Last Thursday, January21 began just like any other day. We went through our normal morning routine, we had a normal lunch, we did our normal afternoon activities. At 2:30, MariAustin headed out to her dance class, I gave her a quick hug as she left dance with her cousins and Aunt Sallie while I stayed behind with Ella for her gymnastics class.
That's when things began to change. You see normally Erskine picks up MariAustin and her cousin Beth at his sisters house and heads to the Laurnes Y to get in a work-out. The girls go to a class called fit-kids now that the pool is closed in Laurens. BUT, Erskine was running late, so Sallie headed to the Y to drop off the girls. Then, there happened to be a car that was coming down the road at the precise moment Sallie was wanting to make her left turn into the Y---so she braked and waited---then, there happended to be a lady in a Yukon heading downt he same road who just happened to get distracted for a moment and going full speed never looked up to see Sallie stopped....that's right--never looked up! At a full estimated speed of 50-55 mph she ran full force into the back of Sallie's van--no tread marks--no breaks were ever touched! The van was crushed from the rear impact, spun and landed in a ditch on the opposite side of the road.
--MariAustin was seated in the rear seat.
But---this is how I know God IS real and how I know there are angels among us protecting us!
1. Erskine arrived at the Y, seconds after the accident--there to calm his baby girl's fears and call an ambulance.
2. MariAustin was in the back seat that was completely crushed, split in half--BUT not by accident do I believe she was in the middle of the back seat. When the back seat was pushed all the way up to the middle row, she simply slid between the 2 bucket seats rather than having her legs crushed by the middle seat.
3. MariAustin was not in a booster seat. Any other time, this could have been terribly dangerous--but it is my belief that the lack of height from the booster protected the back of her head. The back middle seat has no head rest--her head would have been unprotected had it been floating above the seat due to the added height from the booster.
4. The middle seat again saved her arms. Both rear sides were crushed and audio equipment was stripped from the side interiors. She got one small bruise from where it landed on her left shoulder. Had she been closer it could have crushed or trapped an arm.
5. There was a baby stroller in the back. I believe this helped absorb some of the speed of the impact.
6. The front 2 bucket seats (where Sallie and Beth were seated) completely broke backwards from the impact speed. Had MA been in the middle, these seats would have fallen in her lap and on her legs.
There is so much more, but it just brings tears to my eyes to even imagine anything more. Beth suffered bruises from the seat belt and Sallie took the blunt suffering a broken hand requiring surgery, a broken leg and a 5 inch gash down the back of her kneed. But to walk away from a scene like that, a car going that speed that collides without braking to a completely stopped car, a totaled Yukon, a totaled van.....they wer so lucky!
My point in sharing this is to 1-hopefully help me rest better at night (I lie awake every night since with these thoughts flying through my head), 2- to share the undeniable fact that I serve one awesome God who IS always there even when we aren't thinking about him; 3-to remind myself and all of you...hug your loved ones a little longer, savor the sweet moments, and tell them you love them, because we are NOT in control down here and you never know when a moment worse than this could be upon any of us. Also, please continue to pray for Sallie and her recovery--they have been through lots in the past few months and with a little baby to take care of, she needs both hands and legs!!!
Yes, that would be panties on their heads. They were just a giggling and when I turned the corner this is what I saw. They were so proud of themselves and their little creations!
I wonder why we even bother with all of the toys---with silly girls like this, we are never bored for entertainment!
Look at the spaces in this mouth!!!! It's just too funny to look at!!!!
I love this pic--look at Ella's face---she's giving me her--"ok mom--want me to pose? How's this look!"
That's my sweet girls!
Our tradition--Santa's cookies and pics with the santa plate. The first year we got this--MA was the size of Santa! Look at her now!
Lov'in the hair! I swear--my parents have pics of me on Christmas morning and my hair looks just like MA's! Here they are proudly displaying their long-awaited DS's
MA performing for us with her new ipod. She was super impressed that Santa knew all of her favorite songs!
Ella's new baby! Of course Santa had to bring the little mommy and new baby!
....and her balance beam! This little gymnast can finally stop walking across the back of the sofa like a cat does (literally) and start using her beam!
All the cousins---including the newest edition--baby Ben!
Sweet Little Baby Ben
Now--to the other side of the family!
MariAustin and Samuel. Notice Ella's little hand on Samuel's left arm. She cannot keep her hands off of him. I just love the way Samuel has his little hand on MA's face. This is his new thing. He will just look at you and rub your face---or grab your hair! lol!
MariAustin was in the angel choir. They came in and sang 2 songs. 
Weren't they cute--they all had on halos and wings--which they thought were super special!
The youngest children were sheep that walked alongside the shepherds. This is the only pic I have of Ella in her little sheep costume. She's the one standing up almost in the center. The entire time they rehearsed for the play, she called herself a "sheet." She just didn't understand why she couldn't be an angel and why she had to be a "sheet." I tried to explain the importance of her role and how cute she would be--but then I said, honey why don't you want to be a sheep--she said, I just don't want to have a black nose! Poor thing, I guess she thought the black paint they put on their little noses was permananet. Once, she found out otherwise---she was set and super excited about being a little "Sheet!"
The crew!
The Clinton High State Game--it was cold, but not nearly what it could have been. The girls were bundled and we sat almost on top of one another! We had a great time cheering for a team close to our hearts no matter how "old" we get!
Making cards for a local retirement home. Notice all of the girls outfits--yes beautiful princesses!--Ella cracks me up here--notice she is almost completely naked!!!--this is how she spent most of her day!
The finished product! The girls wer so proud of themselves--they made them almost completely on their own! And honestly, they had even more fun handing them out to all of the little old ladies. We visited the Martha Franks home and they sang carols, gave out cookies and their cards. 
Of course, we couldn't bake cookies to give away without testing them out ourselves! Yum, Yum
I just love this picture of Ella--It's just her being herself--normally she's doing some kind of dance move, twirl, or silly face. I actually caught her being "sweet" Just Kidding! She's always a sweetheart0--maybe the word is "I caught her being "STILL!" lol! Look how BIG she looks!
At some point in Dec., we went to a small town called McAdenville, NC. (Not sure if that's spelled correctly) It's a small town that is completely done in lights. It was a long drive, but of course it was an excuse for Erskine to go to Bass Pro and for ME to go shopping!!! The girls were getting antsy thinking shopping was the only thing we had driven such a distance for---well we were waiting for it to get dark and then we headed out---and you should have seen their eyes!!!
This pic of Ella says it all! This is what their little faces looked like! We let them hang out of the sunroof--with the heat on pumping FULL BLAST! The traffic driving through is only about 10 mph, so they were safe! They waved to everyone and wished "Merry Christmas" and soaked up all of the lights!
Everything is decorated--in a tasteful way--not gaudy!!!--The houses were like the pic up top and even every tree has lights. This was a pond you drive around and it was SOOO pretty with all of the trees around it decorated!
Children's night Christmas----this is then night all of the children's choirs sing their carols. This was Ella's first year. The girls were super excited Aunt Liney was able to make it this year to see them. Ella sat on the front row with her dress pulled up most of the time.
Ella was a little reluctant to getting on the float--poor thing--all the others were walking and she just didn't understand--but after a good "little pep talk" she hopped right on and was smiling and waving when she came by us!! Ohhhh--she just can't be getting this big!!!
