Stuart & Peyton, a.k.a. Stuart

I believe I’ve mentioned before the fact that Peyton was nicknamed Stuart by his rodeo friends.  This was no accident.

Stuart Mazanec went to Heaven April 26, 2006, a year & approximately 8 months before Peyton. 

I think the similarities are striking.  Both long and lean with a love of the outdoors, hunting and fishing with their dads.  (and they love their mommas too)  Their last similarity was rodeo.  Stuart liked the bucking broncs and Peyton liked the bulls.  Stuart was at a bronc riding clinic when he had his fatal accident.  Peyton was bucked off a bull.  I found Stuart’s story on the internet when I “googled” rodeo deaths.  I believe God led me there.  I was compelled to read Stuart’s story because of the nickname. 

I read the article over and over, even looking at his myspace page regularly over a six month period.  Finally, I wrote his family.  His mom and I started emailing each other right away, sometimes several times a day.  Within a few months, Tom & I flew out to meet them.  I had never done anything like that before.  It was totally out of my comfort zone.  I anticipated the visit so much.  I had to keep telling myself over and over that I would not be meeting Stuart when we got there.  Even now, I miss a young man I have never met.

This picture is of the jacket of the guy who named Peyton, Stuart. (the birthdate is wrong, but it doesn’t matter)

Here is a decal that another rodeo friend had made.

I took these pictures with us on our visit, so Stuart’s family would know this whole “Stuart” thing was real and I wasn’t some crazy stalker.  They would have never thought that but I took them anyway. :)

We have a bond with this family unlike any other.  We love them and we love their son. 

I wrote all this to say, God is good.  He gives us promptings and leadings to bless our lives.  God prompted Peyton’s friend to call him Stuart.  I knew God wanted me to write Stuart’s family.  What if I hadn’t?  My life would be less if I did not know them. 

Right now the enemy is whispering in my ear, ‘why didn’t God warn you of Peyton’s accident?’  ‘why didn’t He tell you not to let him ride?’  I don’t know.  It doesn’t matter.  What I do know is that God loves me and cares for me in ways that I cannot fathom.  Satan would like it so much if I were to doubt God.  It’s not going to happen.

Please do not comment that “everything happens for a reason”.  I wrote how I feel about that in this post.

Here’s a few more pictures, just because.

Oh Stuart, I wish we were ALL there.  I know you and Peyton are having a great time.  I can’t wait to meet you.