Massive Car Accident...

It sounded like an explosion of metal and glass that just kept going!

It was just after midnight and I was heading to bed when I heard it.  I raced downstairs and out our front door to see what happened.  It was eerily dark and silent and it took a few moments before I noticed smoke coming from a car two doors down on my neighbours driveway.  I ran towards it and suddenly found myself flat on the cement!  I had tripped over our street light which was now lying across our sidewalk on the other side of our driveway!  I quickly ran back inside to get a flashlight, had Brad call 911 and headed back to the accident to see if someone was hurt and was the first one to the scene.

The vehicle had landed upside down, the windows were all blown out and smoke was coming from the engine and a lady inside was out of control crying "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! Get me out of here please!"

"Ma'am, it's okay, calm down, we've got help on the way," I replied as I shone the flashlight into her window to see her.  She was upside down, pinned in the crushed car with air bags deployed.

"NO!  Please don't call anyone!  I'm so sorry!  Please just get me out of here!"

"Ma'am, we need help to get you out.  Can you tell me if there is anyone else in the car with you?"

"No, just me.  I'm not hurt.  Please just get me out!  I don't need help! I'm so sorry!"  She was obviously in shock, had no clue how serious the accident was and kept apologizing over and over and begging me to get her out.  I tried to calm her down, asked her name, told her mine and just kept talking calmly to her while waiting for help to arrive.

By now a few other neighbours were emerging including one on her cell phone with emergency who was warning us to back away from the car in case it exploded from the leaking fuel and smoke.   They were also warning us to NOT touch her despite her pleas for help.

While sitting talking with her, I began to absorb the scene and was shocked as it came together what had happened. I admit that I enjoy watching CSI and felt like I was suddenly being called on to investigate. What was clear right away was that she must have been flying!

1. She smashed into the street light on the right side of our driveway sending it flying to the other side of our property and onto the sidewalk and street.  She must have missed our van parked on our driveway by mere inches!
2. She likely flew through the air (there were no tire tracks on our property) crashing through a large spruce tree on our neighbour's yard and damaging the back of his vehicle.  We figure she was sideways in the air at this point as there were tire tracks across his back window!
3. She continued through yet another large spruce tree on the next yard, crashed into their van (totalled it) and finally landed upside down on their driveway.

Paramedics, firemen, policemen were soon swarming the scene allowing us to step back and let them do their thing.  One neighbour was sure the driver was bleeding profusely from her head, but when they pulled her out, the only blood I noticed was coming from her hand (thank goodness as I usually faint at the sight of blood) and she actually seemed to be in remarkably good condition!  They braced her neck of course and took her away in the ambulance.

We didn't get to bed until about 3:30am and although much of the carnage was cleaned up that night, we did take some photos the next morning and further "CSI'd" the scene in the daylight.

Conclusion:  Although there were no apparent signs or smells of alcohol and road conditions were dry, there were indications that she was traveling at a high rate of speed and possibly talking on her cell phone.  At no point did she apply the breaks before impact.  Officers indicated that her life was spared due to wearing a seatbelt and the deployment of her airbags.  And our personal conclusion is that we were so very fortunate to not have our van or our property involved... not that I'm happy it was my neighbours, but we have already had 2 of our cars totaled in a similar fashion in front of our home and know the hassle it is, but most importantly I was so very thankful that she survived and no one else was injured as it could have been so much worse!

GBC Scrappers Update!

For those wondering... I apologize for the lack of communication regarding the upcoming GBC Scrappers events (my distribution lists went bye-bye when my computer crashed).  So here is a long awaited update!!

GBC Scrappers - YES, we are continuing with events this year, but we are changing our format a bit... our vision for GBC Scrappers when we started about 7 years ago was

 to bring women together and use scrapbooking to "dig" deeper in friendships, in life, in our spiritual journeys and in our scrapbooks.

Our events this year are designed to be more effective at achieving this vision vs. simply doing "marathon" scrapbooking.  We are basically creating an extended "class experience" where you will only need to bring your basic kit of tools, supplies along (and maybe an extra page kit or two if you are super efficient and finish class early!).  Here are the highlights:

• events will be Saturdays from 4pm - 9pm at Grace Baptist Church
• each event will have a theme and a corresponding discussion/video and a related project we will create through the evening all based on that theme
• we will have a fundraiser component as part of each event that will be optional to participate in
• supper will be provided at each event (also supporting a fundraiser for another Mexico Missions Trip the church youth will be doing)
• we will have a couple of "vendors" at each event for your shopping pleasure and to assist with the class projects
• cost for events including all of the above is $25
• space will be limited to 40 attendees so RSVPs are very important for these events

So, we are pleased to announce our first event (sorry again about the short notice):

Crop for the Cure

Sat. Oct. 24, 2009

4pm - 9pm

Theme: "Thankful" 

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, we are anxious to help out the cause AND take some time to reflect on our own lives, those around us who are battling breast cancer and focus on what we have to be thankful for despite our situations.  The evening will include a short video on fighting breast cancer and may include a personal story from a lady who is currently going through the battle.  Our project will be a layout with the Thankful theme sponsored by The Scrapbook Pantry and Stampin' Up! and our fundraiser will be for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Please RSVP to gbcscrappers@hotmail.com before Thursday, October 22

EEEEEK.... I have a teenager!!!!!!

I woke up this morning the parent of a teenager!!!!  Justin turned 13!!!  When did this happen????  It seems like it was just yesterday that he came into this world... Thanksgiving weekend back in 1996... my mom brought me turkey dinner at the hospital... my grandma kept lamenting "he's too pretty to be a boy!"

And it seems like only yesterday I took this photo of him and his sister on the beach... but that is already 6 years ago now from in 2003!!!  

So he was so cute this morning... when I wished him a happy birthday and commented "Eeeeek.... I have a teenager in the house!!"  He promptly rolled his eyes and gave me "attitude".  The funny thing is that he NEVER does that!!!  He was just playing along (I think he's been watching his sister... she, however, does it for real!!)  

So... one teen and one tween now... both hitting those "years" at the same time!!!  And I for one LOVE it!!  I know there will be "those days"... but this is the age I totally enjoy... attitude and all!!!

Happy birthday buddy!  Here's to some great years ahead :)

Mommy

Celebrating 17 years!

That was then...

Seventeen years ago, on October 10, 1992, I married my best friend and love of my life!  We initially met at summer camp at Camp Caroline when we were about 10 years old... we had a mutual friend so we actually hung out a fair bit over the years, but he thought I was a "spinny blonde" and I thought he was a "boring geek"!  We lost touch for a few years after high school and went our separate ways... he took Engineering and I went to Bible School and eventually landed in Education at University.

One evening while at church, I noticed a good looking dark haired guy chatting with our mutual friend...  naturally I inquired later about who he was!

"Don't you remember Brad Orthner?"

"That's Brad Orthner???????  What happened?? I don't remember him being that good looking!!!"

And so began the shameless flirting!!!  Within a few months, we were dating and the rest is history... a story that I would never change for anything!!  He is still my best friend, my rock, my cheerleader, my greatest support, my spiritual partner, my GPS, my hot waterbottle, my garbage-taker-outer, my gadget-guy and the best dad ever to our kids!  Sure we have our moments... who doesn't?  And we both have a little less hair, a few more wrinkles and deteriorating eyesight!!  But the bottom line is that I wouldn't trade him for the world and I'd marry him all over again in a heartbeat!

This is now...

Finally recovered!!

For those who do not know, my home computer crashed taking with it all my personal photos, client photos, work related files, email addresses, distribution lists, etc. so it has been a trying time this past few weeks!

The good news is that MOST of what I lost has finally been recovered!!!  So I will be busy this week catching up on some deadlines, projects, etc.

The one thing I have not yet recovered is my email addresses, distribution lists, etc. so I apologize to anyone who has been waiting to hear from me (re: upcoming events like our GBC Scrappers, etc.) I have one more chance at recovering those or I'll need to start from scratch.

Just know that October 24 GBC Scrappers will host a

"Crop for the Cure"

from 4-9pm so please let your friends know about this very important event!

And later this week I will share some of my BEST THINGS about the Great Canadian Scrapbook Carnivals that took place in Calgary and Edmonton... new favourite companies and a few fun announcements!