Feels like yesterday

Amy Elizabeth Blundell
My sister Amy, outside her apartment in college.

It still feels like yesterday.

I was sitting in my office, March 21, 2005, at The Belton Journal when I got a call that my sister wasn’t doing well.

She was in the hospital and expecting to have surgery the next day to have a tumor on her kidney removed.

Something had gone wrong and the doctors were calling “Code Blue.” At the time of the call I had no idea what that even meant.

I got up and went for a walk around the block, praying that whatever was happening would turn out OK.

By the time I was back at my desk the world had changed.

My sister was gone.

My friend, my partner in crime, my counselor, my confidant and more was gone.

It still feels like yesterday.

Maybe that’s why as I sat feeding my baby daughter yesterday, I half expected to look up and see my sister walk around the corner.

I half expected to hear my phone ring and see her name pop-up on the caller ID.

I still half expect to answer the doorbell’s ring and see her standing on my front porch with my boys running to greet her — just like they love to do with their Aunt K — as if she’s only been a way on a long trip.

Nine years ago seems like such a long time ago – and yet it still feels like yesterday.

We miss you Amy — always will.

A blessed weekend

As I shared on Facebook earlier – we had a wonderful weekend celebrating a dear friend’s birthday on Friday night, celebrating my sister’s adoption of two amazing kids yesterday and then taking part in their dedication on Sunday.

Each of the events were great reminders that I’m blessed with amazing friends and family and have so much to give thanks for.

I wasn’t able to take as many photos as I would have liked at any of the events but I do have a few videos and photos from Aaron’s party Friday night.

For what it’s worth:

The Silver Dollar Lounge

Daryl Davis with Billy Joel and Jerry Lee Lewis | Photo via http://www.daryldavis.com/
Daryl Davis with Billy Joel and Jerry Lee Lewis | Photo via http://www.daryldavis.com/

Take 20 minutes today and listen to this wonderful story of building relationships with your (sometimes perceived) enemies…

(link)

It reminds me of another story I’ve shared before. Once you listen you’ll understand.

From Snap Judgement:

Daryl Davis is a boogie woogie pianist who’s played with Bill Clinton, Bruce Hornsby, and Chuck Berry. But we wanted to talk to him about another group of friends of his.

Daryl Davis wrote a book about his experiences with the Klan in a book called “Klandestine Relationships.”

I’ve added Davis’ book to my Wishlist (hint, hint).

And if you have a little more time today – watch this 20 minute documentary by Jim Krimsky on Vimeo.

Our Zambian son

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We had a dear loved one pass away recently and someone asked, “Was it family or a friend?”

I had a hard time knowing how to answer it. Technically and officially in the light of the law he was “just a friend.” But to our family members he’s so much more than that.

“Friend” just doesn’t do the relationship justice.

In the same way, calling my best friend Matt, “my best friend” or just “Matt” doesn’t really do him justice either. Which is why we always refer to him as “brother” or Uncle Matt with our boys.

Have any “friends” like that?

All that to say, while it may confuse some, my “sister” Kathryn is living and working in Zambia right now and just sent us a number of photos in an email titled, “Your Zambian son.”

That does my heart good.

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Our family has sponsored Lupiya through Family Legacy thanks to Kathryn’s work. He lives with his grandmother and several cousins in Lusaka, Zambia.

Separated by thousands of miles and yet we can still call one another family.

Isn’t it good to know that family goes far beyond anything a law, a blood relationship or even geography can define?

There’s no blood or law uniting us – it’s something much stronger – love.

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Find out more about child sponsorship through Family Legacy.