2.26.2009

I savor each day....

It's hard to savor each day when you don't know what is going to happen. It takes one event to make you realize that you should. I love these babies. I would do anything for them. Anything.








Two years ago I was in a horrific car accident. I was living in Colorado at the time and I had just delivered a piece of furniture to a client that had called last minute and needed it that day. So I dropped my children off { I thank god everyday that I did not take them with me}, and was returning home and coming over a crest of a hill. It had just started lightly snowing. After cresting the hill I could see at the bottom that there were already a bunch of cars piled up. I was probably only driving about 45 mph and started to slow down.

This is when i noticed a semi truck behind me just cresting the top of the hill and coming full force at me.





I knew at this point that things were going to be bad. Real bad. The one decision I made was to grab my cell phone and hold it with all my might. The Truck crashed into the back of my van, which then forced me into the piles of cars in front, which made my car flip 180 degrees.





Every airbag deployed, and the worst part was, the seat where my son normally sits in the back was squished. Tears are rolling down my face as i write this. You can't imagine the scene. My oldest would not have survived this accident if he was in the car with me.




Because I had my cell phone, I was able to phone a friend, tell her what happened and keep the kids for the day, I was able to call my mother who lived 5 hours away to come, I was able to call my husband who was in Chicago for business, and he caught the next flight home.

I was taken by ambulance to the hospital, concussion, severe neck whiplash, and my body hurt for over a month.

It took almost 2 years to receive a small settlement from the truck that hit me, and it wasn't much, just enough really to pay us back all the medical we incurred.

But each day I thank god that my children were not in the car.

That's why I savor each day.

xo



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42 comments:

the wild raspberry said...

how terrifying...i got the goosebumps just looking at the pictures. we must live life to the fullest every day and thank God for all his bountiful blessings!
warmly,
chasity

Maisy said...

KASEY~
OMG!!! I'm soooo happy the kids weren't in the car...that car seat!!!!
I'm sooo thankful you are here!
So what in your life changed after that? Maybe I should ask an easier question...what didn't change in your life. That is one of those life changing/defining moments.
God has BIG plans for you and your kids girl!
I'm not sure if I would have thought to grab my cell phone.
You never cease to amaze me !!
XO

Backyard Candle Co. said...

Oh my word! How scary that must have been! Praise God that your kids were not in the car with you and that you were not seriously hurt! You have beautiful children and its obvious you are a wonderful mother to them. You are all very blessed.

paige said...

oh kasey, what an amazing story. praise god those sweet precious babies were NOT in the car that day...oh my....we can't really even imagine that can we?
some days when i;m having just a plain ole, nothing exciting just boring day that i must remind my self to be grateful for those plain ole days...they ground us & keep us focused.
thank you for sharing your story..
big HUGS

i still LOVE that capture in front of the barn
xo

*The Beautiful Life* said...

I just finished reading this post and was startled (though I shouldn't have been...) to feel the warm wetness of tears rolling down my cheek. Oh how right you are. In the space of a couple of months last year, I experienced three HUGE losses -- all TOTALLY unexpected and all people who were my age. All with small children. How obvious it is that you had a miracle that day of your crash. Surely you must feel the nightmare afresh when you recounted it for us today in this post.
As it is with me, as I read this post, a song naturally began "playing" in my mind -- its an oldie for sure: Amy Grant's "Angels Watching Over Me" from the '80's.
"...though I never see with human eyes the Hands that lead me home. But I know they're all around me. All day and through the night. Near misses all around me; accidents unknown. And I'll never see with human eyes, the Hands that lead me home...."
We all have daily "miracles" in our lives that we will never (this side of heaven) know about. The near-misses we have been saved from unbeknownst to us...We lay our heads down at night never knowing all that COULD HAVE befallen us, but for the grace of God...Thank you, Lord.
XOXO
Ruth

Brandie said...

Oh my gosh Kasey! How horrifying. What an incredible blessing that your little ones weren't with you. Those types of things scare the crap out of me. You are absolutely right that we need to savor and be greatful for every single day.

Wendy said...

Oh Kasey! I looked at those pictures of your van, and just started crying with gratitude that your babies were not with you. What a blessing! Thank you for sharing this story. I will hug my little ones tighter today~

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

Oh my goodness! It is so amazing that you thought to grab your phone in that moment. Such quick thinking. I'm so thankful that your children were not with you and that you were okay. What a scary thing to go through.
~Michelle

Leah C said...

You just made me cry. I can barely see the screen to comment. How horrifying that accident must have been! How so very fortunate {I'd call it a miracle} that your precious babies weren't in the car. And that they didn't lose their mama that day. Thank God.

Anonymous said...

An amazing story. Thank God your kids weren't with you - it's kind of mind-blowing that often just one decision that we don't even think about that hard makes the difference. Thank goodness you came through that - how awful for you - I'm so sorry you had to go through that. I do think adversity makes up appreciate the good and maybe have a new look at life and what we have in our lives. Thanks for sharing your story.

goddessof4 said...

Casey ,that just made my heart ache.A similar experience happened where I was in a car accident caused by a drunk driver.I did not bring my two kids with me that day.The car was totaled .I had to crawl out a window.LUCKILY,I was not hurt (my neck hurt for a while) They never found the original driver but I believe my "guardian angels" were with me!!!!! It does make you appreciate life more!!!!! Sara

Anonymous said...

Oh sweet Kasey, how scary this must have been..you were smart to grab your phone. Thank goodness you had some angels with you that day, cause what would we all do without you? And thank goodness no babies were in the car...savor each day is right! :) I totaled a car three years ago, before I had a baby, mine flipped sideways three times, it was during one of the rainiest seasons we have had here in CA, the only thing that saved me from not going over the median to oncoming traffic was I let my foot off the brake and let my car take me where it wanted. I didn't hit any other cars on the road even though I went through 4 lanes of traffic! Savor each day, you never know when it is your last. Big hugs~

Anonymous said...

Reading about your accident just makes my heart swell and getting choked up!! I'm grateful you were able to survive, very fortunate! It's experiences like these that makes us appreciate our loved ones even more(if possible) and our precious days with them. Love your pic by the barn, so beautiful!!

Vana said...

thank goodness you survived dear friend! I ache when i read or hear such stories.

Sa-Sea said...

wow, that really is amazing! I always am scared to make plane reservations for others and decide where people need to be and when for that very reason! This is a great reminder to just live and live like it is your last day! Thanks for this story!

littlebyrd said...

What a terribly scary thing to happen! Oh my gosh - I can't even imagine....I am really happy you are ok and that your family wasn't in there with you. What you said is true - you never know what is around the corner - A good thought to keep in mind.

Kasey said...

Wow, those pictures are scary. Thanks for the reminder to enjoy each day we are given.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing your horrifying experience with us. You probably helped someone today by commenting on grabbing your phone. My mom is an emergency room nurse who drives over the Cascade Mountains almost everyday to get to work. I was talking to her when I read your blog. She'll probably end up passing your tip along to people at the hospital today.

God is definitely in control!
: )

Julie M. Anderson

Unknown said...

your post gave me full-body chills. oh dear. we had some crazy moments living in colorado that same winter (right before we moved back to the northwest)...never before had i thought to hold the cellie close in that kind of scenario...good thinking.
all love.

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

Oh my, you scared me just reading that. Good reminder to just hug our little ones more and more.

Grace at Home said...

I just thanked God too, that your children were not with you that day. Thank you for reminding me to appreciate each moment God gives to me.

Anonymous said...

what horrifying photos! really awful. it's easy to take life for granted, and it's good to stop sometimes & count our blessings. thanks for the reminder!

ReminisceHeirlooms said...

God was with you. He was with you when you dropped them off. I am so thankful you did. Our family owns a trucking company and I know that those weights cannot stop on a dime. :( You are so blessed with those beautiful children. I am so glad you are ok too. :)

Tammy said...

Wow! What a scary experience. Thank God you're kiddos weren't with you and that you were able to recover from your injuries. It does make you stop and think about living each day to the fullest. Things can happen in a blink of an eye. I love the picture of your beautiful, beautiful children.

Free Art Printables said...

THank goodness for all of those little things and the one big thing! I am so glad in the end you were okay! Jen

English Muse said...

Thank god you were ok! Thank you for sharing your story. It's a reminder that every day is precious. Tina

Katy said...

Ugh! I was in a wreck this past December with my 3 kids in my Toyota Sienna van, I still don't have my van back...it was fixable. I thank God to this day that we were all fine, but I still get scared driving. I'm sorry for your wreck. I wrote about my wreck on my blog w/ a few pictures. It's terribly scary isn't it.

La Table De Nana said...

I shivered looking at the car:( Poor you!
Thank God you HAD dropped off your 3 treasures..thank God you are fine.
The children are just beautiful:)

Jen Kershner said...

That is just so scary Kasey! Thank goodness you were alone and that you were okay in the end. You do have a lot to be thankful. We all do.

Anonymous said...

Whoa! How scary! That is such a blessing the kids weren't in the car. I'm glad you were okay. I love the picture of your kids.

That Girl Ang said...

Praises be to God Almighty for your survival... I thank Him that your kids did not experience this 1st hand!

Bethie - Chic Junque said...

You know, my friend, I went through this with you, but I never did see the pics of the van. OMG!! I knew you had bruises on your face, and I know you were in a daze and pain for quite a while, but seeing the pics is just frightening! I had no idea! I really didn't know....praise God those little guys weren't with you! Praise God you weren't hurt worse!

blue moss said...

Such a great reminder to live every moment of every day... God is good.
michelle

Beth said...

wow , this gave me goosebumps reading this , yes i savor every day too - your one lucky girl !!!
xoxo,
beth

Angela Harris said...

Praise GOD! Thank you for sparing Kasey's children!
Thank you for sharing:)

Joanna Goddard said...

oh my goodness, that is so scary! i'm so glad you are ok. xoxo

traci said...

oh kasey. that is so scary. i am so glad that it was not worse and that the kids were not with you.

Montee said...

I am visiting from The nester. I saw this and had to comment. My son was in a similar accident in December. There was an accident on the hilly road between our house and school. He came over a hill without realizing the traffic was backed up. He hit a van at 55mph. Thank goodnes no one was in the back of the van, it looked like yours. The man driving the van was okay and very kind to my son because he had almost done the same thing when coming over that hill. Another car came over the hill and clipped the back of my son's car. My son had a banged up knee and a bump on the head. His old SUV (that saved him too) was totaled and so was the van. I was a little irritated that there were no police at the top of the hill to slow drivers down because of the first wreck. There were 4 or 5 police cars at the first wreck which was practically cleared by the time my son hit the van. Those policemen heard my son's wreck a mile away. Two of them raced to the scene. A little late for me. Thankgoodness no one was hurt badly in your wreck. I imagine that was scary seeing that semi coming over the hill.

By the way, love your blog. I'll be sure to checkout your shop.

Sarah said...

Praise God you were protected and your children were safe as well!
What amazing pictures of your van!

Andrea Singarella said...

sitting here with tears in my eyes.....thank GOD you are ok and your babies weren't there. Angels, Kasey...there were definitely angels.
xoxoxo

Busy Little Quilter said...

Hi! I'm here because of the Nester and her sister, Emily. I was scrolling along, looking at your beautiful home and decorating ideas, and all of the sudden I saw this. Bless your heart. I, too, am glad that your children weren't with you. And I'm glad you're okay. I, too, had tears rolling down my face as I read.

shopruche.com said...

They are too cute. Oh goodness, what an a miracle. I'm sure you had an angel with you that day.