A whole lotta gratitude

Yesterday after church we headed over to my sisters house for the night. We took both vehicles so that Don could go straight to work and I could get up early and get the kids back home in time for school.

SO we got everything packed and headed out the door. The boys were going to go with dad and the girls with me. Sounded perfect.

Mayah was all the way in the back already buckled up. Rachel hadn't gotten her seat belt on yet but asked if she could sit in Ethan's booster. I thought that would be fine since Ethan had a different booster that Don keeps in his car. So she got herself buckled up and I put the car in reverse but still had the break on. Mayah had decided that she wanted to put her carseat in the middle and sit by Rachel. So I waited while Rachel unbuckled her belt to help Mayah move the carseat.

And then I heard the back window pop open. There was Ethan at the back of the car. My heart just pounded. I would have started to back up if Mayah hadn't changed her mind about where to sit. Normally I start backing up even before they finish buckling their seat belt. We have a long drive way and they are usually done getting buckled up before we have to turn onto the road. But I AM SO ETERNALLY GRATEFUL that this day I did not do that. Don has to park his car at the end of the driveway because it is still full of snow and he can't get to the top yet. I thought Ethan had already walked down. I really feel that my father was watching over us. And I can't be more grateful. Just the thought of something like that happening brought me to tears. I cried on the way to my sisters house...more out of being thankful. And to think of the what if's...oh did that ever hurt....all the way to my inner core.

It made me think how precious life is and how quickly something can happen. Only seconds could have caused a tragedy and I am so thankful.....I can't even express how much gratitude I feel.