Scariest Experience of Natalie's Life

So, here's the scoop:
I picked up Natalie today from home, and we headed to one of my appointments. Afterwards we had planned to eat lunch together. Little did we know that we would get "T-boned" on Chestnut Expressway.

We were heading west on Chestnut in the left-hand lane, when a 1995 Honda Civic pulled out from our left (coming North on Burton) and hit us in the drivers side rear quarter of my sweet 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The impact from the left & into the rear spun my Jeep to the left causing us to hit the curb and then the center grassy median.
My instincts caused me to quickly hit the brakes just after being slammed, however just about that moment I realized that we were in the opposite oncoming lane (luckily there was a window of no cars coming).
I then took my foot quickly off of the brakes, and stepped on the gas to get across the street quickly.

As soon as we were across the street, we hit the curb, hit grass, and began peeling out, heading for a tree. I hit the brakes again, turned to the right, and we slid across the grass safe and sound.

The damage may look minor, as most of the impact from the other vehicle was right into my back wheel (which popped the tire), but I am sure that there is axle damage to the Jeep.

Now with all of this said, keep in mind the following:
1. We were on Chestnut Expressway (there is a reason that they call this an Expressway folks!), and so in other words, this was not Bellhurst Ave, or some other Springfield street with a possible cul-de-sac street.
2. as all of this is happening, we were not only changing speed rapidly, but changing direction rapidly, and changing terrain as we hurdled up and down over 3 curbs & through grass.
3. Natalie is screaming the whole time (she has never been in a wreck like this before).
4. We are both so thankful that we didn't roll or hit another vehicle in oncoming traffic.
5. We were lucky that our kids were also not with us, as they were all in school.

Moral of the story:
This was meant to happen.
Wear your seatbelts!
Life is fragile.
God was watching after us.

*the ironic thing is that I was just hit in the rear of the same Jeep just weeks ago. JB remembers that!!