Tragic News

Last night before bed I looked on Facebook and learned of some very sad news.  My friend, Heidi Bentley, was shot and killed by her ex-husband who then went ahead and killed himself.  Her ex-husband's name was Matt Bentley...I went to high school with them both.  Graduated in the same class.  I worked a summer with Heidi at Jacob Lake Inn in Arizona in 2001.  Her bunk was next to mine.  She was the absolute sweetest girl that I have ever known.  It just breaks my heart that something like this happened to her.  I'm friends with her on face book and she never let on that she was in any kind of abusive relationship.  All of her posts were happy and positive.  No one knew the kind of life that she must have been living behind closed doors.  My heart aches for her 3 children, the oldest only 16 years old.  Her birthday was on June 23rd, 3 days after mine, and I posted "Happy Birthday" on her timeline...she didn't respond this year which wasn't like her.  I feel horrible.  I can't explain my feelings.  I was up all night last night and the whole day today has had a fog over it as I've been thinking of how two lives could just come to an end so suddenly and abruptly.  Heidi just finished her first year of nursing school in May.  She had no clue that in just a few short months her soul would be in the spirit world.  I just can't fathom it.  I hear about tragedies such as this but I have never personally known someone who this has happened to.  I talked to Jon today about God's timing.  Was this really Heidi's time to die?  Or did God just allow it to happen because Matt had his agency?  Jon said that it must have been her time to die.  He says that we all shape our lives by the choices that we make.  He thinks that our lives could go in multiple directions, based on our decisions.  Perhaps, if Heidi had chosen not to marry Matt in the first place her life would not have ended in this manner.  But she did choose to marry Matt and, as a result, this is how her life ended.  I still feel uneasy about it all.  I can't understand how a young women with so much potential could just be murdered like that.  Oh, what a tragedy.  I am now convinced that I will be a better friend to all.  I will not judge others.  I truly don't know anyone's story.  I can't fully believe the stories that they portray on social media.  I hope and pray that if there is anyone within my sphere of influence who may be suffering in any way that God will allow me to be an instrument in His hands to help ease their burdens.  I hope and pray that I will be worthy enough for God to trust.  In the meantime, I will commit to being a better friend, Mother, Wife, Sister, Aunt, and Daughter.  Life is short and unpredictable.  There is no time to waste and no kind word should be left unsaid.  I will be grateful for every day of life that I am blessed to live.  There is no promise of additional days.

On a happier note...

I've been playing basketball with the boys lately after dinner when the weather cools down.  It's been a lot of fun!  I am grateful that my body still has the ability to do things like this with my boys, despite my advancing age, ha ha.

Mason wanted me to take a picture of his HorrorLand Lego set that he created.  He was going to destroy it and was sad about it, as you can see from the pictures.

Lizzie is in the background making a Peach and Tomato Salad with a vinaigrette for dinner.  I didn't take a picture of the food...but here is documentation that she did it, ha ha.

I read another Goosebumps book to Mason and William (the other kids were in and out)...William fell asleep on me.  He's such a round, as Jon refers to him as.

Caitlyn asked if she could take some selfies of herself, so I obliged.

She's such a cutie that permeates love and sweetness out of her little body.

Mason got a Pogo Stick for his birthday in January...he's gotten pretty good at it!

Lizzie and Bryce took turns pulling William in the bike stroller this morning. I feel so blessed that we have this large biking area in our own backyard.

For "Come Follow Me" today we talked about the possible reasons why Mormon would include 4 chapters in the Book of Mormon of Alma talking to his son, Corianton.  He talked to Heleman for 2 chapters, Shiblon for 1, and Corianton for 4.  Corianton was a son who had made some wrong choices.  Alma 39 - 42 is a blueprint for how we, as parents, can approach similar situations in our own lives.  Alma corrected Corianton with love.  Corianton eventually returned to God and entered the covenant path once more.