A Year Ago Today

A year ago today we got a call that would forever change our lives. My best friend, Leigh Ann, had been killed in a car accident. Today Eric was asking me about my favorite memories of Leigh Ann and I thought about the fun memories we had made in the past years and yet my best memories of Leigh Ann are just hanging out at the pool or just sitting in her living room. Eric said, "With or without the kids!" I said, "Of course with the kids!" You see that is what I loved about Leigh Ann. She loved life, she made it easy to be her friend, she loved being a wife and a mom and we never had to do anything special ... it was just being with her, hanging out, playing with the kids and talking ... those are the days I miss, those are my favorite memories of my time with Leigh Ann.

I miss Leigh Ann and yet I feel so very blessed for the friendship we had. She taught me so much about life, being a wife, mother, friend and a child of God. She lived life to its fullest and loved others so well. I think of her life and how she put the gospel on display by the way she lived. She made it look so easy and yet I know she could love others the way she did because of the love she had for Jesus Christ. When I read Titus 2:3-10 I think of my friend Leigh Ann.

In Carolyn Mahaney's book on Titus 2, Feminine Appeal she says

"Can you conceive of anything that sets forth the beauty of the gospel jewel more brilliantly than the godly behavior of those who have received it? Consider the loveliness of a women who passionately adores her husband, who tenderly cherishes her children, who creates a warm and peaceful home, who exemplifies purity, self control, and kindness in her character and who gladly submits to her husbands leadership - for all the days God grants her life. I dare say there are a few things that display the gospel jewel with greater elegance. This is true feminine appeal."

That paragraph is my friend Leigh Ann. Leigh Ann displayed the gospel jewel with great elegance. She left an amazing legacy. She is an inspiration to me as a wife, mom, friend, daughter, sister and most importantly child of the King. I pray that I can live out her legacy and the things she has taught me in my own life.

Today my heart breaks for Greg, her husband who has had to walk through the past year with out his beautiful wife. I am so sad for Caden, Bailey and Malia who lost an amazing mom at such a young age. My heart is heavy for her family who lost a daughter and a sister in a blink of an eye. There are many who lost an amazing, caring friend. Leigh Ann touched so many lives and so many hearts. And while my heart breaks it rejoices in the fact that she is standing in the presence her Creator, the one who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.