this is why

August 24th is "Alive Day" in our house.

I still can’t believe that I survived such a terrible accident. I was riding my bicycle on this morning six years ago.  Normally I would bike around 25 miles a day. That day I was working on my routine when I was hit by a car, thrown off my bike, run over, and then backed over again. My injuries were extensive. I was life flighted . There were a total of 26 broken bones, one which was millimeters from severing a major artery. Organs were damaged and I actually flat lined on the table.  I should not be alive. I should not be walking. I should have died on this day six years ago. God allowed me to survive and even recover from most of my injuries. It was one of the hardest times of our family’s life, but I’m so thankful to be alive every day. 

Mary, my wife, was and is the strongest person that I have ever known. No one in my life will top how tough and resilient she was. If anyone knew what she went through after my accident they would be amazed. She was holding down the fort while eight months pregnant with our second child Fynn, and taking care of our two year old daughter Emmersyn. She had to keep going and so did I. She is an amazing mom, wife, and my best friend. We seldom talk about the accident or the lengthy time of healing; it is a chapter we don’t want to re-live.  We are thankful for the lessons we learned and incredibly grateful to have seen God’s hand in so many miraculous ways. 

I wanted to share that we were at rock bottom physically, emotionally, and financially. Some days it felt like we were drowning. But then there were days that brought joy, laughter, and hope. The reason I am sharing this is to say that while we were in the bleakest spot of our lives, God was faithful to us. He gave us an awesome church community, a few close supportive friends, and loving family members who were there for us. You all know who you are, and we are forever grateful.  It was (and still is) a long journey of surgeries, counseling, relationship mending, and healing. Nothing was beyond our Gods love and power. 

Life tried to take us out, but we made it through. We have our scars to prove it. I ask that wherever you are in your life or in your faith, to not give up hope. God meets us where we are.

Today, and every day, I celebrate being alive and second chances!