I'm back!!

So I've been away from the "blogging world" for a few weeks now. A lot has gone on since my last post so I'm not sure where to begin. I have been feeling a bit uninspired lately but I'll try to get something out today. I guess I'll start with our trip to Florida. It was tons of fun!!...the first two days. We got there on a Thursday afternoon and Derrick immediately met a fellow dentist and WVU alumni. Since the Mountaineers were playing that night we just "had" to find a sports bar to watch the game. It was great fun...they won! Friday Derrick spent the day in class and I spent the day shopping and pampering myself at this little nail salon called "Golden Nails." I got a beautiful manicure and pedicure and a 15 minutes massage all for like $75! We ate at a great italian restaurant for dinner and spent a wonderful evening together. It was that night at 3:30 am that we got the call. It was a call I had always prepared myself for but never thought would actually come: Jeffrey was gone. Both of my parents as well as Kelsey had had a bad feeling about that night. In fact the night before my mom had asked me to pray for him as he planned to pick up Dane at the airport. After the phone call we were in shock, devasted, angry. There was definitely no possibility of sleeping, so we decided to go to the beach and take a walk. It was quiet and peaceful; the opposite of how we were feeling inside. Once it was light out we had to chuckle at ourselves walking barefoot in the sand in the dark. We came upon a number of prickly things that we could have stepped on. The next few day in Florida were just ok. We tried to come home early but it was going to cost us a small fortune so we decided to make the most of our "vacation." We arrived home to Buffalo late Monday night. On the way home I asked the Lord to show me a shooting star to assure me that Jeff was with Him and that He was going to use this tragedy for His glory. Sure enough, about half way home a huge beautiful falling star shot across the sky! I cried and laughed at the same time. What an amazing personal God we have that would care enough to do that just for me. Tuesday was crazy but we finally made it to Lewistown late that night. It felt good to be home with family and to hold eachother tight. So many family and friends were there to support us. So many memories of Jeff. So many emotions. So little time to grieve. The viewing and funeral were both a healing time for me. The Lord was definitely there that day and the salvation message was very clear. It was as Jeff would have wanted it. He was never a grey person... it was either black or white. The rest of the week we spent just being together. We did get a chance to go look at Jeff's car as well as the wreck site. All difficult things to see but necessary at the same time. It was very hard to leave and come home. I wasn't ready to come back to reality. I wanted everything to stop! Life can't go on! It's not the same now!

I have been reading Beth Moore's "Praying God's Word" on overcoming despair. She reminds us that Satan does not give us a break when we are grieving. He plays dirty. He gets us when were down. That has been true since we've been back. I have been physically quite sick with a sinus cold, there is a lot of big, stressful decisions to be made at the office within the next fews weeks, and I had an odd experience with a stalker which has left me living with a bit of fear. (That story to come) So I have been taking a day at a time and trying to keep my eyes on the Rock. My Strength. My Constant One. What would I do without Him?!?

I do want to mention my little bit of sunshine that has been shining through the clouds... a friend! God's timing amazes me. I have been waiting and longing for a friend for almost 6 years!! And what better time than this! And I seriously dont know if I could have done the last few weeks without her phone calls and spontaneous invitations to get out of the house. Thank you Jesus for your provision of a friend for me!

So, that pretty much sums things up. I guess I'll post some pictures of the last few weeks... our time in Florida and our time in Lewistown. I hope you feel a bit more "caught up" with my life. I want to thank each of you for your continued prayers for our family, especially for Jeff's daughter, Mylo. Being 2 1/2 you understand alot but not enough. She knows that her daddy is gone and that her mommy is sad and that something isn't right. Mom said that she will start to ask for daddy and then catch herself like she knows she's not supposed to. The other day she saw a picture with Jeff in it and ask if that was her daddy and when they said yes, she threw the picture across the room. I cant imagine how confusing it must be! Pray for Kelsey, too, that she will keep her eyes of Jesus and take a day at a time.
Okay, thats enough for now. I love you all my friends!!

Our early morning walk on the beach

(they are a little dark, but they're special to me)

The day of the funeral...

Brother Evan and wife Sabina with daughter KayLee

My dad's family

Merilee and Geoff and kids

The 5 Moring cousins

L to R: Nate, Mylo, KayLee, Luke, Kate

Proud Grandparents!