Life's a Little Crazy

Pretty much anyone who reads my blog knows that we have been given a notice that Shawn's job will be outsourced to Panama starting in November. It's been a pretty crazy time as we try to get everything sorted out with that, be we have been so blessed in that we have been given several months warning, and we are both confident that it is all going to work out for the better. To be honest with you, I've watched the lives of several family members and friends over the last year or so, and I've come to the conclusion that times are pretty crazy right now. Shawn might have put it best when he said "You don't know how messed up the economy is until you are on the hunt." I mean, companies are doing some pretty weird things right now. But aside from the economy, I've watched several friends lose loved ones, diagnosed with cancer, or endure any number of trials outside of the economic chaos. I've just come to realize that we are definitely living in the challenging times that have been prophesied of.

Through the experiences of those around me, I've tried to learn as much as I can, and one of the most influential blogs that I have been reading for the last several months has been that of Patrick and Ashley Sullenger. I went to school with Patrick, he was a year older than me and I remember him as far back as first grade, and I didn't meet Ashley (a year younger than me) until high school. I wasn't a close friend to either of these two, and they probably don't know any more about me than my maiden name and that I ran in high school. Still I feel so close to them now as I've followed their blog so closely. This young couple has only been married 3 years, and in that time they welcomed a beautiful little girl into the world, and helplessly watched her leave this life only 18 months later. Warning, their story is heartbreaking, but even more than that it's inspiring. I've been amazed to see how far their story has spread, and the lives that have been touched. Just two weeks ago Pat and Ashley received a package in the mail from a woman who had read their story and was so touched that she sought out the missionaries and was baptized. In her packaged she included a memory quilt that she made for them to thank them for sharing their story. I've just been so amazed by the impact the Sullenger's story has had on complete strangers even 4 months after the tragedy.

So my point in sharing the Sullenger's story is simply to help spread it. Honestly, if you take a half an hour (or more) to read their entire story, it is so amazing to see the miracles working in their lives, and I can't explain what it does to you. They are an amazing example to me, and I've just been completely mesmerized by their strength. I must confess that I have become a bit of a blog stalker of these two, and since I can't deny it any more, I will officially add their blog as a link on my "Blogs I Follow" list, and I will be adding them to my reader as well (since I have no idea why I haven't done that yet). Again, to read their story click here.