I apologize for my absence.
We just laid to rest a beautiful soul. One whose life was take way too soon. She was only 17 years old and preparing to graduate high school.
I’ve known her since she was a baby. Unfortunately I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with her during her teenage years but I did get to know who she’d had become. A beautiful sweet young lady who loved so many people and had a hosts of family and friends who loved her back.
Her life was tragically stolen from her. She was tortured, brutally beaten and murdered. This is a domestic case that is still undergoing trial. Out of respect for the family I won’t share details.
My children had the opportunity to experience her fun and goofiness. They danced with her, went to the same birthday parties and my eldest daughter had a few conversations with her. My youngest daughter was too young to remember her but that sweet girl loved holding my baby and calming her down back then when she would get upset.
I’ve been dealing with some guilt of not being present in her life more when I had the chance. No matter how far in between we saw each other she always called me Auntie. I didn’t feel worthy of that title but I knew she loved me and I loved her…I never stopped.
To help get me through this guilt I’ve been just thanking God for the opportunity to have loved her. I’m thankful I had the chance to get to know her and spend time with her. I’m grateful my children were able to experience her love and kindness.
Opportunity is not something to be taken advantage of. This tragic loss has affected an entire community. The main thing I keep hearing everyone say is
Reach out to your loved ones. Check on them to see how they are doing. Make yourself available to them even if they don’t seem to want you to. Don’t let life get in the way of checking on your loved ones.
This is definitely a wake up call for our family to do better. You never know who is suffering in silence and may feel they can’t tell anyone.
This life was taken way too soon ~
