I spent yesterday afternoon at Starbucks overseeing all the details of my book’s launch and answering a multitude of emails involved with that. I left right before 5 p.m. to make it home before our babysitter had to leave.
I was in a bit of a rush to make it home in time, so I didn’t stop to go to the bathroom before leaving. Bad idea–especially since I had downed a Venti tea and a glass of water while I was at Starbucks.
A few blocks from home, I stopped abruptly to avoid hitting the car in front of me that had decided to turn at the last minute. A few seconds after braking, there was a loud crash and a big jolt as the car behind me rear-ended me.
Getting out to investigate, I discovered it wasn’t bad at all–just some minor scratches and scrapes to add to the collection already on the back of our well-used van. I figured I could just get the other driver’s insurance information and be on my way.
I should have known it wouldn’t be that simple. 🙂
The other car was a 2012 Mustang in pristine condition. The driver, a very friendly woman in her 40’s, was quite upset about the whole thing. And she had every reason to be: the front bumper of beautiful car had a large crack in it.
She had already called the police and said they were on their way.
I talked to Jesse on the phone and he said it couldn’t be long for the police to arrive, so we pulled into a residential area. I also texted the babysitter to let her know what was going on.
By this time, I really needed to go to the bathroom and I also noticed that the gas gauge was almost completely on empty. 20 minutes had passed and the police hadn’t arrived yet.
Surely, it couldn’t be much longer.
Jesse was becoming a little frustrated that it was taking the police so long to show up, so he started texting and calling a few of his police friends to see if he could help expedite the process. It was to no avail.
After an hour had passed, Jesse headed home to pick up the kids. He stopped by the nearest police station and talked to people there but no one seemed to be able to help us.
I was ready to just leave the scene and file a report at the police station, but the other driver really wanted to stay and wait. She kept calling the police and they kept saying they’d send someone as soon as they could.
I didn’t feel comfortable leaving without mutual consent, so I kept waiting, hoping that every car that passed was a police car.
Finally, after an hour and a half of waiting, someone from the police station called the other driver to let her know that an officer was on his way. Yay! I was so relieved that we were going to get everything processed and taken care of.
Maybe, just maybe, I’d get home by dinner time. Seeing as it was our anniversary and all, I kind of wanted to make it home in time for dinner!
Well, I’m not exactly sure what “on their way” means but it was another 40 minutes before the officer showed up. Yes, we had been waiting there for 2 hours and 20 minutes.
The good news? The officer who showed up was extremely nice. He apologized profusely and then started having us fill out our paperwork.
It was about this time that panic set in: I couldn’t find my driver’s license.
I pulled every piece of everything out of my purse and wallet and went through my computer case with a fine-toothed comb. It wasn’t there.
I was trying to stay calm, but my insides were churning. My husband represents lots and lots of traffic cases in court and I knew this was potentially a very bad thing and I could get hit with a misdemeanor. I’ve never even gotten a ticket in my life, so I was extremely upset to think of that mark on my record.
Remember how I said that the officer was so nice? Well, that graciousness came into play here. I think he sensed my genuine panic and, after checking my record and seeing it was squeaky clean, he told me that he wasn’t going to charge me for not having my license with me while driving.
Whew! I heaved a huge sigh of relief, expressed immense thankfulness, and finished filling out the paperwork.
After we were done, the van had a lot of trouble starting because it was almost out of gas, but I got it to start and prayed the entire four blocks home that it would make it. And it did.
3 hours and 15 minutes after I left Starbucks, I finally made it home. After making a beeline for the restroom, I retraced all of steps to figure out where my license could be.
And then I remembered: when I went to get my passport I’d made up a packet of everything I needed–including my license. In an attempt to be responsible, I’d taken this packet out of my purse when I got home completely forgetting my license was still in there.
Big oops.
Even though it wasn’t how I’d planned we’d spend our nine-year anniversary evening, there were some blessings in it:
::I’m so thankful no one was hurt. It could have been much worse.
::I’m thankful that the other woman willingly took responsibility for running into my van. It’s much more difficult when there’s a dispute over whose fault it was.
::I’m so, so thankful that the officer showed me grace.
::I’m very thankful I discovered I didn’t have my license. Kaitlynn and I are flying to Florida on Sunday for a Family Life event and it would have been bad had I showed up at the airport and then discovered I didn’t have my license.
::I’m thankful that I found my license when I got home.
::And finally, I’m thankful that I drive an older van with lots of character flaws. If you already have quite a few nicks and dings and scratches, it’s not a big deal to add a few more to the collection. 🙂
Oh and I was expecting for you to say that you were glad it was an old car because you peed when you got hit! LOL
Just finally able to go through my Google Reader and reading this – because I also was in an accident!! We found the downside to having an older car: it totals really easily. A 10 year old Dodge Grand Caravan with 90,000 miles is only worth $5500 according to the insurance company and the damage was $4500 so they totaled it. Now, we WOULD have gotten it fixed – had it not been for the fact that the safety frame post behind the driver’s side door was crushed. Hubby said he didn’t trust a repair on that. Had it just been exterior body stuff (the entire left side of the car was damaged but mostly the driver’s side door where he hit me at a 90 degree angle) it would have been a different story.
So now I’ll be driving a new car – bought for the same price as what we were willing to pay for a 2 year old car!! It pays to know the owner of the dealership. 😉
As for the potty issue? That’s my fear so I ALWAYS go before I leave anywhere. An accident can take forever and when you gotta go, you gotta go!! LOL
But I’m so glad you are OK. My daughter and I are still sore 6 days later and my daughter is not allowed to work (she’s a cashier at a grocery store and a college student on break) and I’m laying low but fortunately, there is no spine issues. 🙂 Just muscles. It could have been so much worse but he was going only about 20 mph and I was going 32. Had it been high speed…..
Okay I’m with all those who said that they couldn’t have held it that long. I would have been in serious pain.
The good thing is since she hit you, she is liable, and so you shouldn’t have anything to pay for.
I had to wait at an accident once for the cops. I was with my two boys–then aged 3 months and 2 years. Someone ran a red light and t-boned us. Scared me to death. But the cops took about an hour to get there and it was a bad neighborhood. The cop even said so when he arrived! I don’t get it, but I am so grateful you didn’t have your kids with you. In my situation, God provided some friends who happened to be following me in a car behind and stayed with us to help me watch kids on the street corner. Crazy!
While reading your story, I kept on waiting for the time when your bladder would burst. Gosh, I hope you don’t get a UTI from holding it in that long! Good job, though. I am also glad nobody was hurt. About 3 yrs ago, I was rear-ended as well. The physical damage to the car was not that bad but it was totaled, in accounting terms. It was an old Volvo station wagon and the insurance company decided that the cost to get it repaired would have been more than the value of the car. That car already had a lot of aches & pains so I was like “yeah! We get to replace it!”. So basically, when we decided on my replacement car, we only had to put out 50% since the insurance claim covered the other half. They also reimbursed me for 2 carseats, any price, no questions asked. So I went out and got the nicest & best carseats on the market, lol.
I’m so glad you’re okay! There’s of course never a good time for an accident, but they do always seem to happen at the *worst* time.
When I was about 9, my parents had to go pick up my brother. My mom wanted to stay home with me, because I was already in my nightgown and she was wearing her not-fit-for-public shorts. My father assured her that neither of us would ever have to leave the car. He just wanted to have company for the drive.
So we went, non-public shorts and nightgown and all. And of course we got rear-ended. And since this was WAY before cell phones, Mom and I had to walk to find a pay phone. And wait at a gas station for a neighbor to come pick up me and then go get my brother. Fun times. 🙂
THANK GOD YOU’RE OK CRYSTAL!
And to still have such good spirits about it after all that- you are truly an amazing role model!
Don’t fret over your license ever again and flying. My mom was able to board a plane with her wholesale club membership card because it had her picture on it. That’s scary.
So, so glad you are okay and that you found your license.
I will never forget my first day of college living off campus I was rear ended on a major road with no place to pull off. Not only did we wait for 1.5 hours for a police officer, we backed up traffic for miles. It was a tough day, but like you, still so much to be thankful for.
Hard to say what would have been worse….a minor car accident, or a major bladder accident!?!
Reading this reminded me of my eventful 4th anniversary, which we spent in the hospital while my husband got to enjoy an emergency appendix removal! You will always remember your 9th! Sorry that you had all this happen though.
So glad everyone is okay. Wow, that’s a long time for you to hold your bathroom urge, you poor thing!! I love that you were able to find so many things to be thankful for in a situation like that. It gets tough to find the “good” in things when we have to face all sorts of obstacles sometimes but reading this post really inspired me to become more like you and find the positive in things and be more thankful. Thank you!! And Happy Anniversary! Have a safe trip to Florida!
All I could think of was you having to use the bathroom. Goodness. Lots to be thankful of in that post.
I am glad you are okay. :0)
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still. ~Exodus 14:14
I too had an accident a little over a year ago. It was my fault and our van was totaled. We were going to leave for vacation in a week and a half. I was with our 4 kids. Not everyone has room for 4 kids, including my husband’s car. My cell phone was dying and I was trying to get a hold of someone to take us home. Someone from our church just happened to be later coming home that day, and saw us on the side of the road. She had a car large enough to take us home. Such a God thing, right there.
The insurance company also gave us grace – the accident was Wednesday and we had our settlement money by Saturday. Two of our kids were visiting grandparents that weekend, so we were able to car shop in our other vehicle. Our new car was picked up by Monday and we were still able to leave for our vacation.
Also a side note – there was a design flaw (rusted out strut tower) with our 10 yr old van that could have resulted in a terrible accident. It broke in this accident, but could have happened while driving down the road. A blessing in disguise …
Also, I’ll also recommend the chiropractor too. My neck was really out of whack after this accident. I’m sure the accident 17 yrs previous didn’t help it either. I’m much better now.
Crazy that the woman insisted on staying since she was the one that hit you!
Y0u should have said “don’t you know who I am?”.. I’m on Amazon’s top 20 book list. 😉
And the policeman may have replied, “Lady, I can make sure you are on a few more lists before this day is out.” 🙂
So sorry for your ordeal, but also thankful you didn’t pee in your pants! I know I would’ve!
Wow! I’m glad you’re okay, and “all’s well that ends well” as Pa Ingalls liked to say. 😉 We got rear-ended twice within about a year’s time awhile back, with one incident totaling our Honda CRV (with our then 7 month-old in it). We were so thankful for God’s protection, and it made me aware whenever I drove after that just how amazing it is that so many trips go by uneventfully!
Have a lovely time with Kaitlynn!
Oh, and didn’t you get stopped for speeding awhile back? 😉 Maybe just a warning then, huh? The only speeding ticket I’ve ever gotten was in Kansas…bummer!
Yes, I only got a warning on my first speeding stop a few months ago. I’m trying to keep my record clean! 🙂
For future reference, you ALWAYS have 24 hours to show proof of license at the police station from the time of the initial incident.
Unfortunately, in Kansas, that’s not the case–at least not according to the various laws my husband cited to me when I got home. I’ll definitely make sure to do my best never to drive without my license in hand again! Lesson learned!
Interesting…..I’ve gotten caught before and not had that problem. According to my brother who works for the State Patrol here it doesn’t matter what state you are in – legally you have the right to show proof, even if it wasn’t with you at the time of the incident, but you only have 24 hours from the time of the incident. I’ll have to ask him about that.
I can’t believe you held your pee for that long. There is NO WAY I could have. Congrats. Glad everyone is OK as well.
What a crazy afternoon! Glad everyone was safe. Happy belated anniversary! Our 15th anniversary was yesterday as well! 🙂
Been there, done that with forgotten license at airport. Annnnnnnd I live an hour’s drive from there!
I was not a happy camper.
Glad you’re okay…I totally relate to the car-with-character thing: we were rear-ended going all of 5 miles an hour…we swapped a tiny bit of paint but everything else was fine. Still kinda scary though!
Oh my goodness! So glad you are okay…and that you didn’t go potty in your pants, cuz I REALLY thought that’s where this story was going at first 😉
Praise the Lord, no one was hurt!
I think it is sort of funny that the other lady was the one who wanted to wait- since she was at fault. This happened to me when I was eight months pregnant with a new car. I was stopped at a yellow turning red that I knew I couldn’t make it. There was a car in the next lane that seemed like they wanted to try to get in my lane and the driver behind me was too busy watching him and drove right into me. A huge construction truck by the way. We just pulled over and exchanged information. His insurance covered my car’s rear end damage.
I’m sure that your positive attitude was an awesome witness to the other lady as well 🙂
Ah crazy times! And I’m very glad you got your license in its proper place! Reminds me of the summer I was working in Yellowstone… I went to see a friend before she left and we went out to dinner in her car. Well, I had apparently left my wallet in her car under the front seat and didn’t remember… until I got stopped for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign before turning right (at 10pm in a National Park there is NO traffic!). Thankfully the officer didn’t give me a ticket for not having my license either, but it’s a good thing I got stopped because my friend was leaving in a couple days and then I was leaving the following week for a two week road trip home… it would have been almost impossible for me to get it back before she left and my road trip would have been shot!
Those little things that we think are “bumps” as we’ve been discussing in our James Bible study can really turn out to be blessings in disguise!
Sorry to hear about your accident. And glad you do drive an older van and are not worried about it. Isn’t it interesting how upset the other driver was about a crack in her brand new car? We also drive older vehicles and one has saved my life – we had an old Jeep Wagoneer that I was in while picking up my child at school. A day care van in front of me jumped out of gear and hit me going as fast as it could go. The driver was not in the car – it required her to get out to load the children in it. God was looking out for all of us because luckily no children were inbetween our cars, her children were still on the sidewalk and I was in that “tank”.
It actually shoved my bumper and engine back about four inches. We also waited forever for the police but all of us were so thankful for no injuries that we didn’t mind. Now I have my teen age son in an old Volvo for the same reason. Don’t tell him but we don’t worry about any accidents that just cause vehicle damage. And the insurance is cheap!!
When I started reading this article, I was so sure you were about to tell the world… “I’m so glad I drive a used car… because I had to pee so bad… I peed all over the seat!”
Oh my goodness! I read your comment and just busted up laughing. Too hilarious!!
That’s exactly where I thought she was going with that story too! Glad to see I’m not the only one who thought that. 🙂
I thought that’s what she was going to say too! Or at least “the lady behind me rear ended me and then I peed all over the seat” LOL!
That’s totally what I thought too! 😀
I’m so glad to hear everything as alright with you now! Accidents are so scary to be involved in. As for your bladder, you are so lucky you were able to wait that long! After getting my first bladder infection my bladder was never the same. Even when I hold it in for a short minute because I’m not near a bathroom I develop a bladder infection and most antibiotics are too weak to treat them. Can you believe I actually have one right now and three antibiotics haven’t cured them? It sucks. But for anyone who is reading this, don’t hold your bladder. Pee, pee, pee!!! haha 😀
You poor thing! 🙁
I am thankful you are safe and no one was hurt!
No license or a expired one does not go well with the TSA. My husband found this out a few years back when his license expired by a few days without him realizing. They held him up and at first refused to let him board. Then finally after a few calls he was allowed to board, but they told him he might not be able to get back home on the return flight. That was not a big problem, we had bought a round trip ticket because he was going to look at a car. We were almost certain he was going to drive it home, and the return ticket was only 35.00 more so we had bought it just in case. He did buy the car and drove it home instead.
He almost missed the flight, I had turned around after dropping him off and was going to give him our vehicle registration which they said might help prove who he was, but when they found out I had 5 kids I with me and what a huge thing it would be for me to park, get them all in, and such they just pushed him on.
My husband talks about wanting to replace our van with a nice car someday. I feel like it is just one more thing to worry about, especially with kids. I am with you, I prefer something that has some love. That way dings and dents are not such a bid deal. Makes life easier. I could totally relate to not being worried about the minor damage to your back end in the collision.
So glad you are all safe! What a way to spend an anniversary! Nice that you can still find the blessings and not focus on the negative. Hope you and your hubby get a night out to celebrate soon!
I think everyone can empathize with having to use the bathroom through everything! When I went to return items at target I realized my license was missing and it turned out I had THROWN IT AWAY the day before with my pharmacy prescription bag!! So thankful that God made me realize it in time.
In some states, you have 24 hours to produce your license;)
Why on earth did she want the police there for an accident that was *her* fault??
Be thankful you weren’t 9 months pregnant with that full bladder! lol
I had something very similar happen to me a couple of weeks before Christmas in my not-quite-perfect mini van. Thank God no one was injured and the driver who rear-ended me had good insurance which PAID OFF MY VAN, which was such a blessing. I did feel really bad for the lady who rear-ended me whose car was damaged much worse that mine, but I guess that why we have insurance. Ask me if I can happily drive a slightly dented PAID FOR mini van!! Yes, I can!
So sorry to hear about your ordeal, and thank you for reminding me to always look on the bright side of things. Last night on my way home from work (a 1hr commute through rural areas) my car broke down. It was getting dark and I was sitting on the side of the rural highway alone in my broken down car…not feeling so safe. But, thankfully, the class I had to teach at church last night had cancelled earlier and my husband was able to get out of his work duties to come sit with me to wait for the tow truck. My husband, our 3 year old and myself had beef jerky, crackers and water for dinner, but at least we had something. And our insurance has roadside assistance, so it only cost us $15 to get our car towed the 15 plus miles into town! It could have been so much worse. Thank you for reminding me of the ways God takes care of us even when events in this world kind of stink!
Happy Anniversary and sorry you had such a rough day. Glad you are ok.
So glad that you are okay! And what an unbelievably long wait. You were blessed with a kind officer. I’ve had those moments where I “plan the right thing — like the license thing” and then it ends up reversing because I forget to put back what I pulled!
Happy Anniversary!
Blessings,
Rachel
I really enjoyed your story, because I’ve had days like this. Thank you for encouraging all of us to keep focused on being grateful to God for His gifts during our times of trouble.
Lord bless- it was good to see you all last weekend.
Teresa
It was great to see you, too!
Oh my word! You had quite an eventful evening! So glad to hear you’re okay!
This is just a thought, but you should be grateful that the driver of the other car insisted on waiting for the police. Just exchanging insurance info seems like a good idea at the time–its fast & easy and gets you home sooner; but if the other driver changes their mind about assuming liability you could have a host or problems without the documentation to back up what actually happened. Also, depending on the state, if you leave without having the police do an accident report you can be charged with leaving the scene and be completely liable for the entire thing regardless of whose fault it actually was (this is definitely the case in NJ, where I’m from).
The officer actually told me I should have just left–which I thought was interesting. 🙂 Jesse was concerned that I could get charged with leaving the scene of an accident, but the officer said that there was no way I could have gotten charged with that considering the circumstances.
However, I’m glad I stayed so we could go ahead and get everything taken care of then and there.
Way to go mama- there’s no way my “after 3 kids” bladder would have held out that long!! Glad it all worked out well 🙂
Clearly it was God’s grace saving you from peeing yourself!! 😀 There is NO WAY I could EVER make it over three hours like that. Yes, I’ve been known to make my husband pull over so I could go in the woods! Hahaha. This whole post made me smile to see God working in you and through you.
Crystal, I’m constantly impressed by your desire to show us readers, of which you have SO MANY, your attitude of gratitude. You have no idea how many people may remember your words and when in difficult situations of their own, perhaps they’ll choose to find some silver linings such as you have. And as an old van driver myself, I agree that is a plus – what’s another dent or ding! 🙂
II Love my 2000 Saturn! with 62,000 miles, she should last another decade or two. Not to mention insurance is only $30 a month. Anyway, I’m glad to hear everyone is ok. I thought your story might have been going in a different direction. I would have peed my pants.. Guess that’s another reason to own an old car!
Thanks for sharing this! It was inspiring to see that you kept your cool in this situation. I hope I would have done the same thing, but this just makes me realize I still need the Lord to shape me in the area of patience, especially when things are out of my control.
Wow….glad you’re okay. My wife and I got into an accident on the way to our 9-year anniversary just last month! I know it can definitely make for a memorable celebration. Congrats on the book launch, I’ve seen it everywhere! 🙂
So relate to the bathroom situation. About four years ago we had our first beautiful spring day on DC. Our oldest was a baby. I had taken off work a little early to pick her up and take her to the park. I was so excited to get her that I didn’t go to the bathroom even though I needed to. I was in a bad accident (not my fault) ended up being taken to hospital in ambulance, immobilized and couldn’t go for hours. Now I *always* go to the bathroom before getting in the car!
When I was a young mother a doctor told me that one things moms need to do for themselves is allow themselves time to go to the bathroom. I have never forgotten that!
Wewwweeee! God Bless you and I am Glad you are alright! Also Happy Anniversary and I am thankful you found your drivers license.
**Seeing Stars!** 🙂 (I’m thank you did not but, I probably would have peed my pants! Another reason to be thankful! :)) I’m glad everyone is OK!
and… Happy Anniversary! God wanted you to have one you wouldn’t forget! 🙂
Nights like these always make for good stories 🙂 …when they have good endings, anyway (like yours)! And of course God always includes a lesson or two…
That’s weird, last year on our anniversary, I backed out of our driveway and was a little too close to a bush, and made a great big long scratch all along the side of our car, that my husband is super particular about. I was so upset, I kept thinking, “Why did this have to happen on our ANNIVERSARY??” He was fine about it tho, but probably only BECAUSE it was our anniversary…lol!
Glad you’re okay. 🙂
Wow, I’m glad you’re ok! Always call the police, because other drivers sometimes lie and try to say it was your fault…if the police weren’t there it would be your word against theirs. And yes, if no one was hurt they take FOREVER. :-/
It’s illegal to drive without your physical license on you? What state do you live in? Sounds a lot like 1940’s Germany! Without researching of course, but it definitely seems unconstitutional. Papers please!
I agree. I’m in MA and I’m pretty sure the law is you have 24 hours to produce your license. Always better to have it on you, of course, but if you ever forgot, I’m pretty sure it’s ok, as long as you HAVE a valid license which they can look up even if you don’t have it on you.
She lives in the Midwest, Kansas I believe. I live in Kentucky and it’s the same way here. It’s actually a misdemeanor to drive without your licence on you–you could be arrested! I don’t think it’s unconstitutional though, those measures are taken to make sure citizens drive with the proper identification.
The Nazis made people carry their papers all the time, not just when driving.
Kayla, I live in Kentucky also and you are correct, it is a misdemeanor to drive without your license. If cited by a police officer I imagine it would require a court apperance and fines. Seem Kansas must not have this law, or she just got off lucky. I am in agreement with you these laws are not unconstitutional. They are put in place so citizens will take responsibility, and carry their license with them when operating a motor vehicle.
I live in IN, and I’m pretty sure we have to have our license on us while driving.
Yup, you need your license with you when you drive in CA also. 🙂
It is not really absurd to have to prove that you are licensed to drive a vehicle at high speeds on roads governed by the government.
Wow, what an evening! Glad everything turned out okay.
It was a good thing you found your license. It would have been horrible to find out you didn’t have it when you were traveling! It’s amazing how the smallest details change everything.
I bet you’ll go to the bathroom next time you leave Starbucks 🙂
AND you’re thankful for a bladder that could hold it all in!! 🙂 Great post.
Wow! What a story you have to tell on an already eventful day! Glad no one was injured and that you eventually made it home.
Stuff like this is funny. I was in a car accident (totaled the car) last year and it is interesting to think that, going to the bathroom would have changed your situation- most likely no accident.
Mine was picking flowers. We were on the way to preschool and my daughter wanted to pick flowers to give her teacher.. we were late, so I told her no and that we would do it later.
You can’t really look at life that way, because you can’t change the past.. but it is interesting to me to find that point in time where decisions changed the outcome..
Glad everything turned out OK and you were able to find the good in it.
jenetta
I know. I thought about that later. Hmm, maybe there’s a moral to this story! 🙂
fact is, though, we make 100’s (if not 1000’s) of these choices a day…
But I think “always use the bathroom when you need to” or “take time to pick flowers” are good morals 😉
jenetta
This happened to me once also….but the opposite. I was supposed to run to the grocery store after the kids were in bed (my husband was home) but my middle son was NOT having anything to do with bed. By the time he finally got to his room it was 20 minutes past the time I had wanted to leave. I was not very happy as I got in the car at 9:30 pm to go to the store. On the way I noticed a car parked oddly in an empty gas station parking lot and drove over lots of gravel on a patch of road. I thought it was odd, but then it left my mind. Driving home I was stopped by several emergency vehicles at that very same spot. It turns out that around 9:00 (the exact time I wanted to head to the store) a drunk driver driving at a high rate of speed hit the gravel shoulder of the road and careened down into the gas station parking lot, shearing off the bottom of an electrical pole in the process. Needless to say, I was so thankful that my son was unwilling to go to bed, and I try to remember that “blessing in disguise” every time I am running late because of my kids 🙂
Yesterday was my 8 year Anniversary! SO glad you are ok! We own a 2002 (?) Sienna and it has its share of dings and scratches and when my hubby showed it to me, he was afraid it was a deal breaker. Having 4 children, I was THANKFUL it was a little beat up just in case something would happen and honestly the few dings it has don’t bother me since we weren’t going to have to make payments on it. Praying your pains are just from the tension and that you are ok!
My 8 year anniversary was January 2!
That’s an interesting story. But lots to be thankful for. Which I totally understand and can relate too. =)
So glad you are okay! Are you going to have to replace any carseats?
Gratefully, all of the car seats were in my husband’s car at the time as he had taken the kids somewhere the day before.
Even better!! I have had to replace my seats twice in the last ten months (once due to an accident and once when my car was stolen)! I would glady replace a million car seats or more as long as my babies are safe and sound, but it is so nice that you dont have to!
What a pain to replace car seats twice–but I love your perspective and so agree!
That’s a good thought! Crystal, you should check with a car seat specialist (Wesley has them regularly) to see if you ought to replace any car seats that would normally be strapped down (I imagine Silas is still in one). Even without the children’s weight in them, a collision can put strain on the seat and weaken it so it won’t do its job if there is a “next time.”
Gratefully, none of the car seats were in the van. We’d switched them out to Jesse’s car the day before.
You forgot a few blessings:
1. your kids weren’t with you. Nothing is worse than being in a fender bender and having to keep kids in a car/entertained
2. your husband was understanding and patient. This is a huge deal.
Amen! My husband did bring the kids later on, but they were only there for about an hour–not all three hours! 🙂
Oh my goodness, Crystal. You poor thing. But at least you didn’t cry like I did the first time I ever got in an accident. 😉 I could totally “feel” your frustration (and need to go to the bathroom; I would have been miserable). And I commend you for staying the whole time, especially on your anniversary. SO sorry that happened, but praising God that you and the other driver are both unharmed. Now you need a chamomile, lol.
Blessings,
Toni
I would have peed in the woods!!! ( or atleast knocked on someones door to use their bathroom!) After three kids my bladder doesn’t hold like it used to!
So glad you made it home safe! Hope your soreness goes away soon. An anniversary to remember for sure!
Glad that you are ok! !! I drive a van with a few dings in it too so I know what you mean. And a while back my son scraped it against the yellow pole in the McDonald’s drive thru line so it has some more “character”. I got caught without my license one time too. I was so worried. I had left it in the pocket of my waitress apron because when I ran into the store quick after work I just threw my wallet in the pocket and then when I got home my daughter and I went on a weekend trip to see my brother so of course I changed clothes. Then when I got there realized no license, no MONEY either. Fun times!! And more fun because I went to get a pizza 4 blocks away and got pulled over for speeding – 30 in a 20. ARGH! But the cop was nice enough about me not having my license along. First ticket ever and I am 51 years old. Made me so mad! 🙁
Remember your license on Sunday :). And have a really, really great time!!
Glad you are ok, and Happy Anniversary. I just celebrated my 6th year anniversary on the 9th 🙂
So glad you’re okay! And, my I can just imagine how bad it had to be waiting that long to go to the bathroom 🙂 (We can all relate!)
Oh my! How upsetting. I am glad you are all right (and didn’t have a “personal accident” to boot… don’t we all have moment like that when we chose not to use the bathroom and later regretted it).
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TOO!
Hopefully today was better. I share in your thanks to God for His grace and the grace others show us. Also thanking him for your safety.
Take care of yourself!
We have a ten-year-old van….and this one of the reasons I LOVE it! I just can’t believe this happened on your launch day (and this must mean the launch was on your anniversary–how incredible!)
So glad everyone is okay.
Good decision realizing you were almost doing the “Keep up with the Jones” thing. There will come a time when you must. My husband thinks I’m “Pouring $$” into our old 1999 paid for van. To replace is to buy something used. We’ve replaced everything needing maintenance so I don’t really want to start over with someone elses stuff. I know where I”m at with ours. We just need a get around town vehicle and the car in newer 20110 so we have a reliable one for road trips.
Happy Anniversary!
Great perspective, count your blessings!
Ah, perspective. It changes everything!
Crystal, I am so sorry that you spent your 9th Anniversary this way! It’s great on your part to try to look at the positive in the situation. Congrats on 9 years! My hubby & I celebrate our 9th in March, where does the time go?
My father’s tank of a GMC truck, built back in the 80’s saved my life when I got into a car accident with a drunk driver. The accident pushed the engine back a few inches, but the steel frame and steel body protected me like no car built today ever could! I had borrowed the car, my car being a dinky little Ford that I surely would have been killed in had I been driving that vehicle when the drunk driver pulled out in front of me at 7am. I thank God every day for that Tank (that is now just scrap metal because of the accident, repairing the frame would have probably not worked with as much damage as it took even if it was cost effective), and for the fact that my car had needed a tune up (and was in the shop) and I couldn’t drive it that day.
There is NOTHING wrong with driving a well used vehicle. The new cars of today have great safety features, but its just too bad they don’t combine those safety features with the HULKING steel frames vehicles in the 70’s and 80’s had. That steel frame saved my life, while the drunk driver walked away bloody… I walked away with just a bump on my shin from where my leg dented the steel dash, and several bruises.
AND I’m SO glad you don’t seem to have been hurt either!! Hope next year’s anniversary is a liiiiittle less exciting!
Thank you for sharing that moment of time with us. It’s so odd that you mention you are grateful for your “van with character”. I was just dreading the expensive task of trading in our family van for something new. There is nothing wrong with our van, in fact it’s paid for. Guess I just wanted something newer, like some of my friends and co-workers. I hate to sound so immature, but that was my honest feelings. Now that I read your story, I am feeling good about my “character van”. It stays!
You always have a way of putting seemingly big issues into perspective and making the outcome be a blessing rather than a burden.
I should take a cue from you 🙂
Thanks for the motivation!
My exact words! CRYSTAL, you are so AMAZING and an INSPIRATION to me and I believe all of us women who posts on here.
God Bless you and your family always.
Oh, thank you both so much for your kind encouragement. I had a rough morning and that means a lot!
Yikes! My 9th anniversary is in May – I hope ours doesn’t involve cops and waiting for 3 hours to use the restroom!! I also hope you were still able to celebrate your anniversary a little! Way to look at the bright side of things!
So glad you’re okay! And I relate to all of this! The one time I got rear-ended, I thought I was going to die from the need to get to a bathroom!
Definitely get yourself checked out by a doctor.
Just READING this made me need to pee!! So sorry about it all, and I hope that your neck feels better. . .that’s awful, but your thankful heart is an offer of worship to the Lord!
Amanda: your adorable, this totally made me laugh out loud!
Hahaha – funniest comment I’ve read in a while!
Crystal! What an experience! I would encourage you to go and get checked out at the doctor if you have any pain at all as sometimes the next day after being rear ended you can have headaches, neck issues and other things you didn’t realize!!
I’m going to try getting in the next day or two as I did have some neck and back pain today and I wanted to have it checked out just to be safe.
I was in a similar accident and ended up going to the doctor… They gave me muscle relaxants and pain pills and had me check back a few weeks later. 2 1/2 years later, depressed & still having pain, I decided to try the chiropractor… It was my saving grace. The accident knocked a few vertebrae out of place and they were pinching my nerves, giving me pain in my arms, near-constant headaches, and neck pain. (Plus, after it was all put back into place, my depression went away without any pills… Clearly, it was pain related.) So,what I’m trying to say is… if your doctor doesn’t do an X-ray, please see a chiropractor… It could save you, too. I hope you feel better!
Thanks so much for sharing–and I’m so sorry about all the pain you’ve dealt with! However, I’m so thankful you are on the mend!
SO glad you’re okay. (I can’t imagine waiting that long for teh bathroom though! Yikes!)
Definitely get yourself checked. I was rear-ended a few years ago. It wasn’t my fault, but the other driver fled the scene. I still have neck pain if I exercise too hard.
Oh, and YAY for used cars. We have driven our $2000 Craigslist mini-van so long that even if it were totalled tomorrow, we’d still have received our money’s worth.
Another vote for a chiropractor. Mine has helped me tremendously after my accident.
Yes, this is just what I was going to suggest. Whiplash creeps up on you over a few days. Back in 2000 I was rear ended (In Kansas City, MO, in the Westport neighborhood!) and ended up with whiplash. Several months later I had some upper back and neck problems and I’m not entirely convinced the two weren’t related.
It is a good thing no one was hurt! And yay for driving older cars! We subscribe to that philosophy too. 🙂
I am glad to hear that! My sister is still having neck and back pain from being rear ended a year ago.
sometimes it is a VERY good thing to drive an older vehicle. I keep trying to remember that every time I need maintenance done! Glad everything turned out ok.
Glad you are okay!!