Quick Update

It's hot here!  I am not complaining, because I know it is much hotter almost anywhere else!  But it is hot!!!  When my dear husband buys a new air conditioner, I know it is really hot.  We are also glad we were at the beach for a few days last week and not this hotter week!

It was good to get away together for a few days.  We packed a lot into a few days and enjoyed being together.  It's very different now that the boys are old enough to do some things by themselves.  We needed a little break, and they needed that time together before Andrew goes to school! 

It's been a tough summer here in Boone.  Not even a week after little Peyton died, another boy (16) died in an auto accident.  Then so many other things were happening to people all around us.  So much heartbreak.  But also so much hope.  I don't know how people get through these tragedies without hope.

We still have not heard from Andrew's other lab work.  He did go to orientation and loved it.  We went college shopping yesterday so he could okay the bedding I found at TJ Maxx.  Keeping up with his list keeps my mind a little busy when thinking of him going away.  He also got some great news on scholarships this week.  He was awarded a check through the mail from the IDF and got a call last night that he was one of 30 recipients of over 700 applicants for a UCB Scholarship (for people or caregivers of people with seizures).  They were good scholarships and will be very helpful.

Sam is doing well.  He is running a little bit high the past couple of days, but anything can affect his sugar it seems.  He is working hard on his "school work" and things are starting to click some days.  We try to do a lot of fun things that don't seem like work.  He and Andrew go to the endocrinologist in the next couple of weeks, so we will work on his school plan with the doctor.  He has opened an "office" at the top of the stairs to "help" people and let them talk about people bothering them.  I cannot figure out where he got the idea, but he had Andrew make him signs.  It reminds me of something from the Peanuts.

Peter is starting to run again after physical therapy for his foot.  He is a huge help driving and doing errands.  He is helping Sam with his reading which is not as boring as Mommy!

Then there is Will...Will got a new "used" mountain bike right before we went on vacation.  He worked very hard in our neighborhood to earn enough money to be able to get it.  He could not wait to get on it when we got back.  He did, and he wrecked at Rocky Knob and broke his hand and scraped his face to pieces on one side - along with a shoulder and a big gash under his eye.  (He put pictures on facebook that I saw BEFORE I saw him in person!)  He had x-rays, and we were thankful his shoulder was okay.  He has a splint wrapped in ace bandages which are already looking quite dirty even though he has not had them a week!  He is out of biking and running for four weeks.  And mowing and many other things!  Instead of sitting around and pouting, he is out doing whatever he can and has already been able to earn some more money in the neighborhood!

Having a good perspective really makes a difference.  Mine gets messed up quite frequently, and I let petty things get the best of me.  I let things weigh me down and bother me that should just roll or bounce off!  Who really has time for that?  But that also is a signal to me that I am not reading enough in my Bible and/or praying enough or that I am worn out and need to be still for a little bit.  I try so hard, and I am still trying so hard; but I am not hopeless - far from it.  I think the reason I cannot write my story that I have in my head is because I am not far enough along in it.  That could be frustrating, but it is also another hopeful thing. 

This is a song sung at Peyton's funeral.  I wrote about it in my blog.  I know God helped that young man get the words out in some heartbreaking moments, and I know the song ministered to many. 

"How He Loves" David Crowder Band

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don't have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way...

He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves us.
Whoa! how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

I think my favorite part of this song is how many times it tells us He loves us.  He loves us more than anyone else could or can. 

Thanks for reading this.  Happy Weekend!

Love,
Wendi

Precious Little Peyton

As the rain falls outside ~ gently but loud enough to hear, I pray that the sound will wash over my soul and so many others hurting tonight over the loss of precious little Peyton Elizabeth Townsend.

Peyton's mom is a nurse at my office.  Peyton was a "regular" at the office, and we all loved the little blonde girl with the cute nose, bright blue eyes, and sweet smile.  She loved to color...and color...and color.  A lot of us spent the morning with her the Saturday before last at a big yard sale.  Little did we know that the next Saturday she would be in Heaven.  So fast.  So quick.  So unbelievable.  Ask anyone who was told that Peyton was in an accident and did not make it.  The first response was, "What?"  Because our brains and our hearts could not comprehend ~ would not comprehend ~ such an awful thing.  It has been a tough few days.  We know how our hearts have broken, so we can only imagine a tiny bit of what this is for Peyton's mom and dad and sister and other family.

At her funeral tonight, there were so many great things said.  They were honest, hurting speakers who still offered the hope that only comes in knowing Jesus Christ as your Savior.  Peyton had asked Jesus into her heart.  She had spent all week at Bible schools.  She died in an accident at Bible school.  One pastor said that Peyton taught us to 1) Love life 2) Love family and, most importantly, 3) Love Jesus.  So many things were said, but so many things for us to think about no matter where we are ~ an almost believer, a new believer, or an old believer.  So many things to ponder.  The tragedies of life.  What we don't understand.  What matters and what does not.  The pastor also told us to focus on what we do know.  We do know Peyton is in Heaven.  And we do know that with Christ there is hope.  The second pastor echoed a lot and offered a lot of great points.  He was missing one of his little buddies.  It was tough.  His message was "It is Well with Peyton."  He referred to why it is well.  He also said we don't have to like it, but we know Peyton is fine in Heaven.  So we direct our prayers to her family who misses her so desperately.

The music was from the heart and beautiful.  The song "He Loves Us" (David Crowder Band - not sure of the name) was so good, but we knew it was so tough for the main guy singing it.  He kept on going and did not miss a beat.  I believe he opened his mouth and let God bring forth the words.  At one point, I am sure that is what we saw. 

In her four and one half years, Peyton touched literally tons of lives.  Please pray for her family as they miss her and must forge ahead in this temporary life until they go home.  Knowing this is not our home will comfort them at some point, but I am sure all they know right now is wanting their little princess back.

Please pray for this family as they go through this dark dark valley.