He Made It!

Andrew made it to the state meet - barely!  His race started off fine for him, but he took the lead earlier; because the pace was not fast enough.  With his best time, he was ranked in first place by quite a bit.  But with all of his struggles the past week and a half, we could not count on that time.  He looked okay but not great.  With a few laps to go, two guys passed him.  He stayed with them a little, but then he started struggling a bit.  The last lap, especially the last 100, was so hard to watch!  I was in the corner at turn 4 and could not see if he made it.  Third, fourth, and fifth finished within one second of each other.  It could not have been closer, and Andrew was fourth.  Four places made it to state. 

We found out yesterday that Andrew has bronchitis, so he started antibiotics.  Hopefully, that will help him get back on track for Saturday.  As I prayed for him running that last 100 where his feet were barely coming off the track, I turned and prayed that he could hold on to his place.  I thought he was passed but turned around just in time to see that there was a slight chance of him making it.  Pete was at the finish and held up his hands a few inches apart.  We are thankful he held on that much.

The last couple of days, I have been reminded two different times that Andrew won't live with us full-time much longer!  Before I started that dread, I believe the promises that were whispered to me the other night kicked in.  I had an email from a mom I have not seen in a couple of years.  She emailed to ask me about something for someone else.  Then she told me to cry a lot the night before graduation.  She did that and was fine the day of graduation!  Another special friend left a message that hit the right spot at just the right time.  And then I was reminded that even though Andrew is getting ready to go that he has already been getting ready to go.  He is very independent and:

1.  Worked 32-40 hours each week last summer showing that he can survive in a place where he is not immediately comfortable and may not always want to be!

2.  Earned the money to buy his truck from Uncle Dwayne and Aunt Whitney.  It means more that he bought it himself.

3.  Has been doing his own laundry for a few years now.  He knows how to treat stains, especially that mud splatter from running, and how to sort his clothes.

4.  Can feed himself which he does even more since he has changed his diet a lot in the past several months.

5.  Takes a lot of medication each day and keeps up with when he takes it and when he is running low.

6.  Does not like to spend/waste his money or ours.  He will be frugal and get what he needs but not overspend.

7.  Can do his own infusions - not needing any help from me.

8.  Is learning more and more to check on things himself and is not afraid to ask questions. 

9.  Has done some really thoughtful things lately to keep me informed or help me not worry about him.

Although he has a long way to go, he has made some huge steps in the way of independence already.  I know I will be better off if I focus on what he can do already and appreciate that while praying for him as he learns more and more.  And I know these are positives that God reminded me of today.

So thanks for praying.  He runs the 3200 in Greensboro Saturday, and then will run home and get ready for the prom!  It will be a big day and night!

I have been listening to the Steven Curtis Chapman CD that Whitney gave me and found a great song for Andrew as he graduates.  He may not listen to it!  But I am!  It reminds me of something his fourth grade teacher would give him.   I guess it is normal at this point to remember all of those who have impacted his life, and ours, so much in the past 18 years.


Wendi



Meant to Be ~ Steven Curtis Chapman


Long Before You Drew Your First Breath
A Dream Was Coming True

God Wanted to Give A Gift To The World
So He Wrapped It Up In You

Every Step That You’ve Taken
Every Move That You Make
Is Part Of His Plan

You Were Meant To Be Touching
The Lives That You Touch

And Meant To Be Here
Making This World So Much More
Than It Would Be Without You In It

You Were Meant To Be Bringing
The Gifts That You Bring
And Singing The Songs
You’ve Been Given To Sing

You Are Perfectly, Wonderfully,
Beautifully Meant To Be
You Were Meant To Be

Long Before You Took Your First Fall
You stumbled to the ground
God started telling the story of you to the angles around
Every failure and victory
Everything in between
Its all in his hand

You Were Meant To Be Touching
The Lives That You Touch
And Meant To Be Here
Making This World So Much More
Than It Would Be Without You In It

You Were Meant To Be Bringing
The Gifts That You Bring

And Singing The Songs
You’ve Been Given To Sing

You Are Perfectly, Wonderfully,
Beautifully Meant To Be
You Were Meant To Be (yeah)
Meant To Be
You are
You are
You are meant to be
You are
You are
You are meant to be

For every breath that your taking
And every move that you make
It’s a meaningful life you’ve been given
Live it well

You Were Meant To Be Touching
The Lives That You Touch
And Meant To Be Here
Making This World So Much More
Than It Would Be Without You In It

You Were Meant To Be Bringing
The Gifts That You Bring
And Singing The Songs
You’ve Been Given To Sing

You Are Perfectly, Wonderfully,
Beautifully Meant To Be (yeah)
You Were Meant To Be (yeah)
You Were Meant To Be (yeah)
You Were Meant To Be
To Be
You Were Meant To Be