The One About Never Taking Another Day For Granted

It was NOT an ordinary day...far from it. Friday, December 4th was a little "off" from the beginning. I woke up with yet another headache accompanied by severe muscle spasms in my right side. It happens, and life goes on. But R. didn't feel like I should drive Caleigh and I to school, so he warmed up the car and took us. He had already delivered Conner to basketball practice at 6:30 a.m., but made the trip again because that's what he does. Around 10:45 the announcement came that snow flurries had been spotted, so kinder quickly put on coats, hats, gloves, and scarves and made our way outside to stick out our tongues and catch snowflakes. Doesn't everyone do that?? Then, mid-afternoon we were settled into a writing activity when...the fire alarms sounded in the building. Bewildered, and quite honestly thinking that someone had completely lost their mind to have a fire drill on a snowy Friday, we grabbed coats and headed for the exits. Needless to say, it was a false alarm. Again, it happens. As we made our way back into the building, I made eye contact with another teacher and said, "What else can happen today?" My mother told me never to ask that. I should have listened. R. picked the kids and I up at 3:45 and around 4 we headed out of Runge the "back way" to go run an errand in Karnes City. Halfway there we met a deputy going at least 100 mph toward Runge. My heart fell into my stomach with that feeling that you can only understand if you have had it. I told R. that something was wrong. I just felt it. When we got to KC the fire whistle was sounding and we watched the rescue truck leave. Again, that feeling and by this time I am shaking. I know something is wrong. Then the phone call. My friend Veronica from Runge, "Where are you?" I told her and her voice broke. She told me that the bus (we have one bus that brings students to school and takes them home) had been in a horrible accident and that someone in an SUV didn't make it. Her husband works for the volunteer fire dept. and was helping at the scene. R and I took the kids home, prayed together as a family, then left for the hospital with no idea what we would find. Our little community hospital was a HUGE blessing last night. They efficiently and with compassion and grace, dealt with the students, parents, administrators and faculty that quickly filled the lobby. There were hospital board members there also offering kind words to all and making sure that everyone was as comfortable as possible. Ministers from three area churches, R being one, stood nearby and worded prayers for the students, the families, the community, and the family of the one who lost his life. We anxiously awaited word from San Antonio where our co-worker and bus driver, expecting a child, had been airlifted. As the students were carefully checked out and released to their parents, the atmosphere changed in the room, from fear and dread, to relief. Students emerged to find their families and quite a few teachers never happier to see them. One of our sweet kinder students, walked into the lobby with his mom and sisters, saw me and just lit up with a huge smile. "Hi Mrs. Briley! Guess what? The bus crashed and my knees hurt!" As I wrapped he and his two sisters in my arms, I thought about how these children are so much a part of my life. While R and I were outside early on directing parents to the waiting area, my coworker/friend Sandy arrived. As shaken as I, she said the words that all of us were feeling. "These are all our kids, they are all our kids." Is it because we are such a small district? Because it is a special place? Maybe both these things and some others as well. All I know is that last night, amidst tragedy and anxiety, a school, a community, a family pulled together like never before. All students were eventually released from the hospital without serious injury. Our coworker and her precious unborn child were scheduled to be released this afternoon in San Antonio. God's unfailing hand was on us yesterday. An ordinary day? No. Actually quite extraordinary. There is a family in more pain than I can really imagine today. Our prayers will continue to be with them...and may we never take another day for granted, never fail to hug and kiss our children and tell them that we love them when they leave...even on an ordinary morning...