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After the excitement of our trip home yesterday, I never updated you on Julia’s first middle school dance. I wasn’t in town, so Thayer took her and I made sure he knew to take her picture. I wish I had been home to fix the shirt a little better, but other than that, she looked great. We’ll be getting contacts this week so she doesn’t break her glasses playing soccer and my bet is that once she starts wearing them for soccer, she’ll want to wear them all the time. Thayer said she didn’t talk much when he picked her up and the only she told him was that she learned a new dance, “The Soldier Boy.” When I talked to her later on the phone the said she had a good time and “dad picked me up with the Clemson flag on the van.” I guess we’ve entered the time when we can’t pry info. out of her anymore.
This morning when Bailey, Avery and I were about to leave my parents’ house to come home, my mom asked me if I needed any cash. I told her that I had my debit card and all fast food places take those. She asked, ”What if you need to give someone some cash for helping you? Like changing a tire or something.” I laughed and told her I could change my own tire but she insisted on giving me five dollars.
Well, just around exit 107 in NC on I-85, the sky opened and poured rain so suddenly that I couldn’t see anything within 5 seconds. The car in front of me slammed on brakes, and therefore, I had to do the same. But, the brakes weren’t working and neither was the steering–we were hydroplaning. I’ve never in 20 years of driving had that happen. Thank goodness we were in the left lane and began veering off the highway instead of into other cars. It was in a section where there was a very wide shoulder but then it dropped off into a ravine which was covered with trees. You can’t even see the other side of the interstate. I really don’t remember a lot (from the time the rain started to the end of our ride was only about 15 seconds) and later I asked Bailey if I had said anything ugly. She said “no.” I know I kept saying “Jesus help me” over and over and then at the end I kept yelling “STOP, STOP.” See, we were very, very lucky. The car stopped just before slipping down the hill into the trees. There was no damage to the car, but we were completley stuck.
As soon as we stopped, I turned to check on the girls. They were fine, but Avery started crying as soon as she saw where we were. As I turned back around I saw a man running up the hill waving his arms at the traffic. I hadn’t even realized that another car had gone the exact same route as us but hadn’t been so lucky–he had slid down the hill and hit a tree. His airbags had deployed, but he and his wife were fine. Emergency crews got there really fast and determined that everyone was fine. They called a tow truck for me (they wondered why I hadn’t already done so–I explained that I would have if I had even a clue as to where I was!) The highway patrolman had been called to work early due to the number of accidents and wasn’t very happy. He didn’t write me a “citation” because there was no damage to the car. He claimed I was going to fast for conditions, which is how it looked. He didn’t seemed interested in my story about how suddenly the rain started and that I didn’t have time to slow down. I do remember looking at the speedomoter and it was on 60 as I turned on my wipers–the speed limit in that stretch is 70.
Probably about 3 or 4 different volunteer firefighters kept checking on us until the tow truck arrived. The guy that pulled out the car was very nice and told me that there were more accidents just like ours in that very section of highway than in any other part of the county. He also pointed out the third car that had done the exact same thing about 1/4 mile behind us. I hadn’t even seen that car until we got out. They had not slid down the hill, but were into the brush before the trees further than we were. The fire chief let us sit in his truck while they pulled out the car because it was still raining pretty heavily and we didn’t have an umbrella.
We were in Thayer’s car which is smaller (and if the van had wrecked and had any damage, the insurance company would have totalled it!). As I was explaining to the fireman what I did during the accident, he told me that my actions probably kept us from sliding down the hill like the first car. I don’t remember doing it as it happened, but when we stopped, I realied I had pushed in the clutch and put the car into neutral. As the trees got closer and closer, I remember thinking that I should try pulling up the emergency brake. I knew it could mess up the car, but so would the trees, so I yanked it up and started turning the steering wheel to the right as hard as I could. When we stopped, my feet were both pushed as far down as they could go on the brake and the clutch.
Once the car was out, I had to start the paper work for the tow guy. The $5 my mom gave me was no where even close to what I had to pay him–thank goodness he accepted that debit card! We were on our way almost one hour after we slid off the highway. (The funny thing was that just before the rain started, I had just told the girls I was going to find the next exit so we could stop to use the bathroom.) We went to the next exit, used the restrooms and I took out that $5 to get me the biggest candy bar I could find (with a diet coke, of course)! The worst part of the story is that five miles down the road, the sun was out and the road was completly dry.
So, that’s my story–sorry its so long. I wanted to try to recreate the whole experience for you but I’m sure your whole body isn’t tingling and shaking all over like mine was and you’re missing the screaming three year old in the back seat! But, you can see why I am sooooo thankful for God’s protection and provision for us. And, I will think about this day for the rest of my life when its raining and we’re out driving!
Well, she did it…she finished her first week in middle school. I think I finally realized what was really bugging me about her going to middle school. It wasn’t so much that she was growing older, but that I am growing older! As I was talking with some family I haven’t seen in a while today at my great-aunt’s funeral, I realized it isn’t just me that’s growing older…my mom and dad are too. Their oldest granddaughter started middle school! I don’t like thinking of them growing older either. Not only did she finish her first week, but she attended the back to school dance tonight. I just talked with her and she said she had a great time. She named her friends she went with, told me what she wore (remember, I’m in SC and couldn’t help her get ready for her first dance!), and told me that her dad embarrassed her by driving her there with the Clemson flag on the van. Thayer took a picture before she went, so I’ll post it tomorrow.
Speaking of the funeral, I don’t mind going to funerals when the person that has passed away was older, had lived a good life and was ready to go on to heaven. Aunt Margaret was a wonderful lady, always smiling and finding good in people. She helped raise her younger siblings when their mom passed away at age 40 and was like a second mom to my daddy. We loved going to her house when we were visiting my grandma. I really enjoyed catching up with 4 of her 5 granddaughters today and several other cousins. Since my dad lived with Aunt Margaret’s family when he was young, he and her daughter, Earlene, are more like brothers and sisters. They are both an only child, so her girls and my brother and I never had first cousins on that side of the family. So, even though we are really third cousins, it always seemed like we were first cousins. Of the 5 sisters, three married a guy named Chris and the fourth is dating a guy named Chris. The youngest daughter is married to a guy named Gino, but they said Aunt Margaret just called him Chris anyway!
Bailey and Avery and I will be on our way home tomorrow morning, so say a quick prayer for us!
Some strange things about the last few days:
I was in Greenville, NC on Wednesday and in Greenville, SC on Thursday.
Gas is $3.29 in SC. Don’t drive down to get some though because it takes 3/4 of a tank to get here and 3/4 to get back!
If you are ever leaving Goldsboro and are driving through the Raleigh/Durham area, do NOT leave at 3:40. We were in major traffic until we got to Greensboro. It was one of those times where you pick a lane you like because there’s not a chance to switch.
Bailey, Avery and I are going with my parents and my brother’s family to Ware Shoals, SC for my great aunt’s funeral today and then we’ll be back on our way home by this time tomorrow.
While we are in SC, Thayer is doing the carpool to Northeast and Norwayne today. Pray for him! Then, he is getting Julia off to her first middle school dance. Pray for me!!
Madi’s annual appointment at her neurologist was very encouraging. She said she didn’t expect that Madi’s condition would worsen. As she grows, we’ll have to find ways to help her get a little stronger to support the added weight. That the best news we’ve had since we first visited Dr. Boutillier five years ago!
This week has been a hard week for me. In addition to the girls going back to school and getting back into all their activities, two special ladies passed away this week. Last Sunday morning, a dear friend in Rocky Mount lost her battle with Alzheimers. She turned 80 at midnight and passed away at 12:05. Mrs. Margie and her family were some of our close friends and we were so sad to hear about her death, but so happy that she was rid of her disease. We attended her funeral yesterday. Then, last night, my mom called to say that my great-aunt Margaret passed away about 7:30 last night. She was 96! She was my Nanny’s second oldest sister, but she out lived the oldest sister by 3 or 4 years. My daddy and my Nanny lived with Aunt Margaret for three years, so daddy was pretty close to her. Bailey is going with me to SC tomorrow afternoon so we can attend her funeral on Friday. Again, we will miss her, but she had been in failing health this last year, particularly since June. There are now only three of my Nanny’s family of 10 brothers and sisters still living: the fifth sister, the seventh sister and the baby boy (my Nanny was the sixth sister). All but one of her siblings lived to be at least 85! That’s pretty amazing–it must be all that flamin’ red hair they had!
After buying a mountain of school supplies and clothes and getting the girls off to school for their first day yesterday, I began filling out all the forms they brought home. Each of the older three had about 8 pages (two were front and back) to fill out. A good bit of the info. was asked for on more than one form. If I didn’t know the phone numbers of my neighbors and the pediatrician and dentist, I do now! I guess Wayne county has one huge filing cabinet or they pay one of those shredding companies each year! Avery also had some papers to fill out for preschool, but not quite as many. I am now suffering from writers cramp but that could be from the TB test I had to have yesterday. I have to get one each year to continue teaching at Protestant Preschool. I should have asked her to do it in my right arm. I guess they do it in people’s left arm because they are mostly right handed. But, if you happen to be one of those rare lefties, your stronger arm is sore for a while. I think I’ll live.
Well, the dreaded day finally arrived…the first day of school. More specifically, the first day of middle school. I was doing o.k. Julia rode to school with our neighbor, Billiejean, so I didn’t have to actually carry her. She was happy that I wasn’t carrying her as well. Then, as we were taking Bailey and Madi to Northeast, the art teacher saw us and said, “you’re missing one.” Well, down flowed the tears. Then, I saw Bailey and Madi’s second grade teacher (who is one of our all-time favorite teachers!) and she gave me a hug. She thought I was upset about Madi moving up. She said, “oh, you know she’s o.k. She’ll have a great third grade year.” I just shook my head and she realized I wasn’t upset about Madi. “Oh, Julia started middle school today.” Yup, my baby is in middle school. Yup, I’m old. I finally got myself straightened out enough to get out of the school without further incident and went to preschool. Four of my fellow teachers were in the hall and as I came around the corner, they all began to ask me how it went. Down flowed more tears. Avery’s teacher from last year started crying with me. (She’s a grandma and her youngest is a senior at ECU.) She said she still cries over things her girls do. It was nice to have someone crying with me. Two of the other teachers have children in college and the fourth teacher is about to have her child start Kindergarten at our school. She’s also pregnant, so we were all feeling emotional!
They all had great days–Bailey had her first day of dance…again! This is the third class we’ve tried since last Tuesday and I think we finally found a good fit for her. They’ll all start piano next week too. I already miss summer!
I’ve never been to a Fantasy Football Draft, but I hosted one tonight. Thayer told me on Thursday that the neighborhood Fantasy Football league was having its draft on Saturday and that it was at our house. He swears he told me earlier but I know I never heard that it was at our house. He said it was no big deal. Since Michael and Vanessa and Matthan are here, I decided we would go play at the park or go shopping, just to be out of the way. As I was going walking on Thurs. night with my next door neighbor, we ran into Billiejean who hosted the draft last year. She said, “let me know if you need help with the food on Saturday.” Food…yup, I’m going to kill Thayer! He hadn’t stayed the whole time last year because we had to go to Sam Brady’s birthday party, so he didn’t realize they ate after the draft. It turned out o.k. because Billiejean brought chicken wings, some drinks and some little goodies. I heated up already cooked meatballs and made two desserts from a kit and had a cheese chili dip with chips.
Vanessa and I took the kids to Pikeville Community Center to play on the playground, but there was a large family reunion going on and the playground was full, so we ended up playing in our driveway for a little while. The draft took over two hours, so we eventually had to come in to eat.
In case you’re wondering, here’s what happened at our draft: The people come with their lists of NFL players they want on their teams and take turns “drafting” those players. Someone keeps up with it on a dry erase board and enters it into a computer later. The children play outside and then take baths after eating supper. You’ll notice it took four people to bathe two toddlers. Avery and Matthan had fun using washable finger paints on the tub. It make lots of bubbles.
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My brother, Michael, my sister-in-law, Vanessa, and my nephew, Matthan, are visiting us for the weekend to celebrate birthdays. We had cupcakes tonight for all the August birthdays: Thayer turned 36 on August 2, Julia turned 11 on August 19, Madi turned 8 on August 21, and Vanessa will turn 31 on August 30. The candles were almost too big to stay on Vanessa and Thayer’s cupcakes!
We have enjoyed having them with us, even though its only been a few hours. The girls waited all day and couldn’t wait to finish dinner so Vanessa could watch the new Cheetah Girls movie with them. Avery and Matthan had a great time playing with her farm. They tried to teach him how to play hide and seek, but he didn’t want to hide. He just wanted to help count in the corner. He also loved using Avery’s Barney sippy cup. Some of you will understand why that is so hilarious. I have Avery’s stuffed Barney ready to give him to play with tomorrow. If you push his stomach he sings the “I love you” song. My brother will hate it!
Tomorrow we go birthday shopping with Michael and Vanessa and on Sunday, they will go to Gateway with us! You’ll be able to find them easily…not because Michael and I look alike, but because Vanessa and I do. At our first church in Louisburg, they came for Julia’s baby dedication. Someone walked up to my brother and said, “you must be Amy’s sister’s boyfriend.” I’ll let you decide what it is that makes Vanessa and I look alike. If you’re a Gateway friend, you can tell me Sunday.
I never posted these pictures, but Julia and Madi both got pretty cool Bibles for their birthdays. They’ve had really good kids Bibles, but it was time to get them “adult-ish” Bible. Bailey got hers for her birthday in February. I think they both really loved them: Julia’s was lime green (of course!) and purple and Madi’s is periwinkle. Most importantly to them, they have their names imprinted on them! Now, let’s see how long it takes for them to misplace them!
