6 more weeks of winter!!

Ok, so I heard today that the hedgehog or ground squirrel or hedge ground something or other didn't see his shadow, so that means we're going to have a shorter winter! Yay!
Tell that to the minus 3 degree air outside, will ya? It is SO cold here in Ioway, I think if you did one of those spit tests, or boiling water tests, it would freeze before it hit the ground. I'll have to try that, maybe!

Things are as hectic as usual around here. I am up to my gills in activities and things to do. I love being busy. I love having a say in most things concerning my children, and helping out in all the ways that I do.

I was interviewed a few days ago for a spot as a Hearts at Home ambassador. I am SO excited! I am SO passionate about H@H, and love to tell other moms about the great work that the organization does. And, thankfully, if and when I'm chosen as an ambassador, the duties won't start until after FunFest is done and over.

I am feeling a bit discouraged right now about something. It is weighing heavily on my heart.

If you remember, I was in a car accident back in October. I went to the emergency room, saw the doctor a few days later, went home with lots of pain meds and lots of pain. I took 600 Motrin, Vicodin and Flexeril pretty much every night before bed for almost 2 months. I could not sleep without pain. I was almost immobile in my recliner for 2 months. Pain for me. More work for my husband. Lack of attention for my 3 children. For two solid months. Because some girl was drunk + stoned at 8.30 in the morning on a rainy morning and hit her gas pedal instead of her brakes.

Well, yesterday, I made a phone call to State Farm Insurance, the other driver's insurance, to try to close out this claim. The person I was on the phone to wanted to know if we were interested in a settlement, and I said yes. He asked how much we were requesting, and I said that I would like to hear their offer first. Well, he calculated how many hours of work I lost, how many hours my husband lost, my trip to the ER that morning and a follow up doctor's visit, and came out with a whopping offer of.... (drum roll please)....
$375.

For the pain and suffering of 2 months. For crying myself to sleep for the first month of it. For the extra work that my husband had to do. Compensation that they feel was appropriate for all of that was $375.

Um.

No. I don't think so. I about cried. I told him that was not close to what we had in mind. I told him our number.

The man about laughed at me over the phone. In this nasally, condescending voice, he told me that I should contact an attorney, because there was no way on earth that we would be paid the amount we are requesting for one hospital visit and one doctor's visit. Well, smart aleck, I want compensation for those two days. I also want compensation for the following 60 days of pain and medications and problems that this girl gave me.

So I am stressed out over that. I was praying about it yesterday, while running errands after work. The thought that came to me was to be still. To know that HE is God. That all of my days were written before I was even born. That the solution to this is already planned. It's only my job to live through it to the end. He's telling me not to worry. The Bible says not to worry. It does no good. What will be will be.

But I want to know what action to take. Do we just let it go? NO! This girl has to be taught a lesson that you don't just get to be irresponsible and walk away from it with no consequences. I want to know that we are doing what is in the Lord's will. I almost feel guilty. But then, I remind myself of the pain I went through, and sure, now that it's mostly gone, and that I'm not into it that badly anymore, it's easy to poo-poo it off and say, "Well, we'll just take the offer and go."

I just want to know that we're doing the right thing. So, I've gone ahead and contacted an attorney. I have an appointment, and we'll let a professional tell me what is right as far as compensation. I'll be praying about this through it all, which, is the only thing I can do, right?