Missin' My Bu

And by my Bu, I don't mean my Bu... more like the family's Bu, but I drove it... lots. Oh and by Bu, I mean our ex Malibu.

What happened to her you ask? Well let me tell you... most likely in the not-so short-story of. Here goes.

So on Saturday night, January 21st I'm driving to babysit for a family at my church. I'm on South Jackson road and had just passed Flavor Fruit Farm, where I worked in the fall. I honestly don't even remember driving on South Jackson. I remember being on US 12 and hanging up the phone with Evan. I was eating an apple and driving with my other hand. It hadn't appeared to really have been snowing much that day, so I wasn't too worried (or too cautious like it turns out I should have been) about the roads. I hit curve #1 on my trip on South Jackson and was just fine but remember realizing that the roads were a bit worse than I had thought they would be. I hit curve #2 and that's where the problem started. I was coming out of that curve and sort of hitting a third curve when I began to fishtail, which of course freaked me out. On one side of the road I have a lake and on the other, a downhill ditch into a pretty tree-ed up area. I was headed for the lake, so most likely tried to turn away from that... (going to be honest here, I don't remember much of what happened after I started fishtailing.) All of a sudden here I am headed down into the ditch on the right side of the road... toward manyyy trees.

Taken the day after... here's the path I sort of took (also the wreckers tire tracks too I believe)

I actually just found out today that I side swiped (or side-ran-into) a pretty big tree, and took some bark off it, and a pretty big chunk out of the front of the passenger side of the vehicle. After hitting that, I think I next took down a road sign and completely snapped that right off it's base. My stopping point came when I ran into a smaller tree.

As I'm going down into the ditch I was truly thinking, "well... this is it..." Very scary thought to have cross your mind... let.me.tell.you. After I came to a stop, I realized, "hey... I'm still here..." I saw that both airbags had deployed, which I really don't remember. The smoke from the deployment (or maybe it was a gas...not sure) made me think that the car was on fire. I remember opening the door as quick as I could so that I wouldn't catch on fire or breathe in too much smoke. Opening the door I fell out into the brush covered snow. After a minute I realized there was indeed no fire... so that was a relief at least. Shock had definitely kicked in though. A super friendly man stopped right away (he hadn't actually observed the accident though). He offered to stay until my dad, who I was on the phone with, arrived, but I let him know that I'd be fine. Throughout the next hour and a half I was there, SO many people slowed down or stopped to check on me/us... it was unbelievable. Called my dad, the family I was supposed to babysit for, which of course I didn't, and Evan... and probably scared them a lot more than need be due to my tears and shock.

This is what you would have seen road side.

THIS is what you would have seen if you had walked to the front of the car.
 

My dad finally arrived, as he was the only one home. He did make sure to give me a hug and let me know he was thankful I was okay... but then proceeded to check out the damage, which was pretty, PRETTY bad. Not much talking happened after that... He just got into deal-with-accident mode. He called a wrecker to tow it out... I called 911, for the first time ever I do believe, to report the accident and have a officer come to deal with traffic... dad called the insurance, etc. So thankful he was there to help me with everything. I was able to snap a couple pictures on my phone before it go too dark, not that the pictures really do the accident or damage justice in my opinion. I wasn't able to get a picture of the Bu after it was pulled out of the ditch... that's when I was truly able to see just how much damage had been done to the front of the car. As long as this post is, I'm still leaving out many details. A couple things I was thankful for, other than that my life had obviously been spared!... at the last minute at home I had ran back inside and changed out of my slippers into my boots... those definitely came in handy. Also, this past week I had thrown gloves into my purse, also super handy since it was about 14 degrees out, and we were there from 5:30-7ish. What a crazy, crazy night! My apple ended being up on the dash when I got back in the car to get my stuff out. My water cup had spilled all over, as well as my purse that had been sitting in the passenger seat. From the airbag deployment, I did begin to realize the right side of my chest and arm were a little sore, but that soreness was SO minor compared to what I've heard airbags have done to some people. I have one tiny little bruise on my inner right arm... walking away from the accident with just that bruise, I just couldn't believe how lucky, or should I say BLESSED I was! God was so good to me and I know he was watching out for me on that slippy road.

When the police officer came back with my license and such that he had used to report the accident with, he said, "it's been a rough month on the road for you huh?"... It indeed has been. A couple of weeks ago I got a speeding ticket from the Hillsdale County Police as well. A little embarrassing to admit the ticket AND the wreck to you all, but, it happened. Thankfully, the police did not give me a ticket for my accident, which hadn't even occurred to me was a possibility at all. That was a huge relief. We are thinking that the insurance will most likely total the Bu. We should be finding this out soon, as the wrecker will be taking the Bu into Art Moehn tomorrow. (Monday)

Day 2. Everything that could have been hit, but WASN'T! (in-ground phone box, two bigger trees on either side, or the even bigger, BIGGER tree I side-"swiped" that can't be seen in this pic

As you can see, car in-between the two bigger trees

Today,  on the way home from the grandparents house, dad and I stopped to pick up all the "debris" from the accident... more like HUGE chunks! I couldn't believe how much of the Bu was scattered throughout the woods.

Filled two garage bags, plus parts outside the bags full of debris.

This whole experience has been beyond humbling for me... realizing how many people care for me and love me so much... and realizing just how much God loves me as well. So, SO humbling. From here, our biggest prayer concern centers around what will happen in terms of the Bu, but even more, how is the fam going to survive without a third car for the time being. This being my second week of work and first week of classes... not the ideal time to be without a car. Our mini van is drivable for me, but the stick that the boys drive around... have yet to learn stick. We are putting this situation into God's hands now and trusting everything will work out just fine. I'm alive and well and loved by so many people and couldn't be more thankful for my family, friends, and God as I write this today.

Uncooperative Picture People.

You know those people... those people who will do their very best to ruin any picture you take... yep, that's who this blog is about. You go to take a picture with them and... (look away)... its just you looking at the camera. You go to take a "nice" picture and... (insert goofy face)... your picture is no longer classified as nice. These people will forever be known as uncooperative picture people. They never change as much as you want them to. Here's an example for you:

The selected fellow in the middle, uncooperative picture person. I just wanted a nice little picture to show how cold it was, but nooo, instead he's going to continue looking at his phone as if there was no picture being taken in the first place. Example 2:

The gal on the right... what was she thinking?! George and I were just trying to take a nice happy photo on Photo Booth, and she looks like her cat just died, which in fact, it had not. Example 3:

Just tryna take a nice New Years Eve Eve photo, and the dude on the left thinks he's too cool for school, so he proceeded to look away. (little did I know) Later I go to upload a picture with two pretty cool guys, and I find THIS! BAZINGA! Example 4:

MY VERY OWN KIN! Shocking! Can't even believe such a brother could do this sort of thing to me!

These examples... they could go on forever really. Now... I am lucky to have found a boyfriend who is beyond cooperative when it comes to pictures. See for yourself: 

Thank you Evan Heisey for being my bestest example;) 

Now these examples have portrayed quite well what I mean by an uncooperative picture person. Some may say that the reason for such uncooperativeness is because I take too many pictures, but I know this could NEVER be true, so let us all dismiss that idea from our minds.

Also, for the record, I have never EVER been a UPP! 

wink wink;) 

This has been a nice vent sesh. Good day.

Someone I miss an AWFUL lot.

This blog entry is in honor of...

AMBER EVERYTHINGSFUNNY FEATHERSTON.

The name really says it all. I was going to go to bed, seeing as how it's now extremely late/early. Amber would be very proud of me for still being up, right mom? ... the "mom" who always told me at the college of Greenville that maybe for once I should try going to bed before it's already the next day... I'm working on it... riiight;) So I was looking through my pictures, because in case you people didn't know, I <3 pictures. So I'm looking thru them, and here pops up Amber's or Ambre's lovely face from when she visited me in Pure Michigan... (thanks again Mitchell... whatta guy) Anywho, Amber's face... EVERYTHINGSFUNNY! no really, it is.

First Pure Michigan photo of Amber. Normal.

What a fun weekend that was. Like forrealz. Evan Theamazingboyfriend Heisey was here as well as the lovely lady above. What could be better?! Plus we spent some grand time with the bestestpal Kelsey Myers to top it off. I am truly blessed with beyond wonderful people in my life... wonderful and crazy:) Anywho, Amber, still at the ville, is forced to keep up with me thru much distance, but we make it work. Good ole' facebook and twitter and skype and and and. I pretty much stalk her life, and she knows it. Speaking of her life, I love her family... SHOUT OUT TO MOMMA FEATHERSTON AND ASHLEY FEATHERSTON!

Pic taken on trip down to the vile, Fall 2011. Mom Featherston WHY are you not in this?! (and Dad Featherston FTR)

Anyways, where was I... pictures take FOREVER to load. (caped word for you Amber) ... I'm starting to feel like people are going to think I'm obsessed with Amber, but it's only true, so don't worry;) I just miss her lots and I thought she should know and maybe you guys should know too. She's a cool chick and a good friend to have. Befriend her if you get the chance, unless she has already befriended you, which is probably the case. One last pic for the viewing audience...

EVERYTHINGSFUNNY!

And it turns out I lied. Lets put one more pic. Then I will wrap this baby up.

Speaking of babys...

Oh and for you picture lovers, if you want to see more pics of the mentioned events in this blog, check out my facebook albums. (links below) WOO PICTURES!

Happy Human Vistis- Trip to MI

Visit to Thee Ville 

PS. Welcome home from Cancun. AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL! 

Thee FIRST blog.

Well, here it is. I have a blog. Those who inspired me, my dear father, Chuck Smith and my boss, Sara Luke. (also some persuasion from my boyfriend Evan Heisey) What I will blog about it still completely unknown to me, so I guess we'll just figure that out as I go. I honestly have no idea how to work this blog deal so I may be asking for help from my father, which would be different since he's usually asking me questions when it comes to the internet and such. To start, I will update whoever ends up reading this on my "lyfe" as it is today, on this weird weathered day in January. I am going to Spring Arbor University. After two years at Greenville College, it was time for a change so I am now home again. This year I have lived at home and only taken classes part time at SAU while working as well. Next school year I am planning to live on campus though, which will be another new experience for me... a little unsure, but I think at this point it's another step in the right direction. This past fall I worked at Flavor Fruit Farms here in my home town. That was quite the experience and I actually really enjoyed my fall there. I was on the cash register a lot but was also baking here and there, restocking, cleaning and doing just about anything else you could think of from unloading thousands of HUGE pumpkins and placing them around the farm to eating many yummy donuts. (at least one a day!) After Halloween my season there was over and I was able to take a visit to Greenville, which was super fun but of course invovled some mixed emotions as well, seeing as how I miss all my friends from there an awful lot! This winter I've been quite the bum and I'm sure if you would talk to my parents they would agree;) Starting today I am working at Hawkins Accounting in Vandercook. It looks like this job won't be nearly as fun as my fall job, but I am going to attempt to have a decent attitude about it and maybe even learn a few things I can take with me into the "real world." I honestly have no interest in Accounting, as my major is in Social Work, but a job is a job and I am EXTREMELY thankful to have one! Speaking of my major, in transferring to SAU, I switched from Elementary Education to Social Work. Lots of thought and prayer and searching went into this change and I think I've finally found the major I will graduate with. YAY! Planning to graduate in Spring 2014... a little later than expected, but I will survive. This is getting super long and wordy so I apologize. How about I make a fun little list to finish this first blog up...

Things I am thankful for in this new year:
- Getting to see my family almost every day... I am really enjoying being a part of their lives again... especially the little bros:)
-Having my boyfriend living less than 36 hours away from me. Fall 2011 he was still at school in Arizona, so that made for many hours skyping.... not all bad, but it's definitly nice having him closer:)
- A job ... prayer for my friends who are still needing one!!!
- The list could go on but it's now 1 o'clock am and I'm thinking I should maybe wrap this up. Swell first blog this was. Catch ya later readers, whoever you may be:)

No wait... I'm not done. Another cool thing that happened this past year, my best friend Kelsey Myers got engaged. CONGRATS AGAIN AND AGAIN CODY AND KELS! Their wedding is in December 2012 and I'm beyond excited to be Kelsey's MOH!
Also, can I just say this weather is the weirdest. Snow, extreme meltdown and fog, warmth, tanning, beach days, SNOW! repeat.
Alright. Good day world.

A few recent pics from my lyfe