3rd day: Suicidal Deer {5th Anniversary Trip} 08.2007

Sunday August 12th 2007
We woke up in the morning, and both of us had a shot of the flu. We filled up our gas tank and then started driving home. We made it just fine (with the use of Pepto Bismol). When we were about 3 hours out from our home, we were traveling, in a woodsy area. We were driving along just normally (60 mph), when all of the sudden, a doe deer jumped out from the bushes, straight into our car. It hit the front panel near the drivers side (Mark was driving), broke the headlight and dented in the hood (on that side) and then slammed into our windshield, and then flew onto the hood and off the back of the car (to the side of the road). It felt like slow motion, (as that was happening), yet it was over so fast. There was nothing that we could have done in this situation. When we pulled (Mark stayed very calm as he was driving—I was very grateful) over to the side of the road to check on the car (the deer was toast—we couldn’t do anything for it) I was in shock.
Mark asked me if I was okay, and I said, “Physically, but not emotionally or mentally”. I couldn’t believe that that had actually happened to us. If there weren’t dents and junk all over the car, I probably would have thought that I was dreaming. I am glad that I wasn’t driving, because I’m not sure I would have reacted as calmly as Mark did with the situation. I felt bad for the deer, but there was nothing we could have done differently. It could have turned out MUCH worse than it did. We had said a prayer of safety before we left (like always) and I felt God’s hand in our lives that day. Our guardian angels had been watching over us. Because at the speed that we were going, and how hard the deer hit our windshield, it should have shattered (although it didn’t). When we stopped, it looked like there was a huge crack in it. Then

ents to the hood and side panel and shattered light)—there was nothing else wrong with the car. A nice lady and man stopped behind us to see if we were okay, and the man looked at the engine, and said, “That is amazing that it is still running that well.”
Mark washed it off with a bottle of water, and there was nothing—not even a scratch. Mark and I were both fine, and the car was in amazingly good shape. The engine was running very well (despite the d
We drove all the way home, with no troubles, (although we stopped at a car wash to wash all of the junk off our car—we had to scrub it down, and go through twice to get it all off). We said a prayer to thank Heavenly Father for our safety.
When we got home, we unpacked our things and took a shower. I have never been in a car accident (knock on wood) in my life. But I keep on seeing the deer running into our car, and hitting the windshield, and falling off the back of the car, over and over in my head. I guess it will fade with time. Anyway, we picked up the kids and they were SO HAPPY to see us! It was adorable how many snuggles and kisses we got from them! We gave them their souvenirs, and they really liked them—but they especially loved having their Mommy and Daddy home. Although Mark and I had had a wonderful time spending time alone, spending time as a couple —It was very good to be home with our sweet little family again.