Staci

I went to high school with a girl named Staci.

We were in so many classes together.

I slept over at her house with all of our friends.

She slept over at my house with all of our friends.

One time, we all even had a sleep over at the church

where my dad was pastoring at the time.

We were friends.

We were together through boyfriends, marching band,

carpooling to school, the PSAT, the SAT, 

graduation, and so much more.

We lost daily contact after high school

and we went to separate colleges and towns.

But we were still friends.

I was at her 1^st wedding.

She was at mine.

And I went to visit her when her first son was born.

As life went on and we lived in different towns, we lost even more contact but we did exchange baby announcements when we had more babies (Staci had 1 more son in her first marriage and 1 son in her second marriage).  And I sent Christmas cards to her as long as I could find her address.

I still consider her my friend.

She, along with my other high school friends, came to the funeral home when Rob died.

I cannot tell you how much it means to someone (at least it did to me) to go the visitation and the funeral if at all possible.

Today, just a little bit ago, I got word that Staci’s oldest son

–        the one I went to visit when he was born –

Zachary

(age 21)

died in a 4 wheeler accident.

I cannot describe how death affects me now.

But I will say that every time I hear that someone I love is

having to survive the aftermath of death,

especially sudden death,

it just shakes me to my very core.

And it takes a while for me to get my bearings.

I cannot imagine losing a child.

Please pray for my friend, Staci, and all of Zach’s family.

(Zach May 1993)

(Staci and Zach; our friend Connie and her son Jonathan; 

our friend Angie and me in June 1993 at Angie's son's 1st birthday party).