Confirmation

I'm a bit shaky right now...let me explain.

Today after dropping Jacob off at preschool I drove out to my sister-in-law's house to drop off my nephew's glasses that he left at our house after a weekend sleepover.  I visited with my niece for a little bit and then decided I would go into town and look around for any last minute Christmas gifts that I might stumble upon.

Ethan was in the van with me and we were singing along to a Disney music cd when I drove up behind a pickup that was all over the road.  He was in fields, ditches, and the other lane.  Slowing and accelerating.  I decided something wasn't ok.  I called 9-1-1 and reported him.  I told the officer I would follow him and report which way he was going.  There was NO way I was going to pass him with Ethan in the van with me. 

I followed him for quite a while, the whole time on the phone with the dispatcher.  We drove all the way from isolation into town.  That is where I started panicking.  I was secretly praying that he would hit a divider or something in the middle of nowhere with no other person involved, but that didn't happen.  We made it into town and to a busy intersection.  I saw the light that was facing us turn red and I knew he wasn't going to stop. 

I watched school buses and small cars go through the intersection before he got there.  The whole time praying that no one would get in his way, but also hoping that something would happen so he would stop.  I still had no sign of a police officer anywhere.

But what I had prayed for kind of happened.  Another pickup who was turning into traffic turned and the pickup I was following ran the red light and swiped it.  It was enough to disable the one I was following by breaking the front axle and shearing off the front tire and causing that back tire to go flat.  The pickup that was hit was able to move off the side of the road and out of the way.

I parked, ran over to the pickup that was hit.  I honestly wasn't concerned with the man whom I'd been following.  I was more concerned with the victims.  As I crossed the street I saw that the man who hit them was out of his truck and wandering around.  I couldn't tell if he was drunk or what.  I was admittedly, angry with him.

When I got to the other truck I found out that both the passenger and the driver were okay.  The passenger was complaining of a headache and I told them that help was on the way.  I asked if they needed to call anyone or if they needed anything.  Turns out they were ok, just shaken.

After talking with the ambulance people and the fire chief, I found out that the driver I had been following was diabetic and suffering from complications of it.  One of the police officers recognized him and he was able to be treated.

My anger was immediately gone and I only had sympathy for him.  I was thankful that no one was seriously hurt and that Heavenly Father had answered my prayers.  I knew he needed to be stopped and I'm thankful that it didn't cost anyone's life in the process.

This has made me think a lot.  I'm thankful that I was on the road at that time.  Thankful I only had one child with me (the one that doesn't talk much or ask tons of questions). I'm thankful I had my cell phone with me, and that I was able to keep a cool head until it was over. (Then I cried uncontrollably, thankful it had ended better than the alternative.)

This has confirmed yet again that I have a loving Heavenly Father who loves me and who answers my prayers.

BY THE WAY:

The police officer just called to inform me that the man I followed was indeed having a diabetic issue and that he was at the hospital receiving treatment.  He has been cited for a number of things and it turns out that this is the second time he has done this and they are trying to get a judge to suspend his driver's license. 

Annual Christmas...errr... I mean Holiday concert

Every year the girls' elementary school presents a holiday concert fitting for almost ever cultural event this season...mainly, Christmas (English and Spanish), and Chanukah (Hanukkah).

Each year Kyra has been given a chance to sing in a smaller group or to perform a solo.  She has been blessed with nerves of steel and can get up in front of anyone and belt out whatever song she's been practicing.

This year Megan didn't get to participate in a smaller group, but she did a good job where she was in the large group.  Here are a couple of pics from the concert. 

Sorry for the fuzziness, my camera was zoomed in as far as it could go and the lighting in the High School cafeteria is not condusive to photo sessions.

Decorating for Christmas

My Christmas tree with ornaments that I received growing up!

My nativity scene and advent calendar.

The stockings were hung with great care....

These are a couple of quick pics I took to prove that I decorated this year.  We will be spending Christmas in Montana, but it still helps to look at all of this and hear Harry Connick Jr. singing Christmas songs to put us all in the holiday spirit.

Thanksgiving...

Was a blurr.

We went to Montana like always and we just so happened to hit a blizzard with blowing snow.  Our normal 6 hour drive took over 9 hours.  The kids were good, but boy was it a long drive!

We spent the week just hanging out in the house because of the below zero temps with wind chill. 

We had a great meal with my bother and his fiancee and my sister as well as my mom and dad. 

Friday morning my mom and I went out at 3:30 am for our annual Black Friday shopping trip.  It was a success and we had a great time.

Our drive home was a lot faster than our drive over and we were happy to make it back in our normal 6 hour time frame.

I hope everyone else had a fabulous and very thankful Thanksgiving holiday!