This Week: We Remember.

This week in history is one of a lot of pain for many people.

April 16, 2007 - Virginia Tech Massacre
April 18, 1906 - San Francisco Earthquake
April 19, 1995 - Oklahoma City Bombings
April 20, 1999 - Columbine Shootings

And sadly, on this week the lists just keeps getting longer.
April 15, 2013 - Boston Marathon Explosions
April 17, 2013 - West Fertilizer Explosion

  
 And for me, personally, this week in history has also painful.
On April 14, 2007, my dearest friend Morgan was in a boating accident.
On April 15th, I was told of her condition, and I flew to her bedside at a trauma hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
I stayed with her two days, and returned home doubtful, but hopeful, for her survival.
Sadly, after a very emotional week, on Friday, April 20th, she was taken off life support and passed away thirty minutes later.

God is Good. And he is gracious. This same week, in 2007, another of my closest friends would have her second baby. And in my grief, they invited me to spend a lot of time with them as they eagerly anticipated her arrival. A sweet girl who's 6th year of life is celebrated this week. The third week of April to me is also about new life and new beginnings, amidst sadness, hardness, and goodbyes. God allowed me to feel quite a range of emotions in April of 2007.

That week in April reminded me that God is real. That he is GOOD. That he provides. That he gives and takes away.

It is in those difficult trials, those days where you don't know how you will even get through it, how you will wake up in the morning and do it all over again, that God reminds you that he provides you with exactly enough mercy to get through each day. Enough for each moment.

Like the manna in the wilderness, there was only enough for that day. And the days you need that extra manna, there it will be. When the Israelites went to bed each night, they could not store up for the morning. They had to trust God that he would provide each new day.

And I will tell you, living through those first days, weeks, months, and year of a tragedy, that was so very true in my life.

That first week, God provided abundance grace and mercy, holding that sweet baby for the first time, seeing joy in my friends' lives, understanding that God truly is in control was a perfect provision. It was the much needed extra manna for those hard days. That first year he provided shoulders to cry on, friends to be with, and more importantly the comfort of His love, sovereignty, and redemption.

God has taught me a lot in these 6 years. Losing Morgan was one of those "Ebenezer" experiences where everything is different, a time I can look back on and be reminded of God's faithfulness in seeing me through the hard times and grief.

He is the provider of the manna in the wilderness. He knows our needs. He meets us in them.

I know he wastes nothing, and that he uses our sorrows and heartaches to comfort others as he has comforts us. I know he is good.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Cor. 1:3-4

Pictures taken 3.22.13 at the Morgan Meredith Rohde Memorial Bench at the Torrey Pines Glider Port in La Jolla, CA.

Furry Friend Friday: A Girl's Best Friends

Earlier this week, I posted on the loss of my dear friend Morgan.

One of the first things we bonded over was our love for our dogs!

When we met she had two schnauzers, Phoebe and Ashley, and we even snuck them into our dorms for an entire weekend in college. They were total loves!

So when I was on the hunt for a dog of my own, I knew a Schnauzer-Poodle mix was going to be awesome.(And she is!)

Morgan is actually the one who helped me name Mylie! She called me one day and said, "How about Mylie? Like Smiley Mylie." I loved it instantly, and it stuck!

And yes, this was in the days before anyone had even heard of Miley Cyrus - so there is no connection.

Anyway, one of my favorite pictures was when Morgan and John came to visit when I had first gotten my condo, and Mylie was only a few months old - look at this cuteness. She was still tiny and hadn't even had her first haircut yet (look at all those fringies).

Happy Friday! Give your your furry, and not so furry friends an extra squeeze today!

April 20, 2007: He Gives & Takes Away

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.