Goodnight, Sweet Prince

Duncan passed away unexpectedly in his sleep the night of my 40th birthday.  He had been battling a bad stomach bug, but seemed to be recovering the same as Lydia and Pete.  Aunt Cynto went to check on him around 2:00 a.m. and she knew instantly he was gone.  I'm thankful that Michael saw the text on my phone when he woke up this morning and was able to crawl back into bed to tell me the news.  It's truly a shock, but we can't ignore God's hand in the midst of it all.  First, I can't tell you how rare it is that Pete, Cynto and Lydia are all home together.  Aunt Cynto was supposed to fly out yesterday, but she called in because everyone else came down with the bug.  She told me, "I can't tell you how close I came to going to work."  Second, Lydia leaves in less than a week for her semester in Italy.  If she weren't studying abroad this semester, she would already be back in classes in Searcy.  If it happened next week, she would be on another continent.  God's timing was full of grace. Third, the whole family went to  Universal Studios on Monday and had just an amazing time.  Duncan loved every minute, and laughed and smiled the whole time.  He loved all the stimulation.  Such a precious memory for them.  And finally, he did not suffer.  Duncan has had to endure painful surgeries and horrific infections over the years, and I think our assumption was always that we'd lose him someday to a drawn out and painful complication.  We are so thankful God called him home quickly and quietly.  We of course grieve because we miss him, but we rejoice that he is whole and finally healed of all his disabilities.  I've never been so simultaneously sad and joyous, pained and relieved.  I know it weighed heavily on Aunt Cynto and Uncle Pete that a day would come when they would no longer be able to psychically care for his needs.  It was a torturous thought.  I'm so thankful that Duncan was loved and cherished at home to the very end.  And I'm ecstatic that we will get to see him in Heaven, fully restored.  But we miss him.  Oh how we miss him. 

40, HOW DID WE GET HERE?!!

I spent the final night of my youth out with my tribe. For when I woke up this morning, I was old.

Such a special intimate celebration at Nineteen Sixy-One with my girls. Heather’s 40 tiara came complete with strobing lights. I sure do love, you, April, Abby & Heather!

I got some fun cards from the kids and my sweet hubby, my precious friend Kristy Patterson had flowers delivered, and Sherry made me one of her famous pound cakes. I am truly so blessed to have such loving friends. I'm not gonna lie... I had the worst birthday in history, and not just in a cliche way in the fact I turned 40. Honestly, if it wasn't so NOT funny, it would be funny. The day I turned 40, Duncan died and my good friend Sudi had a stroke. And that's after I'd already had a hard cry over much less important things. All Michael wanted to do for my 40th was make me feel special so he booked a cruise. But the childcare he arranged wasn't as supportive and fell through, so on my birthday we thought were were going to have to cancel and lose the money. And I felt terrible because I didn't ask to go on a cruise. In trying to make me feel loved and appreciated, Michael inadvertently left me spending most of the day crying because his failed plans left me feeling the opposite. And then the bottom really fell out. So, I never want to turn 40 again. I'm glad it's over and glad I got to spend one last night with my girls. And I do so love my hubby. He tries so hard.

Putting on a smile for this crew. They are my joy.

Hiking with the Hoyts

Mimi has been growing basil, so we made our own tomato caprese! Anna Kate is a fan.

We decided to explore some areas of the county we've never seen before. We met the Hoyts at Colt Creek State Park for some flat Florida hiking.

Sometimes they just needed a little encouragement.

Tate managed to get weasel his way into Katie's arms.

Six mile warriors! They definitely earned their supper. We checked out The Red Top Pit Stop. It was everything you'd hope a dive with a name like that would be!