Twelve Years Ago

It’s been 12 years already.

Twelve years ago on this day life changed dramatically in a literal second for me and my children. John, my husband, died next to me and John Michael was injured with a spinal cord injury in a head on collision. I instantly became a single mom. There was no preparation time, no warning, no sign of it possibly happening. Like so many things in life, it just happened, because that’s how life is sometimes.

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if some things would have not happened earlier in your life? I have. 

What would life be like if the split second incident didn't happen? I really don't know. I'm ok with that. If I lived my life wishing and wondering, I wouldn't be able to enjoy where I am today. I wouldn't be able to enjoy who and where my children are today. I like where my kids are despite what happened 12 years ago. I have to admit that it hasn't been easy. There have been a lot of deep valleys and a lot of big waves of grief in it all. Pushing through all those has been worth it. Extremely painful but worth it. 

Life is still good. God is still good. 

7-11. It’s the day that John died. It’s the day that we celebrate his life with Cheddar’s Restaurant and Slurpees. Those were two things in life that he enjoyed.

So this year we got there too late for the free slurpee so we went for the big ones. We didn't care. Go big or go home. 

Happy Heaven Birthday Daddy John!!