Moving Forward

I've been missing from here for a while. I'm prone to prolonged blogging absences, so that's probably no surprise. The reason for my absence though, is one that took everyone close to us by surprise.

On May 21, 2010, MM's ex-step-sister, Crystal, was hit head-on by a drunk driver as she was headed out to be the designated driver for a friend. As soon as we heard about it, I drove up to the hospital to check on her. It was several days of waiting and praying, and on Wednesday, MM & I went back to check on her for the last time before we left to watch her little bro graduate high school. When we left, we were all in high spirits and looking forward to the future and her recovery. The neurologists felt fairly confident that it was no longer a life-threatening injury.

On Thursday, May 27, we headed down the road to Corpus Christi. Once we got there, we received a phone call from her mother at the hospital that she had taken a severe downturn. At 9:10 a.m. on Friday, we received confirmation that Crystal was gone.

It was shocking and hard to deal with. There were many of us that had left the hospital for various reasons and wondered if our absences left her vulnerable. I think we're all at peace with that now, but it was a hard emotion to shake.

At first, the days blurred together and we all clung to each other. Then we started to think clearly again. Her viewing was the following Thursday and I received the blessed confirmation that Crystal was resting in our Father's arms. Crystal was a born-again Christian. Praise Jesus! Crystal and I had spoken about it before, after MM was baptized, but to see her mother smiling and confirming it for me was SUCH a blessing. I know that I'll see that sweet ball of energy and laughter again and I cannot wait!

Crystal was a wonderful sister to MM and a loyal-to-the-end friend to me. She was one of those people that everyone wanted to be around and she was always willing to be-friend those who others wouldn't. She really made the best out of any situation and was full of mercy for people. My heart aches that she is gone, but I'm rejoicing at the same time. She lived an in-the-moment life and stayed close to those she loved. That has been the most important lesson I've learned out of all of this.

There were a lot of prayers throughout the whole situation, and I thank you all for that, but I would like to ask for a few more prayers, if I could. The funeral was beautiful and the call to salvation was made to everyone. Please pray that the seed was planted in many and that, through Crystal's death, at least one will face an eternity in heaven. Also, please pray for "Mr. Crystal", the man who has had Crystal's love since she was 14 years old. He is one of MM's dearest friends and is heart-broken. A part of me thinks he saw his future buried with her. Also, there are many people in her life that are angry and truly hurt by her death. They are questioning everything they believe. For some, that is a good thing, but for others, it is terrible, though understandable. Finally, Crystal donated 4 organs in her death. Please pray that those pieces of Crystal remain healthy and allow the recipients a long, wonderful life.

Thank you so much for reading this and letting me get this off of my chest. I know there will be days ahead when her absence will be overwhelming, but when the time comes I will reach for the comfort of my Savior and remember that we will meet again.