On June 6, 1981, Morgan Meredith Rohde breathed her first.
On August 21, 1999, Morgan and I became forever friends.
On December 26, 2005, she asked me to stand beside her as her Maid of Honor at her September 22, 2007 wedding.
On April 13, 2007, she and I exchanged our last emails and voicemails, discussing plans for her upcoming wedding and other fun stuff friends talk about.
On April 14, 2007, her life was forever changed.
On April 15, 2007, I flew to her bedside and held her swollen hand, smoothed her matted hair, prayed for her, and cried over her.
On April 16, 2007, I did stand beside her, and I said one last goodbye, which I hoped wouldn't be.
But it was.
On April 20, 2007, Morgan Meredith Rohde breathed her last.
I loved this girl so much.
I am blessed with eight years of crazy wonderful memories.
Sometimes its hard to believe that season of life even happened.
But going through these pictures, and putting together these collages reminds me of what was once real.
Losing a friend when you are 25 is something you never expect to happen.
You don't expect to talk to somebody one day, and the very next know you never will be able to again.
Living the days that were planned, without those plans coming to fruition may be one of the most difficult things I have experienced.
But Glory to God. He was faithful. He was there the whole time. His Spirit comforted. He carried me through that dark season of grief, and loss, and utter sadness. He provided loving friends and caring family who always pointed to Him. He perfectly orchestrated the birth of a sweet little girl, precious new life, during the same week that I awaited news of Morgan's death. He used his people to encourage, and love, and care. When I look back on the months before Morgan's death, I see how He prepared me for that day, that week, and for the strange season of adjusting that followed. He showed me others experiencing loss. He showed me that He is the one who truly gives and takes away.
My heart will choose to say, Lord, Blessed Be Your Name.
she was so beautiful, Kim - inside and out. I remember that time so vividly. And I still regret not naming Ashlyn after her. He takes. He gives. <3
ReplyDeleteI look forward to looking back on this past week like you are looking back now. You've made me cry all over again. It's ok though...its making the men in the office scuttle past my door uncomfortably and that makes me chuckle. Losing a friend at 25 sucks royally and that's an understatement. But someone told me Thistles live while lilies and roses wither, but lilies and roses do so because the world is not worthy of them, whereas thistles are not even worthy of the world.
ReplyDeleteso beautiful. so hard, and so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteamen. so hard and so beautiful, to know he gives and takes away. he is good! thankful for his faithfulness to you, press on! xo
ReplyDeleteThanks for this Kim. It's such wonderful, tender reminder of the beauty and fragility of life. Thank you for loving so fully and freely and sharing these tender memories and God-given, tear-bought wisdom. i love you my dear friend!
ReplyDeleteKim, I don't know how I didn't see this post
ReplyDeletebefore now.
I'm so sorry.
Losing someone so young is an awful,
hard-to-understand
thing.
I'm so glad He carried you,
and still does.
xo,
Keri
it is so good to remember. so good to praise God in the giving and taking. so hard, but necessary. necessary to see His glory.
ReplyDeletei lost my b.f. when we were 19. it's been almost 19 years and i still miss her in bits and pieces that swoop over me unexpected. i missed her at my wedding, and i miss her in mommyhood, and i miss her when i am doing something that is so her. her curly red hair, silly personality, embracing me love. God was so good to give her to me for the time he did.
Oh Kim, this was a beautiful tribute to your friend. It's hard for me to imagine that kind of grief. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete