Thanks Be to God and to Guardian Angels

Angel of God
My Guardian, dear
To whom God’s love
Commits me here
Ever this day be at my side
to light and guard,
to rule and guide.

Amen

I am in shock this morning.

We are having MORE rain. I cannot believe the rain. It just doesn’t stop! I used to love the rain, but now I’m not quite as fond of it. We have standing water in our front and back yards. We already have a LOT of water damage on our chimney (the builders/roofers took some shortcuts and after 13 years, we’re paying the price.)

But the rain itself does not shock me (annoys me, yes, shocks me, no.) What shocks me is that my dearest friend and 3 of her children found themselves in serious danger last night because of all of this rain. They had gone to a baseball game about an hour away from home. The forecast called for the storms to arrive later in the evening, so they felt safe going. The rain rolled in early. My friend and her husband had driven their 2 vehicles down to the game. They are a family of 8 and their biggest vehicle only has 7 seats. They each took 3 kids with them. They decided to drive on the access road as it was a bit higher ground and it was safe from the crazy semi drivers. I knew they were out. They had invited us to go (her husband had gotten tickets, enough for all of us, from work.) I started getting nervous, so I called her cell to let her know it’s bad out.

Visibility was extremely limited. They were only driving 25 mph. Before she realized what was happening, her husband was driving through water covering the road. My friend’s husband drives a small Chevy SUV. She drives a very popular model of a minivan. Her husband’s truck made it through, but she did not. She didn’t have time to stop her van before getting into the knee-deep water. Her van stalled! The woman behind her didn’t have time to stop either and her car stalled even more quickly than my friend’s van. Everyone got out. The kids were pretty traumatized. My friend was pretty traumatized, I think!

After much difficulty, my friend’s husband was able to get their van out of the road and to a nearby gas station. They tried and tried to start the van, but no luck. They ended up having to leave the van and make 2 trips home. Thank God they are all safe.

As I learned of these events, I just started bawling like a baby! Things could have turned out so badly. We’ve had several deaths in Texas due to flooding. This was a very close call. Those children are my godchildren. My friends are our youngest son’s godparents. They are more than family to us. The reality that we could have lost them is hitting me very hard today.

Their guardian angels were sure busy last night. I am very grateful to the Good God (and their Angels!) who protected them throughout this ordeal. I am also grateful that I declined their invitation to join them. Please join me in offering a prayer of thanksgiving.