5 years ago...

5 years ago was an anniversary, not the typical anniversary we have around here (wedding, Gotcha, Adoption). 5 years ago Saturday was the anniversary of an accident that changed my life and my families life forever.

5 years ago I learned to trust in God and trust the angels he puts before us.

5 years ago I learned no matter how hard we try to protect our children, sometimes we can't do anything but pray.

Brittany and Andrew were in a three-wheeler accident. You can read more about that at http//www.caringbridge.org/mn/shelstad/

5 years ago I made a promise to God. I promised to trust in him and his plans for my family. I still have a hard time trusting in God's plans for us, I have a hard time letting go and letting God lead my way. I'm a work in progress, but I know God is there every step of my way. I know God sets angels in our path, we may not realize it.

5 years ago God sent many angels our way. Two especially for Brittany and Andrew. While we were at Paul's parents, they invited some friends over for lunch. Immediately after the kids hit the tree, the two angels went into action. Larry and Sonya were paramedics, unknown to us at the time. They went into save mode and did what God asked them to do. They helped our children, they gave me a shoulder to cry on, they held me up when I couldn't walk, they drove us the 3 hours to the trauma center where Andrew was airlifted. They prayed with us.

5 years ago my parents were visiting our county fair. Within 10 minutes of when the accident happened (unknown to them at the time), they had walked past a booth handing our bibles. My mom took the small green bible, and shared a prayer with the woman giving it to her. God set forth an angel for my parents, unknown to them. The little green bible got my mom through the drive 6 hours to the hospital. The little green bible gets us safely to our destinations, wherever we go, our bible goes.

I learned we can't put our children in a bubble, even though we'd like to. I've learned we've got to trust in the Lord, it might not be O.K. but he is with us every step of the way.

Andrew is completely healed, his fracture has healed, no brain damage, no sensory damage. Nothing!

Brittany is also healed although she bears the constant reminder of that fateful day. As she gets older the scar between her eyes will get wider, we've contacted a plastic surgeon, if she wishes, when she's older they can cover the scar.

5 years ago, I prayed with my husband, my family and myself. I asked the Lord to heal my children, and he did. I asked the Lord to heal my heart, he is, if I allow. I don't want to relive the day, but I won't allow myself to forget.

5 years ago brings us to today, 4 beautiful wonderful children. After Brittany and Andrew were better (not healed), I realized how precious (I knew before, but needed to be reminded) my children were, how beautifully lucky I was to be their mother, a mother. God had a plan for my family, God knew our path was to help his children, his orphans.

After the accident we realized we wanted more children, we choose adoption as our path, God choose this path long before we knew.

An anniversary came and went, we recognized, we cherished, we celebrated with all 4 of our blessings!