may perhaps be traced the reason for its being selected by our Lord and the inspired writers as the especial object of Gods providing care.
What a great God we serve. He even sent the Ravens as a sign of His protection as we continued our journey. Amazing. So, so, so incredibly thankful.
We arrived to California in time for Christmas. We beat the bad weather, and relaxed and rested comfortably to our hearts' content. As I worked through the details and "what-ifs" of the accident, I kept coming back to God's goodness and mercy. Even in our own error or misjudgment, God is still willing and able to protect, guide, and care for us. *Thank you Jesus, it's not all up to me.*
A Miracle on 34th Street is all I can say!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThey replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household."
ACTS 16 v 31 ~ Say What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Say Amen is say what!!!!!!!! I Love you all ~ God Mommy Edwina ♥