One Request

Ladies, please pardon my lack of activity blogging lately, but I just haven't had the heart to write about anything fluffy or happy. I come today with a heavy heart, hurting because one of my very dearest friends is hurting.  My friend Erin and I are law school classmates and quickly became friends after establishing mutual connections to South Carolina (ya'll know the southern girls stick together). 

I absolutely hate that I'm now typing that Erin's amazing fiance, Mark, passed away unexpectedly last Monday morning. If a situation can get any worse than that, Mark's father passed away a mere two weeks before, also unexpectedly, of a heart attack.  I waited until now to write anything because, as you all understand, this is such a personal struggle for Erin and Mark's family, and I wanted to make sure it was okay with Erin. At the same time, I couldn't go on writing as if everything in life is okay right now, because it isn't. 


I literally ache for Erin and her precious seven year old daughter, Emma, right now. That's the only way I know to describe it. I can't even imagine what she is going through. For those of you who have watched a friend hurt, you know that I am grieving in an entirely different way than Erin is. Of course, I grieve for Mark, and a life cut too short. But I also grieve for Erin, knowing that she is experiencing so much hurt, and knowing what a long road ahead there is for her. Knowing there is not a thing in the world that I can do to make this better for her except to be by her side and pray for her. 


And so I write today because I figured that the more prayers that go up for Erin, Emma, and their family, the better. If you would, please just remember her as you pray this week. Pray for Mark's sweet mama, who is grieving the loss of both a spouse and a son right now. And if you would, pray for us, her friends and family, that we could be what Erin needs and somehow find the ways to comfort her in the coming days.

Erin, I know that you will read this at some point, and I just want to remind you that you are never alone, and that we love you and Emma so, so, so much.