Sad two weeks and 3 death stories

Sad things happen. I know this. But three in one week is just too much for me right now. I lost a second-cousin to a terrible, tragic accident. A man had driven a car into a shopping mall where she was working. She was in her early 20's and in school. She lives out of state (my dad's family is mainly in CO still) so I didn't know her well. I remember her very clearly as a little girl of about 7 years old or so. Her funeral was last weekend.

Then I found out my great-aunt was dying (she's on the other side of my dad's family). She'd lived a fabulous life and was very active & alert right up until the last 24 hours in her 98 year life. Yes, she was 98! Aunt Bonnie was my great-grandma's little sister. I remember Aunt Bonnie coming to visit at my grandma's house...she'd play the piano over & over for me. Then she'd sit patiently as I played (terribly, I might add). Aunt Bonnie used to do hair...she gave me the prettiest braids a 7 year old has ever seen for my aunt & uncle's wedding. It took forever - I thought she'd never finish...but she braided a teal ribbon down the back of my hair. I'd show you all a photo but they're at my parents' house. Her funeral is also in CO and is this weekend. Thankfully, my dad is there visiting & he'll be able to go. And I was there just about two years ago to see Aunt Bonnie.

Here's Aunt Bonnie (in the center) with my Aunt Mildred and Uncle Bill.



The latest was the death of my friend's infant. The baby, Ellie, died during childbirth. The cord was wrapped tightly around her neck and there was meconium in her lungs. It was the kind of thing that couldn't have been prevented. My heart breaks for my friend, her husband & their little 3.5 year old. He couldn't understand why his sis wouldn't open her eyes to see his toy he'd brought for her. Or why she was living with Jesus, and not with him. Keep her in your prayers especially, she has a past history of anxiety & PPD like I do. I can't imagine how hard this would be for anyone without the postpartum depression history.

My cousin is a midwife, and found me a great website that I thought I'd share. http://www.glowinthewoods.com/ If you know anyone who's lost an infant share this site & read it yourself. This is one of those things no one talks about but maybe they should.

Pray for these families, pray for my dad's cousin & the loss of their daughter, pray for my dad's cousin & the loss of her mother, pray for my friend & the loss of her baby.

A funeral is so much easier when its a celebration of a long happy life that was lived compared to a child taken away from their parents. Please pray for me too...this is so heart breaking. I'm doing what I can to make sure this doesn't trigger an anxiety attack.