My Life Is Not an Accident

"Thank you God for the beautiful sunset you've given us tonight," I said as we walked out of Office Depot. "The sunset is just icing on the cake," said Michael as he gently put his arm around my waist and guided me across the parking lot. "Thank you God for giving me my wife back; for giving her her life back." Exactly 1 month, 1 car accident, 1 helicopter ride, 1 closed head injury, 1 broken collarbone, 1 broken humerus, 1 wound vac, 2 surgeries(complete with rods, screws, stitches, and borrowed skin from my thigh to cover the gaping wound on my arm), 7 doctors appointments, and countless pain meds later, I finally have the energy to take up my blogging again. I think. As long as I don't let myself get too intimidated by the fact that I only have the use of one hand to type. Don't worry, the other hand is still intact, the fingers just won't work for me until the nerve heals. My physical and emotional recovery has been a journey. A journey that is nowhere near finished. It's a strange feeling to know that I could have died. Had it not been for a God who orchestrated the tiny details of my accident, such as how my car folded around me, how Michael knew instantly something was wrong and came to find me, how total strangers stopped to keep me calm and call for help, how the EMTs, nurses, doctors, and surgeons knew exactly what to do and did it with urgency and efficiency, I could have been in a much worse state than I was. Although my recovery has been difficult (it is, after all, a humbling thing when someone has to help you go to the bathroom and get dressed), there have been countless blessings that have stemmed from the accident. For one, Michael and I have become infinitely closer as a couple. To say that our marriage has been strengthened is an understatement. Most couples don't have the "luxury" of facing a crisis within the first 3 months of marriage; however, I am confident God has allowed us to have this experience to prepare us for the future, whatever that may entail. I realize every day that Michael is a gift, that God has blessed me with one extra day to spend with him, that our life together is not an accident, and that we have a purpose. Another blessing is that I have become much more aware of the support and love of my family, from my grandparents coming to clean our house and do laundry; to my parents who have sacrificed time from work, encouraged, and prayed; to my in-laws who have given us laughter, a change of scenery, and allowed Michael to have time off work; to Christy who has made me realize that a sister is the purest form of life-long friendship and loyalty, truly a "kindred spirit." Once again, God has formed beauty from the ashes in my life. Thank you, Lord for being forever faithful and for having a compassion for us that never fails.