In shock

I have struggled with writing a post for a while, and this one is really hard for me, but I feel like I need to do it.

Last Sunday June 5th, I got a phone call saying one of the girls who I used to hang out with in my youth group in high school had been shot. That is all they knew. I soon found out this awful story was true and it hits me way to close to home. She was only 25 and had 2 small children (ages 3 and 1) and it was her ex-boyfriend the father of the children that shot her. My heart it still breaking and I believe it will continue for a long time for these kids. The worst part it they were in the car when he did it. Shannon was the type of person to love everyone and not pass judgement on anyone or anything! I remember her saying right after Emma was born that she loved being a mom, it was the best thing ever.

So all this week I have been in a very strange mood, every time something happens at home or Kelsey/ Hayden upset me I have to stop myself from yelling and think what if that happened to me? This is how they would remember me yelling at them. I know we aren't supposed to think about the what ifs but that is a very hard thing to do. I have also been taught not to ask God why...but I have asked him that a LOT this week. Why Shannon? Why now? I have gotten my some of my answers and what I can say is she was meant for bigger things that she could do here on Earth.

The visitation is tonight and her funeral is tomorrow, so the next 2 days will be emotion filled for me, my family, her family, and so many friends. I know I wasn't close friends with her, but close enough for this to shake me. Our youth group wasn't just a group of high school kids, it was a family. We have all moved on and gone our ways getting married and starting families. I just hate that a funeral is bringing all of us together again.

So there is my sad blog post. I know Shannon wouldn't want people to dwell on what happened, her dad put on facebook that he knows Shannon was forgiving him as he shot her because that is how she was. Hopefully this will start some kind of change doing things about domestic violence.

Here is one of the many news stories if you want more information. There is also a facebook memorial for her.
http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/14846529/hockey-player-a?clienttype=printable

Here is her obituary, I just read it...wow!
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlanta/obituary.aspx?n=shannon-lawrence&pid=151684474&fhid=5430

I know my blog title is live,laugh,love so this poem goes with it, but I think this is how we should live our lives everyday!
Someone once said: What goes around comes around.
Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like no body's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.