Brennan Slaughter

November 10, 1988 - May 31, 2001
A little boy is telling his Grandma how everything is going wrong,
School, family problems, severe health problems, etc...
Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake.
She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which, of course, he does.
"Here, have some cooking oil."
"Yuck" says the boy.
"How about a couple raw eggs?"
"Gross, Grandma!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"
"Grandma, those are all yucky!"
To which Grandma replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"

God is crazy about you!
He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.
He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.


     On May 31, 2001, Brennan was at swimming lessons with his school P.E. class. They were at a county pool. There were 2 professional lifeguards, supplied by the county, 2 regular teachers and a student teacher. Brennan was not a strong swimmer and his teachers knew it. He was trying to swim. He was trying to be with his friends who were mostly in the deep end. Some of the students saw he was in trouble and reported it. But, somehow, those 5 adults, people to whom we had entrusted our son, failed to do their jobs.
     At about 10:00am that morning, Our Lord called Brennan home. None but those who have lost a child can understand what we went through and still go through. We do not understand Our Lord's reasons. We simply trust in his infinite wisdom and mercy. We do our best with our daughters, Chelsea and Samantha, and try to be worthy to join Brennan in eternal glory with Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
     Brennan would go to Caro Park where he would sit under a tree and read. It is hard to see, but he is beneath the tree on his headstone.
     Brennan loved to read. He was reading around high school level when he was in 2nd grade. He read anything and everything. He wanted to learn everything. He wanted to be a teacher and counselor.
     One of his favorite books was The Lord of the Rings. The school Associated Student Body bought 4 sets of the trilogy. Two sets went to the county library, in his name. One set is in the school library and the 4th is in a display in the main hallway.
These are Brennan's sisters, Chelsea and Samantha. It is now September 2003. Chelsea just turned 13 and Samantha will soon be 8. They both still miss their brother and have a particularly hard time around his birthday. Outwardly, Samantha has had the hardest time. Chelsea keeps it bottled up.
Both are doing well in school. Chelsea is like any teenager and butts heads with us all the time. But, both are still very good.