Monday, June 16, 2008

We Got Home Last Night

Thank you so much for all the emails and the comments letting us know you are praying for us. This has been a very difficult time for my parents, sister and myself. I'm so thankful I have God's grace to see me through these times.

My parents are holding up remarkably well although they are not the type to show emotion in front of others. My sister and I had the harder time because we show our emotions. My sister has taken the bulk of everything on herself contacting those that needed to be contacted and getting things taken care of. I stood in amazement at how God was helping her to have the wisdom of what to do. Yesterday we saw things come about that it was taking so long to happen. God had people that knew my brother who knew someone that had the answers of who to contact and such about a funeral home and about contacting the medical examiner and not the crime lab about releasing my brother's body when we were told to contact the crime lab. His body was released yesterday and is going through the final processes today.

Seeing my brother's house was VERY difficult. I was numb at first but after about 10 minutes of just standing there and praying....I broke. I began to cry uncontrollably just from the overwhelming emotions that were welling up inside of me. My nephew came and embraced me and hugged me tight and kept saying it's okay. He is 18 and blew me away at his compassion for an aunt he barely knows. We inventoried what was in my brothers shed and determined who wanted to keep what to take home. We went back yesterday to pick our things that we were getting to bring home. I lost it again when we went to leave. It was a difficult thing to say "good-bye" in a sense. Just knowing my brother lived there and was killed there was very upsetting.

My sister and my parents hope to be able to leave Mississippi tomorrow to head home. Today is a day of meeting with the lawyer and making more phone calls. Everything else can be done from their homes by phone calls. Please pray for them as they travel back home and also in the coming days as this is still going to be hard to fathom and get past.

Please continue to pray for all of us. I'm sure this is going to be hard to get over. But I know the Lord can certainly help us to do that. We have a busy week here at our house which will help me to not think about it all. We are having a youth conference at our church that is running tonight through Wednesday night. You can listen to the service on the internet beginning at 7:30 PM or so by going here and clicking on the "Live Webcasting" box.

I will post last week's puzzle results hopefully later today. I haven't had time to deal with that yet. Thank you to those that participated. Check back to see how you did.

15 comments:

Mimi said...

Dear Julie,
I am praying for your entire family as you are walking through this most difficult time...

Jodi said...

Sis. Julie, we will continue to pray for you and your family.

Anonymous said...

Oh my precious sister!!! My heart goes out to you and your family!!! Please know that I am praying!

Kate

Lyndy said...

So glad to see this post from you Julie. You were on my mind and heart all weekend and were covered in prayers. Gosh your brother was just a year older than me. Such a senseless thing to have happened but just shows what an evil world we do live in.

Continuing to pray for you my sweet friend.

Love you, Lyndy

Sis. Julie said...

Sis. Mimi....Thank you so much!! I thought I'd be better once I got home and away from it all...but I found myself breaking down earlier. I guess it will just take time to heal from this.

Sis. Julie said...

Sis. Kate....Thank you so very much!!

Sis. Julie said...

Sis. Lyndy...Thank you!! You are a sweet and precious friend to me too!! I love you Sis!

Sis. Julie said...

Sis. Jodi...Thank you Sis!! I know we are going to need those prayers.

Kristi said...

Still praying, ((((JULIE))))

Love you,
~Kristi

Ginger said...

Julie,
I am so sorry to hear about your brother! I will be praying for you and your whole family. I know God will see you through this trial.
Ginger~

Tori Leslie said...

I'm still praying Julie. My heart truly goes out to you and your family.

Your in my prayers!

Anonymous said...

Sis. Julie, I have never lost someone really close to me suddenly. Oh, there have been people I've known who were killed in tragic accidents, but those close to me - my grandparents, my parents, my husband's parents - we knew their time was short, knew they were ready to go, and so the loss was as Paul said, "We sorrowed not as those who have no hope." But your loss is so tragic - no warning, no hope. I can't imagine what you are going through. But Jesus does. And I pray you will know His peace that passes all understanding. That He will comfort you as only He can. You will come through this time of mourning and searching victoriously! -- Juanita

TO BECOME said...

Sis. Julie, Our prayers will be continually with you and your family until you are able to get past this terrible loss. God will give you all the strength that you need, just lean on Him. I am so sorry. love you, connie from Texas

Theresa's Notes said...

I am so sorry for your loss, my heart breaks for you and your family. I will pray for every one in your family.

Again I'm so sorry.

Anonymous said...

Oh what tragic news! You've been on my mind for about a week but it wasn't until now that I finally was able to swing by and see how you are. I am so sorry to hear about this horrible event. My heart goes out to you and just know that I will be praying for you and your family.

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