Long Time!

Well, I see it has been awhile since my last post. A few things have happened since then. Like...a wreck. On January 19 I was driving home from work. I decided to go by Target to get some coffee and on the exit ramp I slid on the ice and tapped the car next to me. We pulled over to check out any damage. There was none. Luckily, I am a somewhat smart driver and was going slow enough that I didn't even leave a scratch on either car. She suggested we get back in our cars, as we had already called the cops. I decided to call dad and let him know I had a minor incident and would be home in a little bit. Well, I didn't get all those words out of my mouth. I did however say " Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!", as I saw headlights coming straight at me. I was in park with hazards on, but no seatbelt at this time. She hit almost straight on from behind and sent me into the other car, I originally didn't even scratch, and back out into traffic. My first thought, "I thought my car was in park." I looked and it was in park, but how did I get all the way over here? Dad was on his way, luckily I had already told him my location. My neck hurt a little, but nothing to send me to the hospital over. I was thankful I wasn't lying in the middle of the road, knowing just a minute before she hit me I was right in front of my car looking at the lack of damage I had done to the other car. We all stood out in the snow for awhile before the State Trooper came along. He made sure I was okay from my neck injury and instructed me to go to the ER if it got any worse. I had a chiropractor appointment in the morning so I figured I'd just have him check it out and make sure I was okay. By midnight, my entire back hurt and my left shoulder was sore. The next morning the chiropractor took x-rays of my neck and all was well, so he adjusted me and said I should notice a big difference. Come Monday, my shoulder still hurt and the pain went down through my fingers. He thought it was a partial dislocation. I decided to call my regular Dr. and have them take x-rays of just the shoulder. I couldn't get in until this morning. Torn ligaments and a separated collarbone from the shoulder joint. No wonder I hurt so much. The remedy? Take two aspirin and call me in the morning. Seriously, I am taking Aleve and then I have to put heat on it as much as possible. I'm supposed to take it easy from work so I don't cause more injury, and yet he wants me to do a couple of exercises to help. The Aleve does nothing for the pain so far, and I 've taken the maximum dosage of it. My work is trying to be sympathetic, and yet they want me to work all day tomorrow and then they'll "see" what they can do about the rest of the week. But next week looks much better for time off. If only injuries worked that way. ( It won't hurt that much this week but next week will be worse) I guess I'll just have to suck it up an drive on.
Takyra was with my mom in the mountains when the wreck happened. Even so I was worried about them driving with the road conditions up there. I prayed the entire day they were driving back, asking God to keep them safe the whole way home. Mom told Takyra about the accident right before they got home. She was devastated. I explained why it is so important for me to make sure I say "I love you" before we part ways for the day. I told her how I don't like to end things in argument because you never know what can happened that day.
Our new favorite song is Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel." Takyra has it memorized and understands it's meaning. To think back and know I could have been outside that car, and would now be in the hospital, or worse, 6 feet under. Something like this does make one analyze life and how they've lived it. "Jesus take the wheel. Take it from my hands, cause I can't do this on my own. I'm letting go. Give me one more chance. Save me from this road I'm on. Jesus take the wheel."

Christmas Lights

Here are some houses close by us that go WAY out each year. I can't imagine the electric bill.

It's already 2006?

I knew I hadn't posted anything in my blog in awhile, but this is crazy. December flew by. I am realizing the older I get the faster time flies. I didn't even get to really enjoy the Christmas season. I love the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas and it all passed me by this year. I feel like I was working and shopping the whole month of December.
When Christmas did finally arrive, it also decided not to take it's time and linger a bit. Takyra woke up at 4 am Christmas morning. She came to my room excited that Santa got her a snowboard ( it only had a bow on it). I realized the time and told her to lay down and go back to sleep until everyone was awake. At 6:50 am I heard the pitter patter of monster 8-year-old feet. Mema was up with Takyra. I asked if she woke up her Mema and she assured me she didn't, but she also let me know she had never gone back to sleep.
Takyra woke up Tarisa and Papa. Papa got the bouncing wake up. We all gathered in the living room in our Christmas Eve/day pajamas ( a new tradition we have started). Takyra read the Christmas story out of the Bible for us. We looked in our stockings then opened our presents. I think we almost hit a record time for openeing all the presents in the house. We went to church, then to the theater to see "Little Shop of Horrors". Busy, busy.
Time seems to fly way to fast. I can't believe that all this seems as though it was just yestreday adn yet it was almost two weeks ago.
New Year's was almost not fun for me and Takyra. I got home from work to find out that Takyra had slammed her finger in the car door when Mema, Papa, and Tarisa took her up to the mountains. From the picture above(taken not long after the finger smashing incident) one cannot tell she was in pain. It was swollen and had a big cut across the knuckle. I took her to the ER and had prepared for a long wait by rbinging puzzle books to occupy our time. Every couple of minutes, Takyra would ask what time it was. It finally dawned on me, she was worried she would miss the count down to New Year's. Luckily, our preparation for the long wait made the visit a short one. It always seems true that if you have nothing to pass time, then it will take forever, but if you have something, you are finished in no time. We got to the ER about 6 :30 and were out by 8:30. No broken finger, and my daughter was more excited that she would get to celebrate New Year's. I don't think she would have cared if it was broken so long as she got out of the hospital in time. She is now glad it is not broken because she can do gymnastics. We both celebrated New year's and our trip to the ER was just a little delay in our festivities.
All in all, the holidays were fun, but fast. I pray that one day the season slows down again so I can actually enjoy the entire time leading up to Christmas.