Nothing Small of a Miracle

John and I recently got back from Utah.  The Saturday before we left John's family was going to Jordenelle reservoir and then to Heber for a BBQ at his sister's house.  We left my parent's house at about 6:00 pm and started for Provo canyon, a two lane Highway.  On our way there Brigham got fussy so we stopped at a store to purchase a pacifier.  I sat in the back seat so that I could comfort him on our journey. 

John and I were having a fun conversation, it was as though we were dating again (except while we dated I sat in the front seat).  There was a bit of weekend congestion so John was thankfully driving slower than the speed limit.  As we headed North a 20-something girl ran out into the highway.  John swerved into the other lane to miss her but despite my attempt to scream at her I watched as she hit the windshield.  At this moment I thought how could John be so calm and then I heard him say "Truck!", unfortunately in the lane headed straight for us was a large diesel truck.  I cannot put into words what I was feeling as I saw what was all happening at that moment.  Brigham was behind the driver's side and all I could think as John was quickly swerving out of that lane back into our lane to avoid the truck was that this was the end of my family.  It was as though I saw the truck hitting our car and crushing my tiny infant.  Fortunately for me and my son John is a very calm man and was able to get us safely to the side of the road.  John told me to stay in the car as he got out and ran back to the girl who had hit the windshield and I am glad that he did, I didn't know what to do.  

It turns out that she was OK even with a cracked pelvis and some pretty large cuts. 

It is so weird to write this because I think I am still in shock from all that I witnessed.  It was as though it was the worst possible accident that turned out the best possible way.  The situation is such that none of us should be alive and yet we all are, with minor injuries that will heal.  I am so grateful to John for being calm and smart in such a horrible situation, he saved our lives.  

We will be getting a copy of the police report soon but our insurance claim agent recently received it and read to John what one of the witnesses wrote about the accident.  They said they wish that they could handle the car as well as John did.  The girls friend told her that the diesel was inches from hitting us.  I am grateful that John was driving slower because we came within a matter of seconds of our lives.  I am brought to tears as I write this.  I am so overwhelmed with emotion.  The girl later told us that as she was flying in the air she felt as though there were hands holding and protecting her.  I also feel like there were angels helping John drive the car as well as he did.  Thank you God for watching over us.

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We had to put duck tape on the windshield so the windshield wouldn't flap in the wind as we drove home.

This doesn't do justice to how much glass was in the front seat.  I am very grateful to Brigham for crying so that I rode in the back seat and avoided the face full of glass.

The dark line in the windshield is a hole.