Friday, May 31, 2013

Summer Adventure

We are getting ready to embark on our next big adventure with Luke.  Next week Luke and I will leave to spend the rest of June and first week of July in Texas.  A bit of background on how this all came about...

In November, three days before Thanksgiving, my beloved Papaw passed away.  While we knew it was coming, losing someone you love and who is such an important part of your family is never easy. He was such an amazing man who taught me lessons he never knew he was teaching, just by living the life he led.   Then as fate would have it, my beloved Mamaw was in a passenger in a car that was T-boned by another car three days before Christmas.  She passed away due to injuries suffered in the accident on the day after Christmas.  While we knew they were happily reunited in the heavens above, we were so sad to lose them both in less than a month.  They were truly two of the most humble, giving, loving, honest, amazing people you could ever hope to meet.
 



Three of my dad's cousins came out to the funeral.  Of these cousins, one is Associate Chair and one is a Professor in the Speech Therapy department at a prominent University in Texas.  Each summer they run a camp for children that focuses on Speech Therapy and reading.  These children receive almost three hours of speech therapy four days per week.  Basically, you get the equivalent of 2 years of therapy in four weeks.  We had been trying to get Luke evaluated for the camp, but it never worked out.  While it is very bittersweet for the reasons they were here, they were able to evaluate Luke and thought he would be the perfect candidate for the camp.

I can find myself getting overwhelmed when I think about being away from Mike and the girls for so long.  Luke also has started being more aggressive due to the combination of puberty and brain injury. So, we could really use your prayers that these next four weeks starting June 9th when we leave for Texas are very productive weeks in Luke's recovery.  There is a saying that goes something like, "You were given this life because you were strong enough to live it."  Along that same line I believe we were given this opportunity because we are strong enough to do it.  This may very well be one of those times I look back and realize there is only one set of footprints.  I will cling tight to my life verse the entire time I am there because I know, "I can do all things thru Him who gives me strength."  Phil 4:13.   When my Papaw passed away and my dad was doing the eulogy at his funeral, Mamaw went thru their life story with him. The thing I learned from not only my grandparents, but my own parents as well is, "Nothing worth having in life ever comes easy."  I know Luke's got two angels up there cheering him on, and I am counting on him to make them proud.



 

2 comments:

NP said...

OH, I'm so sorry to hear about your Papaw and Mamaw. I can only I imagine how difficult it has been to lose those two special people so close together. You are right though, you have two more special angels watching over your family. That was such an amazing story about the man's brain being rewired after all those years. That brings so much hope for so many people. I will continue to keep you in my prayers especially for this new adventure in Texas . . . It sounds wonderful!!!! Thank goodness for Skype so you can see and talk to Mike and the girls while you are gone. It will be such a happy reunion when you return. Have safe travels!!! I love you!!!

Anonymous said...

I am thrilled at your news of going to Texas with Luke. My prayers will be loud and strong for him while you two are down there. God is good and He is always with you... I pray for your endured strength and wish you two to also have a good time together...
Love~
Marilyn