.....Shine Bright..........

we are only on this earth for a certain amount of time

for whatever reason we don't know but God knows

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today I'm thinking and grieving for a mother of 4. 3 boys and 1 girl.

she lost a baby boy at 5 months of age due to a  heart condition.

a beautiful baby boy named Brad.

she went on to have 3 more children. 2 boys, James Lee Jr. and Charles and finally was blessed with a baby girl Amanda.(who was also born with a heart defect but thankfully at 5 years old they were able to repair the damage and she is now 25 years old and a mother of one.

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I've known these kids since they were born. they lived across the street from us. My daughter and Amanda grew up together and are best friends. My son, Tyler was best friends with Charles. and then there was james lee who just kind of tagged along

quiet and keeping to himself most of the time.

their parents divorced and Penny kept the kids.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

summer time the kids were inseparable from the time they got up till the time they went to bed and often times i would keep the girls or the boys 

and we would switch weekends back and forth....

~~~~~~~~~

those were good days

of childhood mysteries

 laughter and innocence....

back doors slamming from constant running in and out

for drinks and bathroom breaks..other than that they were outside

exploring their childhood world.....

with not a care in the world...doing what children should do

having fun and forming lasting friendships

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

3 years ago, Charles was brutally murdered

shot in the head by someone who he thought was a friend

his killer still walks the streets today...

no justice there

just a mother left in dire straits and trying like hell to get justice for her child

6 months before Charles was murdered, his brother James Lee was in a terrible car accident

left with devastating brain injuries 

a former shell left of the boy he once was...

confined to a wheel-chair never to walk or function normally again.

shuffled from hospitals to nursing homes for the last 4 years...

~~~~~~~~~~

today he is in ICU on a ventilator

and in 2 days they will turn off the machine

and he will be in heaven with his 2 brothers....

left behind will be his

 family  struggling with the

whys and disbelief's of how this could happen 

to one family

for a young mother to have to bury 3 of her children is 

something i cannot even wrap my heart around

where to you find the desire to even want to get out of bed

in the morning?

i cannot stress enough how much this tears my heart to shreds....
Penny know I am with you in heart and spirit...
and God is wrapping his arms around you for strength (lean on him)

________________

Update on Candy

she is now at my house because it was too stressful at her brothers with him drinking everyday

My sister is here with her

giving her her meds and comforting her

holding her hand

and whispering words of I love you

XOXO

PS we are all leaning on strength from our Savior
Amen

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