I never met Mandy personally, but read her blog and we were members of various homeschooling and/or blogging groups on Facebook.
A young family (the youngest child to perish was only 10 months old-- her readers followed their adoption journey on her blog.) taken too soon would touch anyone, whether or not they knew the family. Those who knew the family personally have shared so many stories of their kindness, love, faithfulness and involvement in their church. I was honored to have participated in the blogging adoption fundraiser 3 years ago to help them bring their precious baby boy home.
I cannot help but remember words that I heard at a funeral recently-- another untimely death- one of a 33 year old man. We were told "we shouldn't be here.....but, where else would we be?" It seems wrong to us to have to mourn those who are so young, who have so much life yet to live, yet where else would we be in a time of sorrow or confusion, but in the house of the Lord, as we need His comfort and strength. Very true and powerful words.
This whole tragedy and the pictures bring back horrible memories for me, having survived the loss of our home and possessions to a horrible fire 11 months ago.
I still smell that "smell," my palms still sweat at the sound of a fire engine or the volunteer firefighter siren. Some nights, I lay awake, unable to close my eyes because I still see the flames. It has lessened over the course of the last year, and I know, that as time goes on, it will fade even more, but I know for sure I will never forget. We are still not back in our home and when I feel like complaining about our current living situation or the time it is taking, I seem to be faced with a story of a tragedy such as Mandy's or another one on the news and I am filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
I do not know why my family was spared that day in April last year, but I am profoundly grateful and do not take that lightly. I have been told by many people that the Lord has great plans for us and I have tried to be open to whatever He has in store. To say that our lives have changed would be the understatement of the year, not just physically and emotionally, but spiritually, as well. We have become so much closer as a family and cherish each other even more. We enjoy each other more than we did before and the little "stuff" just doesn't seem to bother us as much anymore. When you literally have looked into the flames consuming your home, you just don't sweat the small things. Two events in my life have taught me that-- my husband's year in Iraq and the fire. When you are faced with the possibility of life and death, you are grateful for everything, even the little daily mishaps of life that may have upset you in the past.
Life is too precious and too short. Be sure to hug all of your loved ones tonight as we all do not know what tomorrow will bring. I know I will.
Rest in Peace, Kelly family.
The blogs below are also publishing tributes to Mandy and her family. We are also all linked up with Laura at Awe Filled Homemaker.
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