Thoughts of a girl.... I lost touch with....

I don't even know how to start this post, but I feel like I'm in a spot where I feel like I don't have a good grip on my feelings.   I found out this morning that a girl who I went to high school with died on Wednesday.    Now mind you I remember being friends with her in middle school and high school.   She was sweet and funny.  Sometimes goofy - but after high school I lost touch with a whole lot of people.   I just didn't try to stay in touch and when the reunion things came around to be honest I never really felt good about high school - who I was,  where I was in my life, or any of those things so I avoided those reunions at all costs.   Now fast forward to today a little over 12 years since I graduated from high school.  I find out this morning that Julie Steiskal, the girl I was talking about drowned trying to save a youth from her church who'd slipped & fallen.   This young girl and Julie drown in the Temperance river in northern Minnesota.   I feel conflicted and sad - that Julie died trying to help someone else. Looking  online at all the news stories,  I found Julie's website and that she did photography.   www.juliesteiskal.com  - after looking through her website today I felt that I wish I would have taken the time to keep in touch with her.   She literally lived 15 minutes from me.   Which all this time I had no idea.   I guess it just goes to show that maybe I need to be more open and also to look around me and cherish those in my life that I have been blessed with - I can't help but feel sad for Julie's family and friends who were close to her, because even though I hadn't seen her in all those years she still has that beautiful smile that I remember from being in band, choir, & school together.   I've been praying all day for Julie, her family, and her friends.   I don't know why this accident has touched me so - but I have to wonder if it's God reminding me how precious our time is everyday.   How we should cherish the ones we love the ones we have because none of us know that the next moment could be our last.   I have to have faith and believe that everything happens for a reason, it just makes me sad that someone who was always so sweet and funny could be gone in a blink of an eye trying to help another.   If any of you out there read this post and find it in your hearts to pray for Julie, her family and friends that would be wonderful.   Thank you ahead of time.  

I guess I didn't realize how much feeling I had about this almost like regret that I didn't know who she became or who she was at this point in her life.   Not that I had all the control in the situation - but my heart hurts for her family and friends.   I wish I could put my feelings into words more eloquently - but I just don't know how else to describe the way I'm feeling right now.   As the tears stream down my face,  I'm praying for peace for both families of the girls who were taken in that rushing river.  

Article on Adoption Benefits

Check out the article I found on CNN.com tonight!    This is a good thing! 

Last Weekend

Last weekend I did the walk & roll in our town with my sister & IV.   My mom works for State Farm and she had a tent at the walk & roll.   Not to brag, but I think we are some pretty cute ladies.  My mom emailed me the picture.  We walked & IV rolled in her stroller.   It was a great day!   We had so much fun!   Can't wait to do it again next year!   

AJ, Mom, IV, & Me

C'mon Go VOTE & Prayer Request!

Check this out link

Please go & vote for Max's mom Sira - so that she can have a wonderful wedding!  

Here's a link to Sira's blog 

Have a great day!   

Nn another note,  I don't want to say a specific person but a friend of mine could really use prayers right now,  I can't say her name on the public blog - but I'm sure God knows who I have in  mind and what her families situation is - could you please pray for her.   She is such a sweet gal and so supportive and I really look up to her (even though she's younger than I am - HA!)!  Thanks folks & have a great day! 

A post that touched my heart...

So I read this post.

It made me feel so much.  It made me feel like I don't understand people.   So I wrote a comment to Angie - the blog's author because I want her to know that not everyone out there is like those people who did that to her.   So I wrote her a response and I wanted to make sure and share it with all who read my blog.  Please take a look below.  

Dear Angie - I wanted you to know that I found your blog though Adrienne's Blog (Owen) - I'm a single gal looking to adopt; actually better to put it this way - I'm a single gal who's still hoping to get married and then adopt!   I've posted a few comments here and there of encouragement and love.  I've said prayers for you, Audrey, your husband, your girls and the rest of your family.  I check your blog every few days in hopes of seeing how you are doing be it bad or good.  I'm sorry to hear that someone would have mis-represented themselves to you and that is why I wanted to post a comment today so I didn't seem like a blog stalker, who never posts a comment and never lets you know I'm around checking, praying and hoping things will go better for you and your entire family.  I'm here to say that (from knowledge that I've gained in the past year) in my own personal experiences sometimes people take out their hurt on others.  I'm not sure why this is or why they feel compelled to do these things?  I know that my situation is not anywhere near yours...  (I'm sure you haven't had time to check out my blog) but it seems like when things go well in my life others sometimes feel compelled to tear me down.  It's up to me what I do with my hurt and disappointment though - and I choose everyday to keep evolving, changing, and working to be the best person that I can be - the gal that God meant for me to be.  All that being said doesn't take away the hurt that is sometimes caused by and it's not meant to really just that on a daily basis we all have to choose how to react to everything around us.   I want you to know that as much as I don't know you very well and have only read your blog - I enjoy who you are and how you share and that you are honest and caring.  I aspire to be more like that as I evolve into the gal that the Lord meant me to be.  Maybe that is the reason I happened in on your blog about Audrey so that I would see some of the things that are admirable in others.   One never knows why certain people touch our hearts, but I tend to believe it's the Lord's way of sending us in the right direction.... his God breezes. 

Now that I've shared with you all how I feel that God touches our lives - I just wanted to let all of my blog friends who've taken the time to be supportive, caring, and loving to me, my family, and friends that I cherish all of you.   I believe that God brings people together for reasons that may never be known to all of us.   I've prayed for each and everyone of my blog friends and you are all special to me in many different ways.  The fact that I'm inspired and touched by your stories that I learn and am taught and I'm able to share my ideas, feelings, and stories is a wonderful thing for me.   I hope that I help all of you as much as I can as well even if it is in being a sounding board.   I feel blessed to have 'met' each and everyone of you.   Thanks for all you do for me, the Lord, and each other this network is important & so special.