Yesterday Michael and I found out that a friend of ours from our church passed away. He was young and married to a wonderful woman, Shantai, whom I served with in the Young Women program for at least a year.
I am heartbroken. Words cannot express the depth of sorrow I feel for his dear wife and family. As long as we have known them, they have been the cutest couple. Kind, sweet, fun-loving, serving...are just a few of the things to describe Brandon and Shantai.
During our prayers last night, Michael offered a sweet prayer for the family (in French). After he had already fallen asleep, I just struggled to give in to sleep myself. So, I prayed. I prayed for comfort for the family and comfort for myself. It is always so hard when someone young and healthy is no longer here with us. I can barely comprehend it.
I thought of Michael and how much I love him. And even though we've only been married 2 years (and known each other almost 3), it would break my heart if he suddenly wasn't there one day. I wouldn't know what to do with myself. Shantai is my age and she and Brandon have been married since she was 19 and known each other quite longer than that. So I can only imagine what she is feeling right now. But I do feel comfort in eternal families. They have been sealed for time and all eternity in the temple, and that is the greatest blessing and comfort at this painful time.
If you have any room in your prayers, I ask that you please take a small moment for the Kartchner family.
I called and put names on the prayer roll. Yours too. Love ya!
ReplyDelete:o( I BAWLED when I found out from Abby the night that he passed away. (could be a combination of exhaustion and sleep deprivation too with a new baby) I cried myself to sleep the times that I had to get up and feed the baby that night.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about Brian that you do about Michael. My world would be so off-kilter if I didn't have Brian in my life. Thank goodness that we have the Eternal Perspective to be able to cope through tough times like these.
My heart goes out to Shantai at this time. I also thought they were the cutest couple!!