A Weekend With Brad

Hope everyone had a wonderful Labor Day. Here are some pictures from our trip to Virginia Tech. . .

Caitlyn and Brad

Leon on the couch

Leon and Brad

Leon and Chris

Leon and Me :)

Quick Update

Greetings from Virginia Tech. I know some of you are wondering how Brad & Chris are doing. Chris and I are currently at Brad's apartment giving him some TLC that only a brother and mother can give. We stopped at the store on the way and I'm already cooking up a storm for the college crew here.

It is good to see Brad again, to hug him, and know that he is okay. He is still very sore with a black and red eye. His teeth hurt, too, so he still needs to eat soft foods. I made his favorite cookies (Snickerdoodles) and he can't even eat them because it is hard for him to chew. (And it is hard to keep his roommates from eating them, too!) He got his staples taken out of his head today while he was in the emergency room this morning with his girlfriend, who sprained her ankle. He asked her nurse to take them out for him. They are quite the couple with their injuries! Now it is Brad's turn to take care of her!

The doctor from the hospital called Brad the other day and told him he needed to see an eye doctor and an ENT doctor because he also has a broken eye socket that they missed in the ER. He also needs to see the dentist, too. The police were at his house on Thursday night with information (which is good news). I will have to keep details off this blog from now on because this assault on Brad & his friends will probably end up in court.

And Chris is hurting, too, over the loss of Brutus. I was so worried about him that I even bought a German Shepherd puppy for him on Thursday night. . .but ended up taking it back yesterday. He says he isn't ready for another dog and only wants one from Riga. . .I told him today that I was going to change his name to David. . .because he feels like David in Psalms. . . (David cried out in pain and sorrow to God in this book in the Bible.)

I just pray that Brad and Chris will find strength and peace in a God who loves them and that He will carry them through their difficult times.

I got a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes today just watching Chris and Leon (Brad's puppy) play on the floor when we got here. We will miss Brutus. But we are glad to have his brother.

Steve is tired but glad to be home from Poland. . . and our world is a little better again. . . God has been our refuge and strength this past week.

A Bad Dream

I was in Nashville this past weekend for my TN Council meeting on Friday. Just as I was leaving Jennifer and some friends at Cracker Barrel on Saturday to come home, Steve sent me a message saying that Brad and two of his friends were "jumped" on Friday night around midnight by a gang of four Asian guys. (Brad is our son at Virginia Tech.) Brad had called Steve on Saturday morning around 4:45 a.m. from the ER. I got more details when I got home. Apparently they were outnumbered and tried to fight them off. Brad was beat up, thrown on the ground, kicked in the face, and his head was stomped on. The next thing Brad remembers was waking up with people all around him and he was being lifted in the ambulance. His injuries were serious enough that the hospital did an MRI and CAT scan. The doctors were worried about his neck. He did have a concussion and has staples in his head and it hurts. Brad's friend, Eric, has a broken cheekbone (and will probably need surgery). The third friend was not hurt because he got away so it was four guys beating up two. . . God truly was watching over Brad and his friends that night. There were no wallets or items of any value taken. This gang apparently picked Brad and his friends at random and just wanted to hurt someone. The four guys ran from the scene on foot and left their car behind. They will at least find the driver (that is, if it isn't a stolen car). Steve did talk with the police officer in charge of the case late Saturday night and was told that the attackers' car was impounded. They do have some leads and we were given the impression that there will be arrests soon. This random and senseless attack on Brad and his friends happened near their apartment complex as they were walking home from another friend's house. I will be there in a heartbeat. . . all Brad has to do is say the word but he says he is okay for now. His girlfriend and roommates are taking care of him.

I did hear from Brad this morning. He has a headache and a black eye and his teeth hurt. He dreads going to classes this week because everyone will be asking him the same questions. His staples will come out at the end of the week. His girlfriend has made mashed potatoes for him and is bringing him applesauce and pudding so he can eat.

To make matters worse, Chris' puppy, Brutus, was hit by a truck Saturday morning in front of our house. He was only outside for 30 seconds and was run over by a woman who does not even live back here. (We live on a dead end circle and there is very little traffic.) Brutus was Chris' buddy and he is just absolutely devastated. He says he loses everything he loves. I received a text message on my phone from Chris when I was halfway home telling me he had just buried Brutus behind the shed. The tears started rolling down my cheeks as I was driving and I couldn't make them stop. I pulled over to the side of the road several times on the way home. . .when my children hurt, I hurt, too. . . . But, I did make it home. Brutus was such a good puppy and had bonded so well with Chris. He knew Chris was his master. He would wait by the door for Chris to come home from work and they would lay on the kitchen floor together, playing and snuggling every day. Chris is hurting over the loss of Brutus.

Brutus was my buddy, too. My walk these last two mornings have not been the same without Brutus carrying the leash in his mouth, leading the way. He had greatness in him and would have been a wonderful dog.

Steve left on Sunday for Poland. . .I did have a good time in Nashville with family and friends and was warmly welcomed to the TN Council for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing. I am still processing all the information from the meeting. . . there is much to do! But, I know I am in the right place and hopefully will be able to make a difference.

Thank you to all of you for your comments, thoughts, & prayers. Every day won't be a good day but every day can be a "God" day.

We Will Prevail!

Steve and I spent some time at Virginia Tech this past weekend to visit Brad and see his new townhouse that he just moved into. This sign is an example of the Hokie spirit around the Virginia Tech campus. We love this campus and the beautiful town of Blacksburg, Virginia. If I had to live my life over again, I'd go to school here.

Brad has one of Riga's puppies and named him Leon. Leon was the runt of the litter and has "bonded" well with Brad. And follows him everywhere! The picture below is Steve, Brad, and Leon walking on the campus.
This next picture is Brad and Leon in one of the engineering labs.
Brad is demonstrating one of the projects in the RoMeLa lab.
This is Leon watching some balls fall in a glass case!
Brad is doing well and is ready to start a new year. We took him out to eat, went shopping for new shoes and clothes, and had a nice visit.