Unfortunately...

Many of you readers remember that I went private on this blog about a year ago because of a very scary case my sister was prosecuting. At her urging, we went private because he had the potential to be violent against the prosecutors (my sister being lead).

After a while though, I opened the blog to the public again. I think my husband assumed (as did my sister - who is VERY protective of Noah's information and pictures of him because of what she does day in and day out as a child sex offender prosecutor) that the blog was still private. During a recent conversation, they both realized that it wasn't private any longer and man.... did I get an earful!

Per my husband's and my sister's request, I am begrudgingly making the blog private again. I hate doing this because I know - based on the number of people who have visited; close to 25,000 now - how many readers log on daily. But, I have to honor my husband's wishes.

So for now, the blog will go private again soon. If you want to be added to the list of readers, email me your email address or post it in a comment and I will add you to the list.

Thanks for being understanding about this. I hate to do this but do understand the concerns of the ones I love most in this life.

Boothe's Blog

For those of you who followed my beautiful friend, Boothe Blanton Farley's blog that she kept in the wake of losing her baby girl Copeland, you will be happy to know that Boothe continues to write. She no longer is using her "keeping awake" blog but is now writing on her blog entitled "Black is White/White is Gray." For those interested, I have linked you to it here. Enjoy!

Dear Billy

Years ago when I was a middle schooler in Troy, Alabama, I met a guy named Billy Atchinson. He was an active member in the college ministry at First Baptist Church where I was an active member in the youth group. Billy was always part of our Disciple Nows and was a great mime (facepaint included!). He is so theatrical, funny, creative and on fire for Christ. I am not sure when it was that I first met Billy but he quickly endeared himself to my family somehow! He is a hilarious guy. Full of life and love for the Lord. We always knew that Billy would marry a great girl and have many fun kids.

I lost touch with him through the years but recently crossed paths with him and his family when I discovered their blog through other friends' blogs. I have spent the last few nights reading back to last July 2008 when their lives changed forever and have shed many tears for them. They were blessed with 4 beautiful babies and their oldest daughter, Alaina (4), contracted meningitis and within 24 hours and without any warning, she went on to Heaven. Her mom, Hope (Billy's wife), was the one who found her the next morning and had to perform CPR.

Reading back on their blog and seeing how God has been leading them on the journey through the valley of grief is heartwrenching. I have been reminded through their story that life is SO short and every minute with our babies and with our husbands and families are so important and precious.

I encourgage you to read through their blog if you want to be inspired to love God even more through the storms of life; theirs is a story to be admired and it is incredibly inspiring.

http://billyandhopeatchison.blogspot.com/

Their blog is also on my blog roll on the left side under "Along the Road."