You give and take away

This weekend has been a tough one. Friday afternoon one of our dearest friends, Chelsey Koffler (or C.Koff as we call her!) passed away in a car accident just outside of Kansas City. We received the news Friday evening and have been just sick all weekend. Chelsey was the friend that everyone loved and she had so many amazing relationships with so many people. What a joy to all of us! Chelsey and I are pledge sisters in Pi Phi, and we were the lone seniors who lived in the Pi Phi house our senior year. Chelsey was the ULTIMATE Pi Phi and our sisters all across the country that she's met at conventions and alum events and other schools have been so saddened by our loss. I know that she will be Pi Phi's personal ambassador in heaven to greet every one of us at the pearly gates (probably with the handshake and password, so you better brush up!). We hope that the younger girls will see what a fun-filled, influential life she led and follow in her footsteps. Amidst all of the tears and sadness, there has been a lot of laughter because she was a hoot and the memories that we will have are awesome ones. She made special trips to be a part of our wedding events, and the fact that she cared just as much about Mark as me was really amazing. Mark loved her and she loved him! We are so glad that we got to see her 2 times in the last month and just had a blast together!

Sunday at church we sang the song that says "you give and take away, blessed be your name." We are just so incredibly thankful for the 5 and a half years we had with Chelsey, and we are able to make it through and still praise the Lord because we trust his perfect plan for her life. While I am sad and want my friend back, I also realize how incredibly blessed we are for Christ's death on the cross that allows us eternal life with Him. Without the peace that Chelsey is in heaven we wouldn't be able to move on through this. Please pray for all of our friends, and especially for Chelsey's mom, Cathy, and her sister Molly. They are from Searcy. Please pray for safety as we travel to the memorials and that the Lord would be honored throughout the days ahead.

If you scroll down to the pictures from my pledge class reunion (look at the one in the green room), she is the one with long red hair with a red shirt on just above my head. Chelsey was a friend that made life different and better, and I hope that we can all be that kind of friend to those we are so blessed to have in our circles.