Everly's Birthday
Where do I begin to tell the story of how Daniel and I almost lost Everly. It's almost too daunting to tell. I even want to stop writing now; yes, this may take some time. But I need to write this. To remember. To move on forward and upward.
We had spent a joyous afternoon celebrating Everly's first birthday. Afterwards, our little family rushed off to go grocery shopping for her birthday dinner party. We finished shopping, but needed to get a few more items at another market. I was sitting in the back with Everly; and as Daniel drove, she slowly nodded off. I'd just received a text from our friends' group chat. It was Chris, he'd made the most precious video of the birthday festivities from just that afternoon. I finished watching it and was about to send my response when I looked up and saw the car heading towards us.
It all happened in slow motion. We were making an unprotected left turn, but that car continued to drive to us at a constant speed. No sign of turning, no sign of slowing. I looked at Daniel. I looked at the car. I looked at Daniel. I looked at the car. I looked at Everly who was sleeping. It all happened in slow motion. And I tried to find the words to yell out to Daniel. There was nothing. And then...
The sound of that car crushing into Everly's side. And silence. Deafening silence.
Apparently after that car hit us, we flew in the air, spun, and landed on the hood of another car. My mind went blank. And as soon as I came to all I could think of was Everly, Everly, Everly. I'd thrown myself onto her after the impact, as if that would have done something. When the car came to a standstill I pulled away from her and frantically scanned this small bundle for any signs of injury. She was still sound asleep and from what I could see completely unscathed. Not a hair out of place. I began sobbing wildly. Cries of confusion. Cries of fear. Cries of horror. Cries of relief. Everly slowly opened her eyes, perhaps a bit bewildered at all the commotion.
Through my tears I heard someone knocking on the car door. Daniel got out. The knocking continued, a woman called out, "Ma'am, ma'am are you okay?" I couldn't gather my wits to respond, I continued to sob all over poor confused Everly. The woman continued to call out, asking me if I was alright. She called out that we weren't safe in the middle of the intersection and needed to come out of the car. I unbuckled Everly, and buried her into my chest as I slowly got out of the car. The angel (as Daniel later referred to her as), guided us off the street onto a grassy area.
I fell onto the ground, continuing to clutch Everly, sobbing...the crying wouldn't stop. The angel told us that God had protected all of us, and we were going to be alright. She stayed with us for awhile longer, and before she left she said, "I'll be praying for you guys." I will never forget her for not only guiding us out of the car, but for guiding our eyes to look to our Father while we were reeling from that traumatic event.
On January 10, 2015, Daniel, Everly, and I, all returned to the hospital where Everly was born one year ago. Only this time we went to the ER to get examined for injuries. Daniel and I had some bruised muscles, and I had a sprained knee; but nothing was broken. And the only thing that mattered was when the doctor told us Everly was perfectly fine. We had her one year checkup that week with her pediatrician, and after examining her, she also gave Everly a clean bill of health. It was a miracle. The car had hit us on Everly's side of the car, and yet somehow Daniel and I were the only ones that got injuries, and they were minor at that.
That very morning when Daniel's mom was praying for us, she had a vision. Each of us were resting in a cocoon. No doubt this was God's way of saying He was protecting us. In the hours after the accident, Daniel and I were completely broken. We knew God's hand was in this, but we were still so very shaken up. We spoke with my brother and sister-in-law that night and as my SIL prayed for our family, she said, "God, you have given Everly to Daniel and Anna, again on her birthday."
God showed Himself to be so merciful. That day could have ended so very differently. But it didn't. And Daniel and I are just so thankful that our eternal Father protected our family from any serious injuries or even the unspeakable. Now, January 10 will mean so much more. It was the day Everly was born. The day she was given to us again. The day our family was born again.
It's been almost a month since the accident. God has led Daniel and I to a number of revelations since then. But I'll leave those for another day...
We had spent a joyous afternoon celebrating Everly's first birthday. Afterwards, our little family rushed off to go grocery shopping for her birthday dinner party. We finished shopping, but needed to get a few more items at another market. I was sitting in the back with Everly; and as Daniel drove, she slowly nodded off. I'd just received a text from our friends' group chat. It was Chris, he'd made the most precious video of the birthday festivities from just that afternoon. I finished watching it and was about to send my response when I looked up and saw the car heading towards us.
It all happened in slow motion. We were making an unprotected left turn, but that car continued to drive to us at a constant speed. No sign of turning, no sign of slowing. I looked at Daniel. I looked at the car. I looked at Daniel. I looked at the car. I looked at Everly who was sleeping. It all happened in slow motion. And I tried to find the words to yell out to Daniel. There was nothing. And then...
The sound of that car crushing into Everly's side. And silence. Deafening silence.
Apparently after that car hit us, we flew in the air, spun, and landed on the hood of another car. My mind went blank. And as soon as I came to all I could think of was Everly, Everly, Everly. I'd thrown myself onto her after the impact, as if that would have done something. When the car came to a standstill I pulled away from her and frantically scanned this small bundle for any signs of injury. She was still sound asleep and from what I could see completely unscathed. Not a hair out of place. I began sobbing wildly. Cries of confusion. Cries of fear. Cries of horror. Cries of relief. Everly slowly opened her eyes, perhaps a bit bewildered at all the commotion.
Through my tears I heard someone knocking on the car door. Daniel got out. The knocking continued, a woman called out, "Ma'am, ma'am are you okay?" I couldn't gather my wits to respond, I continued to sob all over poor confused Everly. The woman continued to call out, asking me if I was alright. She called out that we weren't safe in the middle of the intersection and needed to come out of the car. I unbuckled Everly, and buried her into my chest as I slowly got out of the car. The angel (as Daniel later referred to her as), guided us off the street onto a grassy area.
I fell onto the ground, continuing to clutch Everly, sobbing...the crying wouldn't stop. The angel told us that God had protected all of us, and we were going to be alright. She stayed with us for awhile longer, and before she left she said, "I'll be praying for you guys." I will never forget her for not only guiding us out of the car, but for guiding our eyes to look to our Father while we were reeling from that traumatic event.
On January 10, 2015, Daniel, Everly, and I, all returned to the hospital where Everly was born one year ago. Only this time we went to the ER to get examined for injuries. Daniel and I had some bruised muscles, and I had a sprained knee; but nothing was broken. And the only thing that mattered was when the doctor told us Everly was perfectly fine. We had her one year checkup that week with her pediatrician, and after examining her, she also gave Everly a clean bill of health. It was a miracle. The car had hit us on Everly's side of the car, and yet somehow Daniel and I were the only ones that got injuries, and they were minor at that.
That very morning when Daniel's mom was praying for us, she had a vision. Each of us were resting in a cocoon. No doubt this was God's way of saying He was protecting us. In the hours after the accident, Daniel and I were completely broken. We knew God's hand was in this, but we were still so very shaken up. We spoke with my brother and sister-in-law that night and as my SIL prayed for our family, she said, "God, you have given Everly to Daniel and Anna, again on her birthday."
God showed Himself to be so merciful. That day could have ended so very differently. But it didn't. And Daniel and I are just so thankful that our eternal Father protected our family from any serious injuries or even the unspeakable. Now, January 10 will mean so much more. It was the day Everly was born. The day she was given to us again. The day our family was born again.
It's been almost a month since the accident. God has led Daniel and I to a number of revelations since then. But I'll leave those for another day...
Thank you Chris Pak for the beautiful video.
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