In different years, but always around the holidays, I faced the greatest losses of my life. On Thanksgiving, I lost my maternal grandmother to cancer. Days before Christmas, my mother passed away after a decade-long battle with a massive stroke. And my sister succumbed to ovarian cancer. These women were the epitome of strength, endurance, resilience, and faith lived out loud.
They weren’t here to see me start my business or watch my children grow into young adults. This year, in particular, felt like I was being hit from every angle—a very hard year processing betrayal, family hurt, and every conceivable challenge bundled together in a similar timeframe.
This summer, we were blessed to purchase a cottage—just before the hustle and bustle of the holidays. I felt an overwhelming need to have some time alone to reflect on the great losses of my family members as their anniversaries weighed heavily on my heart, along with the trials of a tough year.
On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, I settled in at our cottage and left on a sunny afternoon to buy groceries downtown. As I was making my way back, unexpectedly, on a clear day with no snow in sight, I hit a patch of black ice. It happened 1 mile away from our cottage, in Gladwin Michigan and it was about 2:30 in the afternoon. Sunny winter day. No snow. No bad conditions with regard to travel advisories etc.
My truck did three donuts on a farm road and then threw me into a ditch, resulting in two rollovers. A farmer who witnessed the accident was astonished at how calm I was. Although I couldn’t open the driver’s side door, I crawled out through the passenger side. He said he saw my truck go at least 20 feet in the air. I was in disbelief at what had just happened because I had only wanted a few peaceful days by myself.
I called the police and waited for them. They were amazed that I literally walked away from this terrifying accident without a single cut, bruise, or scratch, despite the broken glass everywhere. Without a shadow of a doubt, I believe God spared my life. What else can I say? I am a walking testimony of God’s mercy, grace, goodness, provision, and protection. But God.
