Thank you for tuning back in for News of Anna. The time is 2:04 p.m. and the high is 64 (that's a guess, BTW). Today's first story is entitled The many accidents of Calebinsky!!

Oh, never mind. I'm on the RI and just read this by my friend, in Fuji (sp?), James.

Car accident. My cousin. Grief overwhelming. Pray, please!!!
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I have led a fortunate life. The closest relative I've ever had die has been great-grandparents. Until today.

To put forth in words the facts alone seems so cold. Yet no words are eloquent enough to express the pain this death has caused. Elizabeth Jean Townsend, my cousin, age 5. She was born on my birthday; a miracle child. Her only sibling is a 21 year old brother, now a young man in the US Air Force. When he was born the doctors said my aunt would never have another child. Then came Elizabeth. She was (oh, how I despise that word!) the sort to pretend to be a princess, to play dress-up, to have tea parties. This summer she came into the room where I sat typing at the computer. In her arms was a doll. She laid it down on the bed and told it to go to sleep. It apparently didn't comply, because she brought it over to me to take care of because she had to "go to work" (just like my Aunt Cheryl, her mother, who is a nurse) for a while. After a list of instructions on how to care for the doll she seemed satisfied that I was capable. So I held the doll as she left the room. Later she came back to check on it. Again and again I see scenes from her life. She has this look she got when she didn’t believe you. It was hilarious.

I'm sorry. I haven't even told you the circumstances yet. You'll forgive me, I'm sure. To say I'm a bit shaken would be a gross understatement. Tears haven't stopped falling since I heard the news.

It was a car accident. My Aunt Cheryl, Nanny (my grandma), and Elizabeth were returning home from St. Louis. A car came over the median and hit them head on. My grandma has a broken arm. My Aunt Cheryl is in surgery as I type this. Broken pelvis and hip. Elizabeth died at the hospital. Elizabeth was Aunt Cheryl's life. Uncle Ken, a rock-solid war veteran with a soft heart (though he'd never admit it), is retired. She was his pride and joy. His world revolved around hers. She was his princess.

Pray. I beg you, pray. Not for Elizabeth. She is through with the sufferings of this world. Her brother, BJ, is a pretty unstable guy. Her mom and dad, obviously. My grandma, who lived in the same town and saw her often. As well as my grandpa, a non-Christian who distances himself from most people but was very close to Elizabeth. These need your prayers the most.

My dad plans to fly stateside ASAP. Pray for traveling mercies as he goes. My sisters, especially Rhiannon, are taking this extremely hard because they didn't want to be around Elizabeth a lot this summer. She could be pesky at times, and my sisters didn't know how to deal with it. My mom has shed the most tears, but ger faith is greater than the rest of ours. She will be alright. My dad is questioning God. Not knowing for a while whether his mother or sister would be alright (we've gotten a few updates since the initial reports. at first we didn't know much other than about Elizabeth.) was harder on him than possibly anything in his lifetime. As for me... I don't know. She was my special cousin, born on my birthday. Eventually I'll be okay. For now, grief.. Pray for her parents and brother. Cheryl, Ken, BJ.

Thank you, if you read the whole post. I know I didn’t make much sense. How could I?

God, that's just so sad. Please hold Elizabeth's family in Your arms. Give them peace and comfort.