I left for Johnstown on Sunday afternoon after taking Aunt Janice to church and lunch. I was going to celebrate my granddaughter's 12th birthday. I made a coconut cake to take along. Kirah and I and the cake arrived safe and sound about three in the afternoon. Jason and I took the scooters for a drive into town to get party supplies. I had a little wreck getting back into the driveway. The only thing damaged was my pride. Felt like an idiot since other party goers had arrived and were all sitting on the steps with front row seats to the little fiasco.
The party was full of noise and laughter and fun! The burritos and Spanish rice were excellent and went well with vegetarian green chile and the yellow watermelon. There were gifts and birthday cupcakes and coconut cake with your choice of three flavors of ice cream. There was a trip to the hospital for Hayden when he fell head first onto the trampoline springs. He got two staples in the top of his head and is proud as punch! All in all it was a memorable birthday for Tyler.
I spent the night there so that I could visit a friend in Longmont on monday and then go on to Boulder to have lunch with Patrice. She and Jon are in town for a few days from Boston. Sleeping is a challenge at the kid's. They have two huge basset hounds and an enormous beagle (he's not fat, just big) that think the furniture is theirs. I sleep on the couch and we spend the night trying to share the sofa. Everyone leaves at different times in the morning so that is interesting. Except Hayden. School for him does not start for a couple days.
So he was still in bed and I was getting my things together and taking them to the truck when the beagle escaped. I had planned on getting all loaded up and then quietly telling Hayden goodbye. So much for that! The beagle is a runner so I had to wake Hayden up to help track him down. We took the truck and did not see hide nor hair of the escape artist. I ran up and down a couple of walking paths and told Hayden we are going back to get you some shoes so you can run up and down the walking paths too. Praise YHVH, bad beagle was waiting for us when we got back. I guess Abba was making sure I got to visit with my friend. And a wonderful visit/reunion it was. We have sort of stayed connected via email, but the face to face was the best. She is a huge blessing and we will be doing this much more often! I left for Boulder with such a full heart!
Oops! I missed my turn to the restaurant. Decided I could figure it out but was wrong. Good thing for cell phones and Patrice knowing the area extremely well. Ok, so she directs me and I find the restaurant but there is no where to park. Finally! Now, Abba has provided a nice cloud cover, so Kirah can stay in the car while we eat and visit. I get her settled with open windows and water dish and carefully lock and shut the car door on my thumb. Owwwuh. Thankfully, I have my keys in the other hand and they have the buttons that you push for locking and unlocking. I get the unlock button pushed and opened the door. Big bruises starting to form on the outside and inside of the thumb. Hurts. As I start off for the restaurant, I begin to pray over the thumb. By the time I get there, about a block, there is only a small pea sized bruise on the knuckle. By the time lunch was over there is only a small mark where the door clamped down on it. Tonight, it is slightly swollen, a little sore but no bruising and no broken anything. Yea, GOD!!
Again, getting to hug my friend in person and just sit and talk like we used to was the greatest. We got Kirah and walked to find pastries for dessert. I left for home around four in the afternoon. Traffic was already balling up and I made a decision to get off of I-36 and take some side roads I am familiar with to avoid the mess. As I sat stopped behind a pick up truck that was waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so he could make a turn across the traffic, I caught a glimpse of a car in my rear view coming up behind me very fast. I began pumping my brakes to flash the tail lights but the driver was oblivious. When she finally wakes up, SCREEEEEEEEEEECH and then BAM! I had just had a conversation with another friend about how everything happens for a reason. Hmmm. Pull over out of traffic and get out to see if she is ok and assess the damage. Her front end is totally smashed. My bumper is gouged and pushed in. That's all. Thank you Abba for this tank you provided for me to drive! (And for Zach who found it.) And thank you for surrounding me with the cushion of your protection! I am not hurt. The other driver hit her head.
7 o'clock pm and I am safely home. Much to think about and evaluate. One thing though. In spite of what was pretty much a day of disastrous happenings, I am very peaceful and have an overwhelming sense of joy. I saw the hand of my God on me like never before. It was as if nothing could touch me! Not my body. Not my attitude. Not my faith. My God is AWESOME!!! I remember a time when even one of these events would have ruined my day, when the problems would have ruled over the blessings. I have grown. I have changed. When the changes actually manifest in your life, it is glorious! Moving on has definitely been a theme for me the last few months. It is as if today I have passed a major mile marker in my spiritual walk. The under shepherd at my community recently finished a series of messages on inside out faith. They affected me deeply. What I experienced today was definitely inside out faith. This level of trust and rest in my God is new. It is for the next leg of the journey and I am thrilled to see where He leads! Glory to YHVH and praise to His holy name!