Let Your Heart Take Courage

A friend of mine, Sheri Ellis Murray, died in a tragic automobile accident in Atlanta, Georgia on June 30. Sheri left behind her family, including her husband and two beautiful baby girls, a two year old and a six month old. The details of the accident are almost unbelievable and absolutely gut-wrenching so I will spare you. I have been in a very dark place since I learned about her death and I can't stop my heart from aching for those she left behind. I have never feared death and loss the way that I do now that I am a mother. But I cannot complain, my sadness is nothing like what her family must feel and instead I get the benefit of life and the reminder that we must take nothing in our lives for granted and that we are obliged to live each day to the fullest.

I am attempting to do just that and to channel my sadness towards something positive. It does nobody any good to wallow. Sacred Heart established a scholarship in Sheri's name. She was an honors student, an athlete, and generally a lovely person to be around. It is a beautiful tribute and precisely the way such an extraordinary girl should be honored. The endowment is $50,000.00 and I know that we will be able to raise the money, but the contributions have only just begun and there is a long way to go before we reach the goal. So, if you knew Sheri or if you feel so inclined, please consider a contribution. Checks, credit cards, and cash are all acceptable and can be sent or phoned in to Sacred Heart, 4521 St. Charles Avenue, NOLA, 70115. If you write a check, please write Sheri's name in the subject line so that they apply it to her scholarship.

On a lighter note, La Luz only asked me to take her to the jungle to see Christian once this evening. She spent an hour with Mary while I took Loki for a quick run and even practiced going to the bathroom on her potty. I can imagine Mary was thrilled when La Luz insisted on using it. She spent some time this afternoon at her great-grandparents' house and filled me in on all the details before she went to bed - apparently she played with the baby (which GG is now in charge of keeping an eye on in La Luz's absence) and ate goldfish with Papa George. For La Luz, it doesn't get any better than that.

Here she is just minutes before bed time, all clean and even sort of cuddly: