For Life!

He's had my heart for 23 years now, and my love for him grows stronger every day. He's not perfect, but neither am I, and I think he puts up with way more than I do. I can't begin to imagine what my life would have been like without him. I shudder to think of it. He brought me to church where I was watered with the Word, and he watched me grow.

I've watched him grow, too. And I've never met a finer man. He loves his family with everything he has. He works hard. He's gentle and kind, and he seeks to glorify God in all that he does. He knows how to laugh and play, and he isn't afraid to cry. He's the most fabulous father, and a wonderful son.

Friday night, I watched him coach a homeschool basketball team that he started for children in our area.

Sunday afternoon after church, a little girl approached him and said, "Hey! There's a movie, Annie, and you're in it!" And his eyes twinkled with delight. He cleaned up the table so I could visit with a friend, putting me before himself as usual. It never goes unnoticed, and I feel the love of the Father through his actions.

Last night he packed a suitcase, and this morning he kissed me good-bye as I slept in our warm bed. He whispered, as he does every morning, "I'll come back to you."

At 6:11 AM, the phone rang, and I bolted out of bed expecting to answer a wrong number.

"Tracy?"

"Yes?"

"This is so and so from the next town over." and I wondered who this woman was, and why she was calling so early.

"Tracy, I'm here with Verne. There's been an accident, and Verne is talking, but you're going to have to drive over to the hospital. They'll be transporting him shortly. Do you have anyone that can ride with you?"

Our lives flashed before my eyes. This couldn't be happening. He said he'd come back. He always comes back.

I stumbled into Autumn's room, and choked out the news. I called my mother-in-law, our pastor, and a friend whom I knew would pray. Two minutes - tops. I threw on some clothes, brushed my teeth, and walked out the door.

I drove through the mountains, the dark, and the fog. An hour and 20 minutes later, I walked into the hospital. Alone. And afraid.

I was led back a hall into an emergency room, and saw Verne, lying on a bed with a collar around his neck. He was already back from being x-rayed, and having a CT Scan. I burst into tears as soon as I saw him, and praised the Lord that he was alive.

We waited, him, uncomfortable on a narrow, too short bed. Me, hovering over him, feeding him ice chips, scratching his neck and back where I could reach them.

Our pastor arrived and read to us, Psalm 121- a definite help in times of distress, and Psalm 46. I found myself saying the lines in my head as he read them aloud, finding comfort in the familiar words.

And then, in a few short hours, he was released. Barely able to stand, unable to dress himself, going home. Praise the Lord!

We stopped by the scene of the accident on the way home. I had been diverted on the way to the hospital, but now we had to collect a few things. It had already been five hours since the crash had occurred, but they were still cleaning up the scene. I stood, in disbelief, that my husband had survived the wreckage. The fog had been thick, the air, still inky black from the night, and visibility was low. A logging truck had t-boned another large truck- a car crusher that had pulled out because he never saw the logging truck coming in the heavy, dark air. The logging truck split into three pieces, and lost all power, making the lights inoperable. Verne saw the truck hauling the car-crusher sitting sideways, slammed on his brakes, but never saw the logging truck, and plowed into the back of it.

God is in control, and today He spared Verne. He allowed him to keep his promise to return to me. He allowed our children to throw their arms around their father's neck, bruised and sore though it may be.

Today, I'm counting the MANY, MANY blessings. #227- 250

* LIFE!

* a beloved husband

* a thoughtful nurse who talked to my husband and kept him calm until the ambulance and rescue teams arrived

* safe travels through the mountains for me

* emergency workers

* effectual prayers

* children who step up to the plate and run the house in emergencies

* a dog and cat who sense when children need someone to hug

* comforting scriptures

* prayer chains

* video chatting with college boys who need to be reassured that everything is going to be okay

* friends who bring soup without even asking

* a doctor(who is a friend) that makes house calls without being asked to

* friends who piece glasses together until a new pair can be obtained

* seeing him lying in our bed instead of a hospital bed, or worse

* the fact that he is strong, and determined to heal

* leftovers in the fridge that make for quick meals

* being able to hold his hands, though the good times and bad

* his work ethic- he was making telephone calls for work on the way home from the hospital, and into the evening

* his courageous and loving spirit

* the way that he looks at me, each and every day

* his ability to calm me when he's in pain

* my ability to soothe him and comfort him like no one else can

* when he kissed me good-bye this morning it wasn't our last!

Each and every blessing, a true, and very much appreciated gift from God.

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