HIGHS and lows of my week

This has defiantly been a VERY emotional week for me. I have had emotions as high and high can go and pretty darn low too. I'll start with bad news and end on good news.

First, My dad's brother passed away on Sunday evening, just as quickly as my dad did 4 years ago. One minute they're here and the next they're gone, no warning, no goodbyes. Uncle Don Wykoff passed away while shopping for supplies to build a shed with my cousin. He was only 55 years old. My dad passed when he was 52. This is the third uncle to pass away in their 50's. My dad had 5 brothers and 1 sister. So far all men have passed away in their 50's, honestly thats quite scary for me. So today I am grieving at the loss of my uncle who was like the biggest teddy bear you could ever meet. He loved hugging you and he had the most incredible smile. He will be missed.

Second, my husbands grandfather was diagnosed with cancer through out his body three weeks ago. He's under the care of hospice now and he's deteriorating very rapidly. We were told by hospice yesterday that they expect him to meet the Lord within the week. So this is going to be an incredibly hard week for me and my family. My grandparents have been gone for 13 years and I have adopted Tom's grandparents as my own. Please keep Henry and Rita Hanzely in your prayers.

Third, the HIGH that I experienced this week was a huge blessing from God and I will not take it lightly. I have been praying and researching about forming a local support group for families with children with Down Syndrome. Its been about 6 months in the works. I had a To Do list that I was going through to get the first meeting under way. One of the last things I wanted to do was contact the local ARC to ask for advice and any recommendations to get families to participate. The more I talked to them the more they said I belong on the board of the ARC. I'll admit I had my blinder on and I just wanted a DS group, nothing more. I asked for prayers from friends and family and the most incredible opportunity presented itself. I was asked to attend the ARC board meeting on Tuesday. I went as a parent hoping to have some input on activities they hold there and I left as the new Executive Director!! Can you believe that? It now lays in my hands the opportunities we can provide to the local children with disabilities. This is an amazing honor and one I won't take lightly. I was going to start something with or without the ARC, but why try to reinvent the wheel? They are already a 501c non-profit, they own an 8 acre camp with a nice meeting building equipped with a kitchen, another building with classrooms, a small playground, a fenced in pond with fish, and much more!! I am praising God for this chance to do something and to make a difference. I pray that God will lead my actions and motivations to get things done and I ask for prayers from all of you as well.

This has been one week for sure. As for the kids Caleb and Isaac are coming down with something, I don't know what but they're not themselves. Tristin, Camille and Elijah enjoyed meeting and playing with some of their cousins that are in town for my uncles funeral. And my husband Tom is trying to get through tax season with the knowledge that his grandfather is growing weaker. UGH.. "This too shall pass"