Hard Rock Park-Myrtle Beach, SC

Dylan and I took the kids to Hard Rock Park last weekend. Our tickets were at a special South Carolina Weekend price, because other than that I would not pay to go there. It would be ok for kids who are a little younger, or for kids who have never been to a theme park. Carson and Drake have been to Disney World, Carowinds, and a theme park up north, so this was a little boring for me and them. The Led Zeppelin ride was the most exciting thing there, but it was over too quick! We spent a about 4 hours there...it was ok, but not worth that much money. Here are some pictures of our adventure at Hard Rock!!!!

Justice for Little Voices

Many people have been asking me what happened to little David and his family. With a sad heart I must tell you that David died last Tuesday at 5:30pm. Ashley and the doctors decided that there was nothing else that could be done for little David. He never regained brain activity. It is the saddest thing I have ever been associated with. However, the more tragic part of this story is the man who allowed this child to die. The case is still under investigation and the father is still a free man. DSS has prohibited the father from seeing the other two children, so they suspect child abuse. I can't explain my frustration in our legal system. However, the good news from this story, if there can be any; is that Ashley, Trevor, and Audrey have moved back to TN with her parents. Ashley will now how the peace she needs to grieve for her son. Please continue to keep Ashley, Trevor, Audrey, & Ashley's unborn child in your prayers. Also, pray that justice will be served in the case of the abusive and controlling father.

Above is a picture of David a few months before his death. And...to end this blog with a little encouragement...Ashley said, "David died to save me, Trevor, and Audrey."

Saddened Heart

For the last three days I have experienced the worst type of emotional trauma that any person should have to bare...and it wasn't even my trauma. About a month ago I started working at a new bar. It was not the place I wanted to work, but for some reason, it was the only job available. It wasn't until this weekend that I realized God placed me there for a reason. There was a young woman there who has 3 children under the age of three and pregnant with her fourth. She and her husband were struggling to feed the three they had. God tugged at my heart to give this young family assistance with food. It felt great to be able to help someone else. Then on Friday, August, 1 her family experience total devastation. Due to neglect of her husband her 9 month baby drowned in the bathtub. He was rushed to MUSC Children's Hospital. I spent all night Friday and most of Saturday with this young mother. I have never been involved with a child who is abused and what I witnessed over the weekend crushed my heart. I watched this young mother cry over a child that she could not save. I looked at this helpless, defenseless child that has no brain activity that was breathing only by machine. I see this and I can't understand why God allows some people to become parents. As the other two children were examined by a DSS official, I witness the mother defend and lie to the official to protect the father. I hear her say "I don't want my kids to hate me because I had their father taken away." I cannot believe what I am hearing. Her son is dying with no hope for life and she is defending the man responsible. My question is, "Why does God allow some people to become parents?" Being a young single mother, the twins saved my life. They saved me from a life of separation from God. I can't imagine ever harming my children. Even on the days when I am so frustrated I could never cause them harm! In the days that followed, I witnessed Ashley become stronger and defend her children and lash out against the man responsible for this horrible act of terror. As I try to place myself in Ashley's shoes, I can't begin to imagine how I would react or what I would say when faced with the same questions that Ashley faced. Over the next couple of days I realized that Ashley herself was in a controlling situation and could see no way out. She was afraid of what the future would hold if she told the truth. I am proud to say that Ashley told DSS and the police everything that she and her children were subjected to! I learned a lot from Ashley this weekend!

I did not write this blog to gossip about another person, I needed to release this emotional terror that is running through my mind. When I close my eyes all I can see is this lifeless, blue, helpless little boy lying on a table with tubes and IV's hooked up to every inch of his body! I know this little boy does not have to die in vain and I hope that through his death, the other two children will be saved.

If you read this blog please pray for 9 month old David. His prognosis is fatal, but pray that through his death the lives of Audrey and Trevor will be saved. Pray that the mother will see the importance of her children and stop protecting the man that is hurting them. Also, if you are a parent and you read this, please hug and kiss your children with extreme vigor...children are a blessing from God and EVERY child deserves the right to have a healthy and happy life!!!

The One...

It is amazing what 10 years of maturity will do to one's love life. What I thought I wanted at 22 is not what I needed or what God wanted for my life. Raising two boys alone has made me realize that there is more to love than romance. I have searched for love in many faces, but never felt that unconditional love that God teaches us about. It wasn't until last year, in the face of my children, did the light finally go off!

I have met someone who is real, compassionate, loving, patient, kind, understanding, forgiving, loyal, and nice looking (lol...an extra bonus). His name is Dylan and when I met him there were not fireworks or an explosion of emotions, but a slight sense of comfort. We started a great friendship, and we have so much in common. He didn't dive in and try to win the boys affection...he allowed them to come to him. He doesn't spoil them...he is real with them.

Dylan has helped me figure out who I am and what is important to me. When I think of Dylan, I think of 1 Corinthians 4-7

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

I am excited about the future! Dylan is all of these things and I can't imagine my life without him...

New Adventures...

This is my first time blogging...I am excited! What a great way to get information out to family and friends!

My how our lives change from year to year! Carson and Drake will be 11 in October. It seems like yesterday that they were infants and I had no idea where our lives were going. Carson and Drake saved my life and even though the last ten years have been trying, stressful, and tearful I would not change one memory or one experience! Those things have molded our lives and made us who we are!

I am going to use this blog to tell you about the rest of our lives...I hope you enjoy getting to know the 3Abercrombies!