Yesterday Tia and I wanted to meet up for dinner at the food truck roundup. He goes straight from work to the frontrunner to class in the evenings and we thought it would be fun for the kids to see him before class. I tried to find a parking spot for forever! After circling around three different times, and realizing Tia was going to be late for class because we were running late, I finally decided to park close across a busy street and called Tia who had just gotten off the train, to come help us cross the street. So I got out of the car with the kids and held Christian, in one hand and Avery's hand in the other, who held Adelyn's hand. We walked on the sidewalk and waited on one side of the street when we saw Tia walk up to the sidewalk across the street. (I know, I know, so not smart.) All of a sudden, I saw this little figure in bolt out in front of me in the street. Adelyn had let go of Avery's hand (something she of course never does) and started running across the street to go see her daddy. Her life flashed before my eyes as an oncoming car came to a stop in front of her. I said so many prayers of gratitude last night and Tia and I cried together thinking how different our night could have been...
I am so grateful for the huge wake up call and to have her precious life spared. Here are a few things I learned and I hope you can learn from my experience.
1) Life is so precious and fragile. Adelyn had been a little stinker the few days before, stayed up until eleven the night before because she kept getting out of bed, and was kind of driving me crazy. But in an instant, none of that mattered and I was reminded she is among my greatest treasures here on earth and that I can never take her terrible-two self for granted. I held all my kids in my arms tighter and longer than I have in a long time as I tucked them in bed and thanked Heavenly Father for opportunity to be their mom.
2) I must be more assertive and alert while driving. I shudder to think what would've happened if that person had been texting, or looking down at his i-pod to change a song. Of course I was too shaken up to even look at the person but I wish I could somehow find them and give them a huge hug thanking them for being alert and sparing my little girl's life.
3) When my mom was set apart as a missionary, she was told that my dad and others who have passed on before would watch over her kids and grandkids while she was gone. Adelyn and my mom have always been really close and I know that she was protected by family on the other side. I am so grateful for the blessings my family is receiving from my mom serving the Lord and for angels to step in and cover where I failed.
4) Always try to keep my kids as safe as possible, especially when I don't have enough hands to hold each of theirs. It doesn't matter how stressed I get, how late we are, I should never compromise my kids safety.
I am so grateful for a second chance and the reminder to hold my family and loved ones close and remember the things in life that matter most.
