This was written Feb. 2nd…but for some reason it didn’t post correctly.
On this night nineteen years ago, I was sitting in a hospital praying that my husband would live. For those of you that don’t know Bill was in a terrible car accident and had a brain injury. It was a long, difficult time for us. It deepened our relationship with each other. (eventually…after he came back from la la land J) It is when I found out how close you can get to God…when he is all you have to hold on to.
We celebrate this day every year. I know to some it sounds morbid or weird to celebrate a car accident but I don’t see it that way. In Deuteronomy, it says that the children of
Israel were told by God to make a memorial when they crossed the sea. They built stone memorials to mark the great things God had done for them…so they could tell their children. It was a way to remember. Each time they passed a memorial, they would tell the story again of God’s faithfulness. Each year we pass this memorial, and we tell our children how God saved their father and made him whole again. At our house, it is called Daddy’s Alive Day. Tonight we discussed the horror of the day. The first moments at the hospital and the months in rehab. We always like to talk about the crazy and funny things he said and did during that time…it wasn’t funny then, but now the fact that he thought he won the super bowl is hilarious. It is these moments that show our kids the faithfulness of God. How he sustained us. They get to see how he made the impossible…possible. They get to see a miracle, in the life of their father. Next year, we will have a Mommy’s Alive Day. We haven’t decided which day we are going to mark as our memorial day yet. Last chemo, Jan. 2 sounds good to me…but we decided it needs to be more separate from New Years to make it special. When is not important but we will build a memorial…and we will remember. God is faithful!
Michelle's Mosaic 
Was it a Tuesday? I remember not going to Bible Study that Wed. morning so I could go to the hospital. Those were scary days but God was very gracious. I celebrate with you all!!!
You know I have no idea what day it was. I know it was during the week not a weekend…but it is all a blur. Bill was asking me when we were talking about it all what time of day it was. I don’t remember that either. I am pretty sure it was around mid-day when they called me. I know he had a breakfast appointment with a family at our church and that went long. It happened on his way home from that. I remember not being able to get in touch with his parents or mine for awhile…before cell phones…he was in the ER for hours, I do remember that. I remember hearing him yelling and screaming from the waiting room. I had to sit out in the hall not to hear it all. All in all that whole day is a numb, blur of images. I remember you coming to the hospital and coming into ICU to visit even though you didn’t really want to see him…he was pretty banged up. Hey at least you didn’t throw up or pass out like a couple of people did! All of you guys were a life line in my foggy moments. God is faithful to send who you need when you need them!
Michelle,
Thanks for sharing this. We, too, believe that it is important to remember and give thanks. Please let Bill know that although we weren’t a part of your lives when this happened, we are very grateful to God that Bill is here! We value him and you!
Love,
Jerry and Denise