Tyler...

So it's Wednesday night and I'm sitting here trying my best to blog. I keep wondering if Tyler went to Awana tonight. I have almost called to find out a few times, but decided not to. Tyler is my 2nd cousin. He's in the 5th grade at the same elementary school I went to. He's probably the sweetest most laid back kid I've ever been around. I seriously think he's a Horse Whisperer. He loves my kids and would play with them tirelessly for hours given the chance. He has one of the most adorable smiles I've ever seen. One of Tyler's best friends was killed in a 4 wheeler accident a year or so ago. Tyler was supposed to go with them that day but changed his mind at the last minute. His 22 year old brother, Derek, was killed in a car accident early Saturday morning.

Tyler was staying the night with his Gran (and my Aunt Linda) when the accident happened. My Aunt Wanda (Linda & my mom's sister) called early Saturday morning to tell me what had happened and I went to tell my mother. Nobody knew how she would react because she was close to Derek. So I went to tell her. She did okay. Once she settled down, I went next door to Aunt Linda's to sit with them for a while. As I was getting my kids out of the car, she met me at the door to tell me Tyler was there and he didn't know yet.

They were waiting to tell him until his parents got home from the hospital and taking care of some other things. He played with the kids and told me about every song that came on CMT. He couldn't get over the fact that I never listen to country music. I told him I'd introduce him to TobyMac and Third Day. He laughed. He thinks I'm old.

A lady came to the door that I didn't know. Tyler beat me to the door. As she started up the steps he said, "Something happened to Derek." She didn't know anything had happened. She said, "What happened?" Tyler said, "He died."

As his Gran came from the back of the house I mouthed to her, "He knows", she asked him who told him and that's when he said, "I heard you talking on the phone last night." Only then did he break down. I thought my heart would burst. Watching that poor sweet baby cry and thinking about him lying there all those hours wondering what had happened and when someone was going to tell him was just about more than I could stand.

Derek's funeral was Monday. Please help me as I pray for God to intervene with this family. I pray that He can give them comfort they so desperately need and that they will turn to Him in their grief. Please lift up Derek's parents, Greg & Lynn Jeffery, his sister, Shaylynn, brother, Tyler, his grandparents, and friends. I ask that you also pray especially for his girlfriend, Tiffany. She is expecting she & Derek's child early next year.

Aunt Linda lost another grandchild, Jill, earlier this year. They all need your prayers.

I know that there are many prayer warriors out there, thank you in advance for your prayers!