3 Years Ago Today…

Disclaimer: This article was written yesterday but I was unable to publish it. Please indulge me & pretend you are reading this yesterday! 



Life is filled with ups & downs, twists & turns, & occasionally moments of complete & total shock.

Our life has been no exception to that rule.

There are those moments in life where your world simply stands still.

For our family of 5 Nelsons, that day was March 9, 2011.

Chris is wearing the yellow shirt.

Our moment of shock came at the realization that Chris had been in an accident that nearly took his life.

The moments, days, weeks, & months that followed were filled with a variety of miracles, trials, fears,

pain, tears, & joy.

Today, we stopped as a family to remember all of those moments.

3 years ago today, our life was forever changed.

3 years ago today, our family faced a challenge that we never had planned for.

And 3 years ago today, God did the miraculous & showed that He is always present & faithful.

We all remember the events of that day differently.

Each of our boys sees it from their own unique perspective as they were only 6,8, & almost 10.

Each friend that helped us along the way has their memories as well as each family member.

Chris remembers absolutely nothing! 

But we are grateful for that as well.  It is best.

This is our fabulous team, Henry, Yanethssy, Miryect, Us, & Yubisay.  Notice the girls with neck braces who were also in the accident. This picture is about 2 days before I flew Chris back to the states for further treatment.

But out of all of the memories & accounts of that day….

Mine will forever be the most vivid. 

I am blessed to have these memories permanently burnt into my brain & locked inside of my heart.

Every detail,  every tear, every second….

forever they will be a part of me.

I was there when God miraculously provided the money so doctors would begin treatment.

I was there when the surgeon entered & the peace of God filled my heart because I knew that that man

was sent by God to treat my husband.

I was there when the doctor called me into the operating room to have me calm Chris & to tell me that 

he could possibly lose his left hand if they didn't work aggresively.

I was there when the head injury began to manifest & show how serious his head had been hit.

I remember the desperation & the fear.

But I am also filled with the memories of miracles that filled each day for several weeks.

So many miracles happened, that it would take me a small book to include them all. 

Our children were blessed to be with missionary friends who loved them & prayed over them & to 

this day are still very much a special part of our family.

We could not have made it through that day without the prayers of so many faithful friends all over the 

world, touching heaven on our behalf.

Those kinds of prayers bring a peace that only comes from the Spirit of God.

The accident left many scars.

Obviously, there are physical scars like the ones you can see on Chris's body.

There are also many emotional scars that are deep inside of us all.

Chris's recovery was nothing short of a miracle, but his body is still not whole.

Hands don't cooperate, arms aren't as strong, & the brain still needs a touch from God.

But through it all, God has continued to open doors & use our family to bless others.

So today, on this highly momentous occasion,

we thank God for giving us more time with Chris.

We remember the past so that it rejuvenates our faith in the present.

And we continue forward towards the plans that God has for our family.

This tragic moment in history is part of our story.

It is part of the testimony that God has blessed our family to have.

And on this special day, Chris is playing soccer with our 2 oldest boys, our neighbor who has become 

like our son, & about 10 orphaned kids who simply want to know a father's love.

3 years ago today, our life was turned upside down.

And today, 3 years later, I can't think of a better way for him to celebrate the life that God has blessed 

him to keep living!