So a lot has changed since my last post from 7 weeks ago. When i wrote it I was still in Toronto, Canada finishing up the end of the tour. The end of the tour wrapped up and Ashley and I had to say goodbye to all of our new friends. It was emotional few days for us both as we hugged our friends with the thought there is a good chance we wont see many of them again. After spending so many months away from home and relying on them to be your friends and family it was a tearful but happy end.
I was happy to be coming home. Still no idea what I was going to do but making the trek to Simi Valley to come home, lay low, and figure things out. The first week was just that, laying low, beginning to think about what would come next, tour again, photography, work back at my old job...
Then it happened. I called my in-laws at work to ask them a question and the secretary told me they weren't there. She hesitated (I'm sure she was scared to be the one to say it after losing Tyson), but she then told me there was another accident and this time it was Tysons brother Timmy. I lost it, the last time I heard "theres been an accident" I lost the love of my life. Every horrible thought ran through my mind. Could this be happening again? God no! Please let him be ok. Please let him live. We can't do this again. The following hours and days were bad. We did our best to remain close to the promise that God is in control and he has a plan, while difficult and life changing decisions were made by his wife. Timmy lost his right hand and majority of his right leg and had a tracheotomy tube in his neck. He had over 400 stitches and several thousands of pieces of carbon fiber removed from his body. He fractured his left foot, tore his MCL on his left leg, suffered 2nd degree burns to a good portion of his torso, right arm and back. He battled infection, fever, and blood pressure issues among countless other issues. He was a very sick man and was in a medical induced coma for several weeks. While he was asleep and most of my family stayed positive I had some of the hardest days. Why God? Why again? Why to Abby, Coby and Cades daddy? Am I bad luck? Is this to punish us? I just couldn't wrap my head around the reason for this happening so close to losing Tysons. There really isn't a good time but I just didn't see why it had to be so soon. I just had to put my big girl panties on a deal with life. I had to put all that aside so that I could help in any way I could. I wanted to help Corinna and all that she was going through, I wanted to help the kids even if that meant just spending the night with them.
When Timmy finally woke up we all held our breath, what was coming next? How would he react? What was he going to say first? Would he be angry? The first thing he said when he looked at his doctor "I want to thank God that I'm alive"! Wow! I just can't tell you how good it was to hear that story. I wasn't in the room to hear it but it was all I needed to hear. He is going to be ok. There are going to be some mountains for him, but hes going to be ok. Since hearing his voice and his positive attitude I suddenly don't need to have my questions answered. It doesn't matter why it just matters that it did and how we can move forward. I have had some of the best conversations in my life with Timmy and in the last few weeks and it sucks that it took him being in the hospital for it to happen but I'm so thankful for them. I'm so thankful that he is here to continue to share stories of Tyson with me. I need to still talk about him and I need to still hear the stories of him however I can get them. God wasn't ready for Timmy in heaven and I think it would be safe to say we defiantly weren't ready for him to go :)
From there I wanted to tell you about a new opportunity that has worked out for me. Knowing I wanted to explore photography more and not sure where to start I emailed an awesome lady named Charise who is a photographer from Simi. I hired here to take "trash the dress" pictures of Tyson and I for our one year anniversary. Sadly Tyson passed away a month and half before we were to take those pictures. I reminded her who I was, what my experience was (not much) and asked if she would mind taking on an intern. She emailed me back when I got home and said there was a good possibility of it! I met with her a few weeks ago and she decided to let me try. I have since been to two engagement shoots and a wedding (my first this past weekend)! I can't thank her enough for taking me under her wing and being so patient with my crazy life and letting my tag along when I can. I have already learned so much and can't wait to see where the future will take me :)
Finally! I wanted to share a video with you all. Someone posted this video on Facebook last year shortly after Tyson passed away. I remember watching it and being amazed at this mans outlook. Life happened yet again and I forgot about this man and the message in this video until I was at the wedding this weekend. He was at the wedding and I was kinda starstruck! His video has been viewed millions of times on Youtube and hes right there in front of me. I think God was sending me a little reminder to watch his video and to remember the message, something we can all benefit from!
