BST's Blog

Last weekend...which seems like a world away... we spent some time at a farm in Mt. Juliet. Several of our close friends went out to Kyle's sister's farm. We gathered to say goodbye to Lea Brown who is moving back to TX. SO SAD! There was a gorgeous farm house and 4 other cabins. Ours was an A frame complete with a stand-up arcade games of Pac Man and Galiga. It was a quiet retreat...

There were horses! Sam and the girls loved talking to them and petting them

As well as horses, there were 4 wheelers!! Brian brought some of his too so we had plenty to go around. There was also a golf cart which the kids loved...until Sam experienced the 4 wheeler. Once that happened, he was done--DONE--with the golf cart! HA!

Sam poses with Kevin--Kiki's fiance (otherwise known as "Biggie" by our children!)

L-R: "Biggie" Brian ("Bobby" as Sam calls him), Sam, me, and Kyle ("Ky-Ky")

I just can't believe Lea is leaving us. Our kids have adored her. She and Ella have always had a special friendship. We will miss her so much.

Monday morning, Memorial Day, we all woke up and went to Cracker Barrel--to make our farm house experience complete!

It was breakfast, but Sam was already ready for a nap!

That night we went over to Byron and Beth Williamson's to celebrate Memorial Day. Their son Ryan and his wife Sarah have been some of our best friends for a long time. Ryan and Sarah's kids and our kids had to put on a little Memorial Day show for everyone...

L-R: Maddie, Sydney, Ella, and Jack

As we pulled out of the Williamson's driveway we learned of Connor's death. We pulled over and just cried. It's been a really long week filled with a lot of emotion. Tomorrow I am getting on a plane to go and meet Craig so we can be with Stephen and his family for visitation Sunday night and the funeral Monday. Please pray for all of them as they take this baby step forward.

Though our peaceful farm retreat seems like a lot longer than a week ago, I am grateful for that time with friends and for the reminder that EACH DAY is precious. Absolutely precious. I've held my children more. I've looked a little more deeply into their eyes. I've taken stock of God's goodness in our lives and rejoiced that even in extreme sorrow He has given me friends who stick closer than a brother.

Chris Doggett, Craig Fisher and Stephen were once college roommates...then brothers. Now, the importance of their presence in my life cannot be measured. Chris and I remarked this week that the more life we live, the more stuff we'll walk through with each other. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of Jesus made manifest in relationships here on Earth.