RACHEL KELLEY
  • About Rachel
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Download Audio
  • Store

Near-Death in Driveway {Part 2}

6/26/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
It is hard to explain how I was positioned, but I will try. I had lunged back into our car when I thought I could throw it into park. The car door was still open.  So, half of my body was in the car, the other half was on the ground.  And now the car had run into Michael's car, where I was now sandwiched.   The car was pressing right into my abdomen, right under my ribs.  Therefore, I could not breathe at all. 

I did what I believe the Lord told me to do next.  I laid on the horn.  And did not stop. 

Michael was inside the house with our two children.  He came running out, but because I was in between the car, he could not see me.  He ran to the front of the car, where he could see me through the windshield.  I yelled,

"If you do not get this off of me, I am going to die."

So, he tried and tried and tried to lift it.  It was not budging. 

Oh, God I am going to die here.

All of a sudden, I could see a man, in the rearview mirror, behind the car. 

"Get him!  Get him!"

He ran around to the front of the car and tried to help Michael lift it, but it was too heavy for even both of them. 

I knew I was suffocating. I just wondered how much longer I could live.  It is amazing all the things that go through your mind in that short amount of time.  The thought that went around and around in my head was Michael being a single dad to basically two babies, one being a newborn. 

Will Micah be ok?  I am breastfeeding him.  Will he survive without a mom?  How will Michael take care of two babies who are so little?  Is this how I will die?  I can't breathe.  I am going to die in my driveway.  I can't believe I have help here, and I'm still going to die. 

Suddenly, two more people appeared.  All four or them lifted the car and pushed it back.  I fell down onto the driveway.  And took a deep breath. 


Picture
This is my story. . .
1 Comment

Finding God at Rock-Bottom

6/26/2014

0 Comments

 
Last week I had the opportunity to guest post for a blog that I have followed for a while.  I hope you enjoy it!

"I remember one morning, sitting on my couch in our living room.  Our money was so tight that I could not even squeeze one drop out of it.  I told God that I felt like I was at the bottom.  And ever so quietly and gently, I received the answer I did not want to hear:

I am at the bottom.  So, if you want to be with me this is where we are going to hang out."

You can read the rest of my article here:

http://amamasstory.com/2014/06/freefall.html







0 Comments

Near-Death in Driveway {Part 1}

6/23/2014

1 Comment

 
It was almost Mother's Day.  Micah was about two months old. 
Picture
I had gone to the store to buy my mom the new Barbara Streisand CD while Michael stayed at home with the kids.  I turned into our driveway, which sits on the side of our house on somewhat of a slope, and proceeded to get out of the car.  Either I did not put it in park or the gear shift broke, but all that I know is that the car started rolling forward.  As the car continued to move, I lunged back in to push the gear into park.  The next thing I knew was that my body was pinned up against Michael's car.   It happened so quick.  I went from getting out of the car to now not being able to breath.

"Wait, what just happened?" I thought to myself.  "I can't breathe." 

I remember looking down at my ribs and seeing that with each breath I took, the car squeezed me that much more. 

"I am suffocating."

I tried to turn and push and pull and twist.  There was not getting out.  I was stuck.  There was no way to move this massive amount of weight that was now taking over my body. 

The car was still in gear.  The driveway was sloped.  I was basically the only thing that was keeping our cars from colliding, or I was the only thing that was keeping my car from rolling into the street. 

"Oh, God help me.  I'm going to die like this. Oh, God help me.  God, help.  God, I can't die like this. God, I can't die in my own driveway with my family inside my house." 

I started to scream and yell with the little bit of air that I did have.  To no avail. We live on a very busy street, and no one was going to hear me. 

Oh, God, I am going to die like this. 

Then a voice, "Lay on the horn."



This is my story. . .


1 Comment

5 Reasons I'm Glad I Ditched The Pill

6/20/2014

0 Comments

 
1.  Caroline
Picture
2.  Micah
Picture



3. Cecilia, born into heaven at 13 weeks



4. Camille
Picture
5.  Mary Manor

Picture
0 Comments

I Was So Proud of Me

6/13/2014

6 Comments

 
I remember one day, about eight years ago, standing on my porch with a group of friends.  We were talking about the "in" crowd, and I was proud to consider myself to be a part of that.  I felt like I belonged here and that I was in pretty good standing, society-wise.  Michael had a great job, we lived in a beautiful home, I was staying home with Caroline, I was on the board of a non-profit organization and a member of several other clubs. . .everything was going so smoothly.  In that moment, I can remember feeling that I had "arrived." 

Picture
One of my favorite scenes in the Bible is where Jesus is standing in front of Pontius Pilate. 

"Therefore when Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid;  and he entered into the Praetorium again and said to Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus gave him no answer.  So Pilate said to Him, "You do not speak to me?  Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify you?"  Matthew 19:8-10

Amazing, isn't it?  The power we think we possess. The authority we think we possess.  The way we believe that all the things in our life are somehow of our own doing. 

Picture

"You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above."  Matthew 19:11

It is so like Jesus, isn't it?  To hit him with the answer right between the eyes.  "Umm, all that power you think you possess, Pilate, it comes straight from Me." 

And that is where pride starts to seep in.  When I think it is MY doing and MY power that has put me where I am. 

And then, I remember:

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."  Proverbs 16:18

And oh, how great, the fall that was to ensue. 





This is my story. . .








6 Comments

It's Showtime!

6/11/2014

0 Comments

 
When Caroline was about a year old, I saw a post in our church bulletin about a group of volunteers who was interested in starting a pregnancy center in Pulaski.  I had volunteered for a pregnancy center while I was in college, so I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to utilize the skills I had gained while serving there (and to get out of the house)!  I met some great friends and was able to serve on the board for a few years.  I attended a monthly meeting and helped with a couple of banquets, that was about it.  But, I enjoyed it.     

Life Choice Pregnancy Resource Center is still in operation today.  (And, an interesting tidbit. . .my mom offered to design our logo, and she used the actual ink print image of my foot from my baby book.  Michael says I have "left my footprint" on Pulaski!)

Picture
One of the first locations, right off the square, in Pulaski, TN.
In the beginning, we were trying to think of a way to raise funds.  I came home and told Michael how we needed to find a way to get money for the center.  He offered to come up with a show (his vocal impersonation show) as a way to kick-off the Center.  He had performed all over the world--cruise ships, USO tours, theme parks--I had just never seen any of it!  The board decided use his show as the first official fundraiser.  

So, that is what we did.  We sold tickets and held the show at our local church.   

I was stunned by how well it went over! I was stunned by how much I laughed...well, you know...I knew he had to be good, but I did not know he was that good!

It was a HILARIOUS show!

Here is a short clip from the first show, and I think you will agree with me!



This is my story. . .

0 Comments

My New Job

6/9/2014

3 Comments

 
I had a nice, fluffy post written this morning regarding leaving my job at Aquinas to stay at home with Caroline and then I opened my Bible to this verse:

"A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin."  Proverbs 26:28

Well, I certainly don't hate you, I love you.  And I don't want to just flatter, I want to speak from what I've learned no matter how hard it is for me to do so, so here goes. . .

My mom stayed at home with my sister and me.  We were not "rich" (by First World standards), but we always had what we needed.  I remember my mom, opening her Bible, reading us the "Proverb of the day" (as she would call it) every morning before we left for school.  I can't tell you how much my mom did for my spiritual life.  My mom prayed for me and with me.  She made us memorize Bible verses throughout our childhood.  Every afternoon, she would be back in the studio, painting.  We would go and sit on the couch and tell her about our day.  Growing up, she encouraged us to "turn the other cheek," "walk the second mile," and all those other things we didn't want to do! 

Picture
Mom and me when I was about 6 years old. . .hanging out in our kitchen.
My dad always worked so hard to provide for us.  There were times that we struggled, and he sold cars to bring home a paycheck.  But then there were also the times that he worked in environmental protection in conjunction with a defense contractor (what?!) and blessed us with vacations to Disneyworld and Garden of the Gods.  Those of you who are familiar with Colorado know what I'm talking about! 
Picture
Dad and me at Christmas.
So, when the time came for me to make a decision about staying at home, the answer was clear.  And Michael and I were in agreement.

Before I left Aquinas, one of the Sisters said to me, in regards to our decision,

"You are the only person in the world who can be a mom to your children."

Picture
Caroline and me at our home in Nashville, before we moved.
Thankfully, God opened a door for Michael to take a better job as a Director of Admissions at a college in Pulaski, TN.  We moved to Pulaski when Caroline was just a few weeks old.

Picture
Our house in Pulaski, TN.
Those first few months and years were tough.  I can remember feeding Caroline, reading books, then playing on the porch only to look at the clock and realize only one hour had gone by.  What would I do with the rest of the day?  There were days that I was lonely, just wishing I had somewhere to go and people to see.  "How on earth am I going to do this for 18 years?" I thought to myself.  "I'm bored.  I'm tired.  Surely there is something else to do with my life."  

"Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children like olive shoots around your table."  Psalm 128:3

I knew that this is where God wanted me.  I knew it.  And let me say, this post is not about throwing a punch in the mommy wars.  Not at all.  I have to let you all know my belief in what I was doing.  Because, as the posts go by you might be wondering, "What on earth was she thinking?"  "Is she crazy?" 

But, you see, God had me exactly where He wanted me, once again. 

And as I was standing on the edge of the ocean, with a great storm about to approach, I was glad that I had tucked into my heart, the things my mom had sewn.  From the sacrifices she had made.  

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, when you face trials and many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."  James 1:2-3

I didn't know the depth of the trial or the faith that was required as I started to feel the wind on my face, and as I began to see the water start to stir.

This is my story. . .








3 Comments

    Archives

    April 2018
    August 2017
    February 2017
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly