Tonya
“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future” Proverbs 31:25

Bold, determined, strong, accomplished and tough; yet loving, prayerful, beautiful, kind and graceful.  All of these words and so many more define the woman I am privileged to call my mom. I’ve found that sometimes we take the ones we love most for granted—convincing ourselves that they will always be around. There really are few exceptions; we simply convince ourselves that the people we love are always “there.” This autumn, reality shook that very web of security I had woven tightly around my heart.  

My parents, Dennis and Tonya Holmes were up at our family cabin on Pine Creek, west of Cambridge, Idaho. They had taken the horses up to enjoy a Labor Day picnic and elk scouting expedition.  As they were ending their ride, they took a steep descent off the face of a hill. Dad rode in front and Mom a few feet behind.  In the space of a few seconds what had been a perfect fall day turned into a horrible nightmare. Mom’s horse, Robi, spooked and jumped out from under her. She landed on her back, stunned.  As Robi felt the momentum of his jump pulling him down the hill, he quickly pivoted on his hind legs and jumped back up the hill on top of mom, swiftly shattering 10 ribs, breaking her sternum and puncturing a lung.

Mom was unable to call out for help to dad, but he knew something was wrong when Robi appeared at his side, riderless. Rushing back up the hill to mom, dad began evaluating his options. There was no way to get her off the hill to the truck without injuring her further and greatly increasing her pain.  Both figured she was bleeding internally and could potentially bleed out without fast-acting and divine intervention. Finally mom convinced dad to ride for help though he was determined to stay with her.  

Dad knew the area where they were riding had very limited cell service, and that saying goodbye to his wife may be his last in this lifetime. Regardless, he knew the only chance for her would be to get Life Flight in the air. He began what mom later dubbed his “Snowy River” ride down the side of the hill to call for help.  

As she lay on that hill, mom’s thoughts began to turn to her Heavenly Father and she began to pray—thanking God first for her life, then her family and all the blessings He had brought her way.  She described to me a peace that permeated all her thoughts.  Knowledge that God was in control and that His ways are higher than ours.  She took in the beauty of the day, feeling it was to be her last. 

Thankfully God had other plans. He divinely orchestrated that entire horrible day. Dad was able to get cell service and got Life Flight on their way as well as local paramedics. Life Flight was able to use GPS to navigate into the remote location. They flew her to Saint Alphonses Regional Medical Center in Boise where she spent three days in the ICU and four days in general care.  

Nearly five months of rehab and pain have passed, and miraculously, mom is back to teaching and has even ridden once since that terrifying day. She can’t wait for the snow to melt so she can get back to her favorite hobby of riding her horses.  Though she still is sore and moves a bit slower than before the accident, she is thankful for each breath and continues to look forward to life and embrace it in a way that thoroughly amazes me.  

I can’t begin to describe to you the gamut of emotion that courses through me as I relate this story to you. My mom is one of my greatest heroes and I’ve always wanted to be just like her when I “grow up.” I’m 26 and nothing has changed. I still desire that grace and her genuine ability to be great at all she does; but most of all I want to have her heart—the dignity and worth that she bestows on each person she meets, the attitude that jumps at a chance to do anything fun, the ability to look at life and laugh. Mostly though, I desire the peace and yearning that she has within her heart to love the Lord and do His bidding above all else. I pray that my future children will get to meet this marvelous woman of His heart, and learn to love Jesus just as she and my dad have taught their children to do.  

As a family we are acutely aware of the fact that each day may be our last—though we don’t live our lives confined by that fear; but in the “grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus,” entrusting those we love to the power of His care and will. I thank God every day for the fresh perspective He gives; the second chances at life, for healing my mom, and most of all for His gift of love which He imparts to each of us so freely. May the Lord be praised in each of our lives and we strive to please Him in all that we do.

–Laci