FAITH is stepping on the “seeming void” and finding the rock beneath.  

                                                                         With FAITH comes HOPE. 

Where there is HOPE there is FAITH. 

                                                         Where there is FAITH.  

MIRACLES happen.

I can say with pure conviction that I would not have survived all that I have this far into my life without a strong connection to my Faith and my deep Spiritual Connection. I can say that throughout this recovery process, there are times when it feels that all I have that is consistent is my Spiritual self and my every present, life clinging grasp onto HOPE.

I am not without humility when it comes to the fragility of life in general.  I am truly in awe of the miraculous events, too numerous to be coincidental, involving the wreck I was in and all of the circumstances in my life since.  There were angel wings wrapped around my son that day.  It is the only explanation for his survival….the only explanation for my survival.  My continued courage to overcome seemingly insurmountable difficulties, medical and otherwise have only been conceivable due to my connection to God and the abiding Faith that I embrace.  This propels me and gives me strength to never give up HOPE.

“Can’t” is not in my vocabulary as a general rule.  I have never been that type of person to accept “can’t” as an acceptable answer.  I feel this limits the education and growth of ourselves as individuals, professionals, spouses, family, parents, and friends. If at all possible, rid this word from your life. Instead replace it with “can attempt” “can make effort to” “can do it” “can accomplish” “can change my thinking about” and any other word or phrase that includes your ability to put forth the effort in living the opposite of “can’t”.

One of my favorite verses is Phillipians 4:13  “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”.  This has fueled me for years.

I lived through this wreck for a reason.  I was meant to survive.  There is a plan, a special plan for my life.  My life matters. I truly believe this. I am not here to merely exist without offering some meaningful contribution to my family and the world.  I have been led to serve others my whole life.  I have enjoyed this life of service immensely.  I am grateful for the blessing that I have been given to continue my life’s journey. Sometimes, I am not sure why I was CHOSEN to live, while others with far less injuries have died – but I will not waste this time.  It is precious, and every moment counts! 

My dad used to say that many are “LED” but few are “CHOSEN”.  I never understood that very much as a child, however, I feel I am getting a better grasp on this as an adult – especially as one who continues to survive from a Catastrophic and Life changing event (but then aren’t all life events life changing?)

I find myself led to continue to write about, speak about, and educate about my Trauma, my Survival, my Rehabilitation, and Self-Advocacy –  so that others may perhaps find something useful from my experiences and I have a written expression of healing. I am enormously grateful to my mother for starting a blog for me in the beginning, and for being a testament for my life.  The timeline of events that she has written about has been very helpful to me as well and helped me fill in a lot of blanks for things I just do not remember.  I love seeing her posts and hearing her words like a warm blanket of protection.  How she knows how to say just the right things still amazes me.  I hope, in the end, that my kids love me as much as I love her; as much as she has helped me to continue to love myself.  She is amazing. 

I am blessed with a selfless and loving husband as well.  He has sacrificed much for me.  He makes me feel beautiful and shines light in my life, even in the darkest of nights. Not only did God Choose me, but so did he.  My love for him is unyielding and he is simply the best man I have ever known in my entire life (before and now). He is beyond amazing and I am truly fortunate to know such love.

My HOPE is that I continue to evolve professionally and personally. My HOPE is to continue to be led to the proper medical care,  and interventions to help me further my life as a functional, active, evolving, spiritual and passionate human being. My HOPE is that my family is continually blessed with support and strength to endeavor this journey with me.  It has not been easy on them either.

I realize I will never be the same Caren I was before the wreck.  That much is abundantly clear. The “new normal” I embrace I am still getting to know…….even years later. From being bent and literally broken, to a process of healing that incorporated plates, screws, nails, modern day technology and a sheer will to survive. I have been able to find value in the life I have been gifted to live. I am not perfect, I am far from it. There are struggles that still challenge the fabric of my existence. There are challenges and fears I still face. Sometimes, on a daily basis. However, I am grateful for the opportunity to face them and continue becoming the best version of myself possible.

We are allowed to be a masterpiece and a work in progress. I am a work in progress, my life is my masterpiece, and I am not giving up on ME.  Your life, your story, your experience, your sheer grit to survive is your masterpiece. I see you. You are not invisible. Don’t give up on you.

If you are reading this, thank you for being here at this moment.  Please don’t give up on me either.  With your help, your ongoing support, your presence, your intercession, your skills, your energy – real or virtual, all things are possible.

Have FAITH.  Never give up HOPE.

                            With FAITH comes HOPE. 

Where there is HOPE there is FAITH. 

Where there is FAITH.  MIRACLES happen.

I AM LIVING PROOF OF THAT!!!