I heard today that the train wreck at Silver Dollar City was in the National news. My children and I were in one of the cars that overturned.
I was hesitant sharing publicly about our swift brush with death, but it would be a missed opportunity if I didn’t express my gratitude in how God saved all of us from potential harm.
The goodness of God and His mercy on us when we least deserve it in those brief moments of crisis is humbling.
The goodness of God and His mercy on us when we least deserve it in those brief moments of crisis is humbling.
I had a fun day planned in Branson and it started with waking everyone up at 5 a.m. to get dressed for the day.
We packed our meals/snacks, extra sweaters, and we headed out the door. One of the little boys said, “Mommy, why are we leaving in the dark?”
We packed our meals/snacks, extra sweaters, and we headed out the door. One of the little boys said, “Mommy, why are we leaving in the dark?”
It started with a full morning of music with Tammy and then we headed to Silver Dollar City.
We ate, we drank hot cider, and enjoyed the sunny, 65° weather.
We ate, we drank hot cider, and enjoyed the sunny, 65° weather.
We talked, we laughed, we sang. With each activity, the kids were texting their dad updating him on the next thing we were doing. Typically Jason goes with us on outings, but on this day he couldn’t make it happen with his schedule.
The sun was glistening through the red and yellow leaves as we rounded the corner to “ride the horses.” One of the middle ones mentioned that the train line was fairly short and they all wanted to go. I promised the babies we would ride the train first, and the horses second.
It was good timing because the babies had just woken up from their naps in the stroller, and needed some lap time with mommy while they rubbed the sleep from their eyes.
We loaded onto the train and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. It wasn’t 3 minutes into their typical story of Ichabod and the train wreck, when she spoke of a car “going off the tracks.”
I assumed they had changed the script, so in confusion, I looked back and saw the car behind us leaning to the right.
In that split second I heard her say “Don’t panic!” I felt an adrenaline rush, and I hollered out to my kids to tuck into the little ones and brace themselves.
I assumed they had changed the script, so in confusion, I looked back and saw the car behind us leaning to the right.
In that split second I heard her say “Don’t panic!” I felt an adrenaline rush, and I hollered out to my kids to tuck into the little ones and brace themselves.
As our car started to tip, I grabbed the kids next to me and pulled them opposite in fear they were going to get crushed. We then slammed onto the ground.
Time seemed to be in slow motion at that point, but in reality was only about 3 seconds.
Once we were sideways, we all realized this was not the script and the train had actually derailed.
Once we were sideways, we all realized this was not the script and the train had actually derailed.
I immediately saw a man to the side of me pulling one of my girls out saying, “Get away from the engine. It’s gonna blow.” My son said, “Mom! Oil is leaking out of the engine.”
That was all I needed to hear and I was handing my kids off quickly to a total stranger. Getting them all up the hill away from the train was a little stressful.
It’s interesting how fast people can move in an emergency.
That was all I needed to hear and I was handing my kids off quickly to a total stranger. Getting them all up the hill away from the train was a little stressful.
It’s interesting how fast people can move in an emergency.
Once we were in a place that I felt was safe enough to get my brain wrapped around what had just happened, I looked around at the frantic people scrambling about. Babies crying, my own included.
There was a man carrying his newborn baby out that was sitting directly behind us and my heart gripped with anxiousness.
I started to tear up realizing just how close we had become to being crushed… and how life would be so different if I were having to plan funerals.
There was a man carrying his newborn baby out that was sitting directly behind us and my heart gripped with anxiousness.
I started to tear up realizing just how close we had become to being crushed… and how life would be so different if I were having to plan funerals.
My heart was truly overjoyed when I saw swarms of men from the train pulling people out, breaking the windows to get in, and doing what they could before first responders were able to get to us.
It was overwhelmingly gut-wrenching to watch and felt so helpless at the same time to do anything useful. A woman beside me was bawling so all I could do was give her a big hug.
Floods of EMTs, first responders, the sheriff department, local police, and the fire department were there within minutes of the crash.
I felt prompted to teach the kids in real time about the events unfolding before their eyes.
From courageous men who volunteered in helping the women and children out first, to all of our first responders in uniform who risk their lives daily, to calming my children’s fears about the circumstances unraveling around them… It was a real-life learning experience they soon would not forget.
From courageous men who volunteered in helping the women and children out first, to all of our first responders in uniform who risk their lives daily, to calming my children’s fears about the circumstances unraveling around them… It was a real-life learning experience they soon would not forget.
One of my little boys said, “Mommy, if the engine blows up and those men are on the top pulling people out, will they die?” “Yes son, they will. That’s what makes those men so courageous.”
He just stared as he thought about my words.
He just stared as he thought about my words.
One of my little ones thought the man being carried out on a stretcher was already gone and she started to cry.
Another asked about the difference between the first responders on the ground going from one person to the next. It gave me an opportunity to teach them to be grateful for all of our police, firefighters, EMTs, volunteers, etc. for they are trained to protect us, and help keep us safe.
I’m so thankful there were no fatalities that we know of because this situation could have been so much worse. We are a little banged up, sore, and possibly have 2 that have sprains, but are walking away counting our blessings.
After finding our personal belongings (one lost her shoe) the 3 hour name-taking, and bussing people out of the dark, I made good on my promise to take the babies for a few rides before we drove home.
2 girls hobbled their way to the rides just to help me fulfill an obligation to those who didn’t understand. 
When we finally made it to the van, Victoria said to me, “Mom, all I kept thinking when we were running up the hill away from the crash was that daddy prayed for our safety this morning before we left.”
My heart… how grateful I was for God to be working in her heart. She was looking for answers to this event and she chose to look up.
My heart… how grateful I was for God to be working in her heart. She was looking for answers to this event and she chose to look up.
When we finally made it home, we hugged daddy extra long. We went to bed with a grateful heart that we get to spend another day on this earth with our family.
I have had close calls and a few brushes with death myself. I’ve had my own losses, some very dear to me. I understand how fragile life is and within a blink of an eye, life can be taken away.
I welcome the opportunities to teach my children how to respond in an emergency, helping others in need, and when the opportunity presents itself obvious, pray. Fall on your knees and pray for the hurting.
So hug your babies today. Tell your people how much you love and care about them. Don’t wait until tomorrow to tell them how special they are to you. Teach your children about Jesus, and His redemptive love and forgiveness.
Because tomorrow is never promised.
Below I posted some photos of the train ride before and after the wreck. I am trying to be respectful to all whom were involved, so nothing in these will be anyone but our family.
