I never thought I would write anything on my blog about this, but I just needed to share something with all of you. I tell everyone all the time that I'm an open book and will talk about anything and everything with anyone and everyone. I try to be really careful on here b/c I don't want to be a "Debbie Downer," but I really wanted you guys to read this article someone wrote.

18 years ago my family lost my older brother in a tragic accident. I find it a little ironic b/c I now live in the area where the accident happened and swore I never would live at the beach! God has bigger and better plans than we do though. I have made amazing friends here, found an amazing church and have found beauty in a place I never thought I would again. My sister just emailed me an article that the Montgomery Advertiser wrote about the affect my brother's death is still having on the community. It's amazing! Please read it. I never thought that God would use my brother's death to do so much. I'm proud! I miss him all the time and wonder what it would be like to have him here. I really don't understand it, but I truly felt like God was preparing me for that part of my life b/c for some reason I could never picture my brother grown up and with a family or where he'd go to college. I can't explain it other than maybe it was b/c he was known as being a class clown and never talked about girls. He kept everything to himself. He was very humble.

My brother Jason was an amazingly gifted athlete, artist, musician, comic, dancer (my family never saw his moves, but they were famous among his friends!) and friend to everyone he met. He was quiet, spoke volumes in his actions. Some of the stories I never heard until after he died. He would do things for people when they weren't able without thinking twice about it. It brings tears to my eyes when I look at my own son's hands. They have the same finger nails. Funny thought, I know! I can't wait to see him in Heaven one day. I know he's the one running circles around everyone up there wondering when the next race is. He's got everyone doubled over laughing with his crazy sense of humor. I miss him and can't wait to hear about all that he's been up to when I see him again.