Saturday, June 12, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Proof!
After Zach's first drive! 
(Zach and the two boys we car pool with: Mitchell Nielsen, Thomas Heath)
(Zach and the two boys we car pool with: Mitchell Nielsen, Thomas Heath)Alive and mostly smiles!
Actually all three of these boys were a little discouraged with their first experience behind the wheel. They thought it would come more naturally to them. They were pretty nervous and humbled that they really don't know everything about cars yet!
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
One year ago...
It was a rainy Friday morning June, 2009. I was headed to the school to pick up the kids year book. We were leaving for the weekend to attend my newphew's baptism as soon as I got back. I had Zach in the front with me. Shaelynne, Henry, and Kate were with me. Alexys and Justyn stayed home.
We pulled onto the highway near my home and I told Shaelynne to make sure the two younger kids were buckled up. They weren't so she put their seat belts on them.
Less than 5 minutes later I rear ended a truck. I have no idea where he came from. He was just suddenly in front of me, stopped and waiting to turn onto a side street, and there was nothing I could do but hit my brakes and pray. We were traveling 45 mph. I hit the breaks as hard as I could. We hit the back of the trunk and bounced off the truck.
We didn't stop. We were still moving....FAST! The impact bounced us off the road so we were traveling down a grassy patch along the side of the road. I hit the brakes again. NOTHING!!! They were broke. I tried the E-Brake. NOTHING!! It was also broke.
We were still traveling about 35 mph hour. I had no brakes, very little steering, steam was coming out of the hood of the car, 4 of my 6 kids in the car with me, and I had no way of stopping the vehicle.
The grassy lane was coming to an end and then what. My only thought was that I had to find something else to hit so the car would stop moving. But what damage would that cause? And what was I going to hit?
I screamed, "Zach, I can't stop the car! The brakes don't work!"
He calmly said, "Turn the car off!"
"What????"
"Mom, Turn the car OFF!!!"
"How?"
"If you turn the key to off, the car will stop!"
So I did! And the car slowed down and came to a peaceful stop. No one was hurt. I only scraped my big toe because I was wearing sandals. The air bags never deployed. The kids were all buckled in. And Zach saved us from further damage.
Later, I asked Zach how he knew what to do. He said that he had been reading on the internet the night before about what to do if your brakes don't work on your vehicle. One of the things it said to do was turn the key off. So that's what he told me to do.
When they repaired the vehicle, they told me that they had never seen an accident like this. According to all the figures, the damage should have been different and worse. The way the car hit was a miracle. I think the whole accident was filled with miracles. Do you believe in tender mercies from the Lord???
We pulled onto the highway near my home and I told Shaelynne to make sure the two younger kids were buckled up. They weren't so she put their seat belts on them.
Less than 5 minutes later I rear ended a truck. I have no idea where he came from. He was just suddenly in front of me, stopped and waiting to turn onto a side street, and there was nothing I could do but hit my brakes and pray. We were traveling 45 mph. I hit the breaks as hard as I could. We hit the back of the trunk and bounced off the truck.
We didn't stop. We were still moving....FAST! The impact bounced us off the road so we were traveling down a grassy patch along the side of the road. I hit the brakes again. NOTHING!!! They were broke. I tried the E-Brake. NOTHING!! It was also broke.
We were still traveling about 35 mph hour. I had no brakes, very little steering, steam was coming out of the hood of the car, 4 of my 6 kids in the car with me, and I had no way of stopping the vehicle.
The grassy lane was coming to an end and then what. My only thought was that I had to find something else to hit so the car would stop moving. But what damage would that cause? And what was I going to hit?
I screamed, "Zach, I can't stop the car! The brakes don't work!"
He calmly said, "Turn the car off!"
"What????"
"Mom, Turn the car OFF!!!"
"How?"
"If you turn the key to off, the car will stop!"
So I did! And the car slowed down and came to a peaceful stop. No one was hurt. I only scraped my big toe because I was wearing sandals. The air bags never deployed. The kids were all buckled in. And Zach saved us from further damage.
Later, I asked Zach how he knew what to do. He said that he had been reading on the internet the night before about what to do if your brakes don't work on your vehicle. One of the things it said to do was turn the key off. So that's what he told me to do.
When they repaired the vehicle, they told me that they had never seen an accident like this. According to all the figures, the damage should have been different and worse. The way the car hit was a miracle. I think the whole accident was filled with miracles. Do you believe in tender mercies from the Lord???
Driver's Ed...
Watch out world....Zach is taking Driver's Ed!
Today is his first drive. He was so excited and nervous as he left. I sent my camera with him so he could take pictures. I hope he has fun. His life will never be the same. Another big step towards independence....
I couldn't help reflecting back...
HaHaHa!!!
Yes, I was the driver in a driver's ed car wreck. Notice I said driver but I take no responsibility for the wreck. It was the other drivers fault!! ;) They still gave me a license and my picture made it in the school year book that year. One of my brief moments of fame.
And Yes, I showed Zach this picture right before he walked out the door just to keep him humble him (and give him something to laugh about!) :)
Today is his first drive. He was so excited and nervous as he left. I sent my camera with him so he could take pictures. I hope he has fun. His life will never be the same. Another big step towards independence....
I couldn't help reflecting back...
HaHaHa!!!
Yes, I was the driver in a driver's ed car wreck. Notice I said driver but I take no responsibility for the wreck. It was the other drivers fault!! ;) They still gave me a license and my picture made it in the school year book that year. One of my brief moments of fame.
And Yes, I showed Zach this picture right before he walked out the door just to keep him humble him (and give him something to laugh about!) :)
Funeral and some thoughts
My cousin's husband passed away a couple weeks ago. I left my kids with my sister-in-law and Ken and I traveled to Utah to be with family.
Some of my thoughts from that day:
My cousin is a month older than I am. We grew up together. She lived in Utah and I lived in Idaho but we saw each other many times a year. I was a bridesmaid at her wedding. The entire day I kept thinking "I don't know how I could bury my husband at this time in my life." I am so thankful for each day I have with him.
Her daughters participated in a lot of the funeral services. I thought they were so strong for being so young. I don't know how my children would survive without their father.
I am so thankful for a body that is healthy and strong. Her husband was diagnosed with kidney problems many years ago. He has been very sick for the last several years. It has been a long, hard journey for their family. There are so many things in my life that I take for granted. My health and the health of my husband is one of them. I complain over lots of little aches and pains but I really need to be more grateful for the blessing that I can work and play along side my loved ones.
Finally, I couldn't help but think about how differently our lives have turned out. All those years ago, how could we have ever known where life would take us.
My prayers are with this little family as they move forward with their lives.
Some of my thoughts from that day:
My cousin is a month older than I am. We grew up together. She lived in Utah and I lived in Idaho but we saw each other many times a year. I was a bridesmaid at her wedding. The entire day I kept thinking "I don't know how I could bury my husband at this time in my life." I am so thankful for each day I have with him.
Her daughters participated in a lot of the funeral services. I thought they were so strong for being so young. I don't know how my children would survive without their father.
I am so thankful for a body that is healthy and strong. Her husband was diagnosed with kidney problems many years ago. He has been very sick for the last several years. It has been a long, hard journey for their family. There are so many things in my life that I take for granted. My health and the health of my husband is one of them. I complain over lots of little aches and pains but I really need to be more grateful for the blessing that I can work and play along side my loved ones.
Finally, I couldn't help but think about how differently our lives have turned out. All those years ago, how could we have ever known where life would take us.
My prayers are with this little family as they move forward with their lives.
Talent Show
The elementary school had a talent show. Shaelynne and Alexys decided to perform. The sang "Girls and Dads" from one of the Land Before Time movies. They made up their own actions and even worked in some harmony parts. They had to go last on the program. If I can figure out how to get my video uploaded to you tube I'll post it. Until then you only get a collage of fuzzy pictures taken off the video.
They were very nervous. They did great. They sang loud and clear and very confidently. They also looked very beautiful. I was very proud of them.
Since I think they did a pretty amazing job, I'll share a couple of comments from the audience. One of Alexys' friends mother told me that when the girls started to sing her husband leaned over and whispered in her ear "Whoa, these girls can actually sing and they are on pitch. This is worth listening to." At the end of the song he said "A program that began well and ended well. I'd consider it a success!" (His daughter opened the talent show with an amazing violin solo!) Ken's cousin told us that when the girls started to sing and dance, he thought "Impostors! I know the Mencl girls personally and they are way to shy!" They did a great job and are already working on their next performance which will be in July at the he 2nd annual Wilson Family Talent Show! Great job girlies!
Jaxyn
If you know Ken at all, you'll know this is a huge stretch for him....
We have a new member of our household.
Meet Jaxyn!
He's an 8 month old Jack Russell Mix. We adopted him from a local animal rescue shelter. We would have liked him to look more like a Jack Russell and less like a mutt but he's proving to be a very good dog. He does not chew on anything but his toys, he rarely barks, he's very obedient, he learns quickly, he almost potty trained, and he no longer barks when we put him to bed in his kennel. The best thing about him is that my kids are outside all the time with him. (except Shaelynne!) I thought my boys would spend all summer locked in their bedroom.
With a dog in the house, they have not spent much time in their room at all. It's so nice to see their faces. :)
Shaelynne is very afraid of dogs and so this is very out of her comfort zone. She is doing well. She spent the first day in her room crying. She is finally able to come out of her room as long as the dog is on a leash. She will participate in with family as long as she is on top of the kitchen counter. I asked her to do dishes today. She said she would be happy to wash the counter but was unable to do the dishes. :) For the record, she did agree to get a dog. She would really like to get over her fear of dogs. It's going to take some time and lots of effort.
We decided to get Jaxon because Justyn has always dreamed of owning a dog. After visiting my brother a few weeks ago, Ken decided that we could have a dog if it was a Jack Russell. Justyn jumped all over his father's generous offer and found a dog online. The shelter was close, Zach called on the dog, they filled out the adoption application, our references checked out, and now we have a dog.
We have a new member of our household.
Meet Jaxyn!He's an 8 month old Jack Russell Mix. We adopted him from a local animal rescue shelter. We would have liked him to look more like a Jack Russell and less like a mutt but he's proving to be a very good dog. He does not chew on anything but his toys, he rarely barks, he's very obedient, he learns quickly, he almost potty trained, and he no longer barks when we put him to bed in his kennel. The best thing about him is that my kids are outside all the time with him. (except Shaelynne!) I thought my boys would spend all summer locked in their bedroom.
With a dog in the house, they have not spent much time in their room at all. It's so nice to see their faces. :)Shaelynne is very afraid of dogs and so this is very out of her comfort zone. She is doing well. She spent the first day in her room crying. She is finally able to come out of her room as long as the dog is on a leash. She will participate in with family as long as she is on top of the kitchen counter. I asked her to do dishes today. She said she would be happy to wash the counter but was unable to do the dishes. :) For the record, she did agree to get a dog. She would really like to get over her fear of dogs. It's going to take some time and lots of effort.
We decided to get Jaxon because Justyn has always dreamed of owning a dog. After visiting my brother a few weeks ago, Ken decided that we could have a dog if it was a Jack Russell. Justyn jumped all over his father's generous offer and found a dog online. The shelter was close, Zach called on the dog, they filled out the adoption application, our references checked out, and now we have a dog.