Love & Life

I wrote a really heartfelt post on this topic last night, but apparently Blogger ate it. So, here I go again.

The blogger/social media world was struck with a tragedy last weekend when a sweet family lost their patriarch. A 32 year old father & husband was lost to a tragic car accident. I never interacted with this family before this week... But it broke my heart too.

Julee (leave me a note in the comments if you'd like a link to her blog, my phone won't let me include links) lost her beloved husband, Matt. Their daughter, Preslee, lost her Daddy at just 10 months old. Matt was a news anchor in Little Rock, so his funeral was streamed on the web yesterday... And what I saw shook me to my core. I saw a 29 year old widow with more grace and poise than I could ever imagine having myself. I saw and heard stories about a truly remarkable man who had a great impact on many at just 32 years old. I saw love and grief.

I couldn't help but think of my own family. What would I do in that situation? Faced with the reality that my partner and best friend wouldn't ever come home again.... That my babies wouldn't truly ever know their father other than in the stories and photos from just a short time of their life...

I know I wouldn't be poised, because I have zero control over my tear ducts. I try so hard to control them, but no matter how old I get - they do their own thing and leak.

I guess I write this to remind myself as much as all of you that we are not guaranteed a tomorrow. Love big abs love out loud with the people that matter the most to you. Tell them how you feel often, and make those memories.

Remember that you may be annoyed with some of their habits, but what if he was never there again to throw socks on the floor... Leave a dish in the sink... Or whatever that petty little thing is that gets under your skin? I'd bet that we would all give our own lives to be annoyed again if we faced the reality that poor Julee does right now.

My heart aches for her, but I've also seen something beautiful come from this tragedy... I watched a group of ladies come together and do big things for this family. Money was raised for Preslee's scholarship fund, a large silent auction will take place next week, and several ladies & stores offering their profits to the scholarship fund as well. I've set up a party for this family on both my Scentsy & Velata sites -- my commissions will be given to this scholarship fund at the end of the month. Feel free to shop if you'd like to help: www.khawkins.scentsy.us OR www.khawkins.velata.us

Please be in prayer for The Turner family, and all families that have lost someone too soon. May none of us have to experience that sort of ache in the future.

To me, I've always been prepared - unimaginable as it is - to lose a parent before my spouse or children. It seems like the natural order of things, but the truth is... None of us has a guarantee to be here tomorrow - so make the most of every day!

I leave you with one of my favorite movie quotes: "You tell them that our lives can change with every breath we take... and tell 'em to hold on like hell to what they've got..."