Really? it's been six years since that one split second, that instant in time that changed everything in my life.
We had plans, we talked about buying a house, Athena finishing school, us both having careers, traveling the world, spending the rest of our lives on the bright side of life.
I remember it was a beautiful Colorado day. Sunny and warm we went out to the ranch so Athena could ride her horse.
I went in to read as she rode with her dad.... Moments later, I was confused as to why her dad was screaming for me. I ran outside to the disaster of the situation. My beautiful wife had been kick in the face by her horse. She was in severe pain and blood, bone, and teeth were everywhere.
I won't go into the nasty details of that day or years of chaos, the fighting with doctors or insurance companies or the fact that she looks nothing like her former self. What I will try to do is write about the gift I've been given since then and the things that I've noticed.
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In this crazy fast paced society with work, school, politics, FaceBook, CNN, Twitter, stock market crashes, etc. You can loose sight of the basic important things in life. The ones you love. The ones that really make the difference in everyday of your life.
So here it is six years later and we're starting the day off at a hospital again. I have so many memories of seeing my wife in a hospital bed it's a bit disturbing. However, the beeping of these machines are like an alarm clock. Waking me up everytime to what's important.
Sadly, the most frightening thing is, that in the sound of one of those beeps, this can all change. It can all be taken away.
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Thankfully, things went good this morning. So now we're thinking of going to fill our bellies with donuts and celebrate life today together. There is not much of a donut selection at 1pm but we still managed to have more then we should of.
Then home to watch movies and let the anesthesia wear off.
I finally convinced Athena that we should go out to eat and get whatever she wanted. Coconut shrimp it was, so off to Red Lobster we went. Finishing it all off with a giant chocolate chip cookie with ice cream on top. It was great seeing her bouncing around enjoying these simple pleasures.
Sometimes it seems there isn't enough time in the day. Surprisingly there is 24 hours, that's 1,440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds in every day. But many times we get cought up in it all and we forget to stop and relish in that moment. Smell the flowers. Listen. Praise God for the gifts of joy that he has given us.
I can hear Pastor Andy asking "So then, what does God want us to do with each of those seconds?"
Love, - love each other! In every moment.
So on this day of celebration in Athena & my life. I want to fill every hour, minute, second with love for my wife. Because Athena is still here with me today! Through all the hell of this accident, all the fighting with doctors and insurance companies, all the hurt of looking in the mirror and seeing someone else. All her wonder of how I can still be standing here with her through this everyday?
To which, the only answer I can give her each time she asks is. "We love each other and together we'll make it though all this misery." Because Rob Bell had it right-Love Wins!
She captured my heart so many years ago and I love having her in my life. God willing, I'm looking forward to the next sixty years together.
