holding each other a little closer

The holidays themselves make me nostalgic and a little more appreciative of the blessings I have. But never more than this year.

Matt's birthday is December 16th, and I've been planning for a few weeks a little weekend getaway for the three of us. Having his birthday so close to Christmas, he asked if we could just do some service for his birthday rather than focusing on more presents (love him). 

I coordinated it all. I service scavenger hunt, kidnapping him to dc, a temple trip, and meeting up with one of his best friends little family, and helping someone who really needed it. 

Plans changed.

Avery and I came out to work with him yesterday so we could leave from there and shave off half an our of the drive time. She was my little buddy Christmas shopping all morning, and it came time to meet Matt for lunch. 

We hopped back in our little car from the magical world of target and headed down the busy 5 lane road to his work.

As I was driving between 40-45mph when a car in the right lane (I was in the left) apparently slowed down to let someone pull out, who I guess was trying to cross all lanes of traffic to turn left, and was completely unaware of me and all the traffic coming behind me in both lanes. The car bolted into my lane yards ahead of me and there was no way to dodge it. One of those slow motion heart wrenching moments. If I hadn't of swerved we would have hit it head on. 

I screamed and swerved into the suicide lane (which amazingly was clear) but I couldn't avoid the impact and the drivers side of our car smashed launching me to the left into oncoming traffic, that was headed straight for Avery's door. By some miracle there was a gap in the traffic and I hurried back into the suicide lane before we were hit again.

I called the cops and Matt and managed to remain my composure. Paramedic mode helped. We pulled to a parking lot and a firetruck and ambulance came to check us out. 

Just as the ambulance got there, Matt came up to me (he walked from his work) and gave me a hug I will never forget. We watched Avery for signs of shaken baby syndrome and all I found on me was a smashed knee. The paramedics reminded us of how lucky we were. Traffic was horrible. They could hardly get there. Yet we were blessed my that window of a break in traffic in the oncoming lane. 

We were skaken up but okay. 

Talking to my dad let it sink in. The day before my aunt had given him a blanket she made to give to Avery when they come out for Christmas. After meeting with her and finishing work he left to go to the dentist. He showed up first on a scene of an accident identical to ours, with even a slower speed limit. The girl involved was in her early twenties and had her face filleted open. He calmed her, stayed with her, and used the blanket to stop the bleeding. We have all been praying she made it and is okay. 

We are all holding each other a little closer today. 

Happy Friday the 13th