Superman Party

Happy Birthday to our Superman

since his birth 24 years ago!!!

 

 

 Travis celebrated his 24th birthday on

January 5th.  For a long time, I knew

I wanted to do something for his birthday. 

When we learned he'd be leaving for the

new rehab hospital in Galveston the week

after his birthday, I just knew I had to come up

with something.  I was so thankful when

Troy agreed to let us host a party for him

at our house...and that I would be inviting

anyone and everyone via Facebook,

Caringbridge and word of mouth!!! 

I really went out on a limb...

not knowing whether 20 people or 100

people would show up. 

Thankfully for Trav's sake, the latter

plus more is what happened!!!

DUH!!!!!!!!!

It was a party for SUPERMAN!!! 

The kids were outside holding up the sign for me

when Lynna and Travis arrived!  ;)

They thought that was so cute.

Thank Goodness for Garrett's

quick thinking though  ~

he came up with a place for us to hang the sign!

The party was Sunday, January 6th

from 1 to 3 ... Come and Go! 

My little Hadlee came up with the idea of a

poster for everyone to sign.  Sweet hearted girl!

She even made the sign...

My mother and my friend Amanda helped me

with making desserts.  I served a few desserts

and drinks.  Since Travis still can't eat real food,

I didn't want food to be the focus of his party!

Let's get this party started!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The two best lookin' guys at the party!!!

Mr. V was so sweet to come.

He's one of my dearest friends........

He is so faithful to pray for Lynna and Travis.

We love you, Mr. Vardeman!!!

I tear up thinking about the goodness of ALL

the different groups of people who have

been with us since day one...praying, supporting,

loving, and caring for us.  One group that

really gets me is friends that I have made

through Walker's friends and their families.

The Rinewalts ~ Jeff especially ~ have

been so faithful to pray.  Jeff is the one who

encouraged me to go to God BOLDLY by

sharing this verse: 

So let us come boldly to the throne of our

 gracious God. There we will receive his mercy,

and we will find grace to help

 us when we need it most.

Hebrews 4:16 

Glenn is a guy that Travis went to high school with

and his family lives next door to my parents.

Travis always really liked Glenn. 

Ironically, Glenn suffered a traumatic

brain injury when he was younger. 

The REEDS!!!  The party would not have

been complete without them.  I called Robin

on my way to the hospital that July 25th morning

to ask her to pray.  In no time, she was standing

in the hallway at Hillcrest praying and being there

for Michelle and me.  I'll never forget that.

Robin hasn't left our side since.

Her children's prayers are so precious to us, too. 

They brought Trav the perfect shirt:) 

Darryl...Mother and Dad's Baylor

Basketball Buddy!!! They have season

tickets together each year.  :)

Rhonda and her mother.  They lived next

door to my parents when my sisters were little.

Apparently they did everything together!

Lynna and Rhonda are still very close. 

Walker and his buddies having their own

little party in his room!!!  ;)

ZEB!!!! 

From day one at the hospital, Zeb told us that he

had a vision from God that Travis would be healed

and that great things would come from this.

He brought Lynna some pages from his journal

that he had written back then.  Things are

coming true that he envisioned!!!

We are so thankful for Zeb!

AND his beautiful family:)

Karen!!!  God love her heart and soul.

She has prayed and prayed and prayed some

more for Travis and my family.  She's given us

nothing but support from the very beginning

~ she amazes me with her faithful encouragement. 

Precious Abby, too!!! 

I couldn't love them more...

Chad ~ what would we have done

without Chad Carr at Senior Care?!?

I will never forget how he dropped

everything on a Sunday to show Lynna

around his nursing home when we realized

we were bringing Travis home.  He

worked it so Travis could come there

and then he made it the best possible

situation for a 23 year having to be

in a nursing home.  He rocks!

I love that his wife has become such

a dear friend to me.  I love her!!!

And of course we love the cute

Carr boys like crazy!!! 

Sweet friends for Walker and Hadlee:)

My dear friend Jennifer Davis.

What a prayer warrior!  She's another one

who stepped right up during those first

days after the accident taking Walker

whenever I needed her.  She even ran

her first half marathon in HONOR

of Travis!!!  She trained for it with him

in mind and wore a Superman sticker

during the race just for him...

As she was reminding Travis of this,

he stood up to give her a hug!!!

So thankful for Jennifer and her boys...

Ryan and Tyler!

We met this beautiful lady, Diane,

at Baylor Speech.  Her son was in

an accident and has a TBI as well. 

She was so kind to come!!! 

Sweet, Beautiful Taryn!  She and

Travis worked together at Zebs.

She visited Travis on numerous occasions

even in Austin and Irving.  Such a sweet soul!

Trish!!!  One of Lynna's besties

and practically another mama to Travis;)

A Trishia Talkin' To!!! ;)

Alyssa and Lindsay!!! 

What can I possibly say about these

beautiful girls?  They were with Travis

the night of the accident and then

pretty much everyday after while he was

at Hillcrest.  These girls are wise beyond

their years and TRUE friends. 

It was soooo good to see them!!!

They are attending Texas State now. 

Plus our favorite guy, Garrett!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Although Travis doesn't remember it,

this was our Texas Neuro Gang!!!

We even all had a slumber party one night

in the RV!!!  I.ADORE.these.PEOPLE!

In fact, here we are at Texas Neuro celebrating

Trav's 22nd birthday.  This was about six months

after the accident.  We had no clue how much of

Travis was really there:(

but we certainly CELEBRATED! :)

We were Superman STRONG

then and now!!!!!!!!!!

WOW...this is Chelsea.  She was the

paramedic who climbed into the truck

to pull Travis out.  She's been such a

special part of our journey.  She

even spent our first Thanksgiving

after the accident with us at

Texas Neuro.  We love her!!!

Last year her own brother died

in a car accident.  I think being able

to hug and love Travis does wonders

for her.  She did not think Travis would

survive the night she arrived at his accident. 

Sweet, Beautiful Skye!

This precious soul worked with Travis

at Zebs.  He competed in a triathlon

with her and her Baylor friends just

to be around pretty girls!!!  ha!

Skye is such a true friend.

She drove in for the party from

San Antonio.  She made many trips

to see Travis while he was in Austin

and Irving.  Love her dearly.

Casey Reed!  He "gets" Trav!

So very thankful for Casey's prayers

and support.  Still wondering what

all he was telling Trav that day!  ;)

Kim & Kaley.  Kim just happens to

be an angel on earth.  I could do an

entire blog post about her and her support.

So thankful that she took notice of

Trav at Sr. Care and wrote me.

She's been a HUGE blessing

ever since to Travis and Lynna (and me!)

I prayed and prayed for young people

to come to the party.  That's what Trav

needed to see ~ his friends. 

God answered my prayers!!!

Chas & Ashley:) 

Rhonda, Lynna's dear friend.

Larry!  Travis met Larry at the church he

has been attending.  Larry has become

such an encourager to Travis:)

Darling Ella Reid...love this little

girl's precious heart so much.

She was in Walker's class the year

following the accident. 

More Trish!

Pastor Steve and his Family...

he is the pastor at the church Travis visits,

Crossroads Baptist Church. 

I am so honored to know this family now!

They are the real deal!!!!!!!!!!!

That morning the entire church prayed

over Travis while he and Lynna and Scott

and Wendell and Hunter were on stage. 

Erin has been nothing but wonderful

to Travis ~ a precious, new friend

through all of this.  So thankful

to know this sweet, beautiful girl now!!!

Superman working the crowd!!!

Terri and her family...what could I ever say

about them?  Terri was a couple years older

than Lynna in high school.  She literally came

out of the woodworks after the accident

and hasn't stopped being the best,

most faithful prayer warrior since!!!

They drove in from Florence for the party.

They've driven everywhere to see Travis!!!

The turn-out was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!

Mother's dear friend from Sunday School,

Mrs. Hickman.  Mother's entire Sunday School

class has been SO incredibly supportive and

generous.  They are all true angels. 

Such a blessing for Superman

to be giving out his hugs:)

Kim Jackson introduced Travis to

Crossroads and the AMAZING people there.

They took Travis in with SUCH a

Christ like love.  The way we should

ALL react to EVERYONE.

Travis even started attending a life group

on Monday nights with people

his age.  Some of them showed up

at the party!!!  SO COOL!!!

Claudette!  Another angel....

her son was one of Trav's good friends in

high school.  She loves to encourage

Travis and go to the movies with him!  :)

PaPa!!!!!!!!!!

I swear I think he cries everytime

he sees Travis:(

Melissa Cates and Ella Reid...

Melissa has become such a dear friend to me.

I'll never forget calling her with a PTA room

mom question (I didn't know her...just needed

a volunteer) and in the course of our

conversation she informed me that she

was praying for Travis and shared a story

about her own brother.  Over the phone

we prayed and thus began our friendship.

NOW, she is Walker's precious teacher in the

 fourth grade!!!  I love and appreciate her so much!

That other favorite aunt!!!  ;)

Super Girls & Super Hank playing!!!

Kim and Kaley...both beautiful angels!

Travis was truly ALL smiles!!!!!!!!!!

More friends from Life Group!!! :)

I got good lookin' nephews!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just missing Macy ~ who had already

started with student teaching at Texas State:(

Michelle and I can't seem to

get enough Superman hugs!

Kelli G!!!  Travis adores her!

Kelli is the one person who has cried

and continues to cry with me

(still often) since day one of all of this.

She has always loved Travis so much

and that hasn't waivered.

I really don't know what I'd do without

Kelli.  She just gets it all. 

Life Group friends ~ Dirk and his wife.

Such amazing people!!!!!!!!!!!!

Becky ~ Lynna's dear friend.

She is the one who did the benefit.

Such a beautiful person...

We couldn't believe when some of

the nurses and the director from

Senior Care showed up!!!!!!!!!

God love them!!!!!!

Sweet Amy Christie....my dear

friend who was the nurse when I was teaching 

at Midway Middle School.  She and her

sister have been the sweetest,

most faithful prayer warriors through

all of this.  Amy gave Travis

his Jesus Calling book that he reads daily. 

Amy has the most compassionate heart...

Towards the end of the party all of the

sudden we noticed that Grandmother

had done a "costume" change! 

To her Baylor stuff!!!

Leave it to them...just had to get to

their beloved Baylor basketball game!!!

So funny!!!!!!!!  But then they showed

back up when it was just family left

that evening and we all ate and

loved on Trav some more!:)

Garrett....

A gift from God to our family!!!!!!

What a friend he has become

to ALLLLL of us.

Mike Cleveland...another man of God!

He is Lynna's dear high school friend

and he has done SO much for us.

He led us in a beautiful prayer

that day with our hands joined in a

big circle with Travis:)

Sweet Kate Kate...

Love these two Superman Supporters!

LOVE THE BARKLEYS!!!

Travis adores Kelli!!!!!!!!

Two of the best smiles I know:)

Lynna has a dear friend from work

who has gone through A LOT of her

own struggles recently.  She rarely

leaves her house anymore,

but she showed up at Trav's party.

When she came in, Travis immediately

stood up and walked over to hug her:(

It was such an amazing moment...

Lynna just cried and cried

that her sweet friend had come. 

God is good. 

T-Dawg and T-Man

Troy is so wonderful to Travis. 

Makes me cry...a good cry;)

They are funny together

and I love them like crazy!!!

Wendell & Travis...

seriously what would we have done

without this man the last three years?

He really stepped up and I'll

forever respect him for that.

He's so good to Trav:)

I barely saw my little Hudson

during the party...he was too busy

flirting with Alyssa;)

(in fact she texted me these pics!)...

...AND playing with Uncle G!!!  :)

Beautiful Skye before she had

to head back to San Antonio.

Just love this girl although I hardly

even knew her before the accident... 

Dr. Linam wrote to KWTX about doing

a story on Travis.  They contacted me

a couple of days later about coming to the

party to interview Lynna and Travis.

Travis had been wanting to do this

for a long time.  I can only imagine

that sharing his story and inspiring

others gives him the purpose we

so desperately pray for in his life...

Lynna was SO nervous;( Michelle and I sat beside

she and Travis but not in the camera...

we were just for moral support! 

Lynna and Travis both did an

AMAZING job sharing this story!

The reporter, Matt, asked Travis if he

was glad that his life was saved

that dreadful day.  I loved Trav's answer

that he typed into his iPad...

"of course"!!!!!!!!!

Travis thanked God for how far

he has come and told everyone

to never drink and drive. 

It was powerful and moving. 

Hearing Lynna's words was the same...

a mother's heart and soul spilling out. 

We laughed A LOT during the whole thing, too!

Lynna asked the crew if they had brought

someone to do hair and make-up, her

microphone fell down in her shirt,

and at the end we pretended to be interviewing

each other with what we thought was a

microphone.  Come to find out it was a battery;)

The reporter and the camera guy didn't

quite know what to think about us!  ha!

We had a captive audience...

except for Hadlee who was sound asleep

on the little couch!  ;)

Matt Howerton was awesome!  So

was the camera man.  God sends

just who we need and when we need them. 

Hadlee's little idea was a BIG hit:)

Alyssa's mom, Elizabeth, came late.

She's a nurse at Hillcrest and had some inside

scoop on what Trav's initial brain scans looked

like.  She said that the doctors basically

said his brain was "mush". 

She came bearing gifts from Angela who

was sick and could not be there...

A Lifeproof case for his new iPhone 5!!!

Thank you, Doc!!!!!!!!!!!

She was absolutely, without a doubt

there with us in spirit!  As always:)

So many blessings have surrounded

us since the very beginning. 

Elizabeth is one for sure!

After most everyone was gone,

Travis opened some presents...

The kids and I wrapped his gift

in this huge sack;)

A Life Proof case for his iPad, too!

Troy, Trav's IT guy, wanted

to make sure he was set for Galveston!!!

Even though it was a no gift party,

lots of people brought Trav fun gifts!

Kelli G hooked him up with

a few movies that he had been wanting

and that's what he was opening here...

This poor, sweet thing was

not feeling good that day.

Late that night, the stomach virus hit:(

"We are FAMILY....

I got all my sisters and me!!!!!!"

Nothing like adding another nephew! 

Garrett....one of my most

favorite people on the planet.  He's my

texting and Rangers and sports buddy!

He's a dear friend to Troy and me now...

and Uncle G to my kiddos!!!!:)

One of the things I was able to share with the

reporter was the effect that all of this has

had on my children AND their friends. 

I can only imagine and HOPE that

they will never forget all of this...especially

many of Walker's friends who were old enough

at the time of the accident to somewhat

understand and realize some of the impact.

If it helps them to think in the future about

the decisions they make and how one

decision can change your life and your family's

lives FOREVER, then that aspect is just

one more piece to this complex, complicated,

yet amazing puzzle.

Celebrating Trav's 22nd birthday at

Texas Neuro Rehab Hospital........

I know that my Walker has felt every bit

of this journey...his heart is kinder

and more compassionate (if that was even

possible!) and he KNOWS and BELIEVES

in the power of prayer.  I'm so thankful

for his heart, his love for Travis

and his compassion that is pretty much

evident to all that meet him. 

La Tante & Travis celebrating

his first birthday after the accident.  At this

point we really didn't know how much he

was "there" or comprehending...

I've loved him like my very own since he was

born and that will never, ever change.

I'll support him and be there for him

all the days of my life.  He didn't deserve

this and I'll never get over all that he has

had to endure, but I'll never stop praying

for the purpose to become EVIDENT

to HIM as well as to all the world...

God has made it clear to me that there

is "something" to be made from all

of this...something that Travis ~ not any of

the rest of us ~ will achieve with this. 

Selfishly, I just hope it's on this side of Heaven:)

"I consider that our present sufferings

are not worth comparing with the glory

that will be revealed in us."  Romans 8:18

Lynna had this in Trav's birthday gift.....

"True DAT"...as I always tell Travis!!!!!!

 

"God can restore what is broken

and change it into something

amazing.  All you need is faith."

Joel 2:25