A friend of mine died yesterday. "Marah"--she had commented here.
Her 18 year old son died suddenly a couple of months ago..a blood clot lodged in his heart. She has 5 surviving kids under the age of 18. She suddenly collapsed day before yesterday and was unconscious and on a ventilator. Her heart stopped early in the morning.

I feel so much pain and fear for the children and their father and other family members. How hard it must be to go through childhood and adolescence without a mother. But I know it has been common throughout history. We forget how many young women used to die in childbirth, or who still do in some parts of the world. I am blessed that both of my parents are still alive.  I'm 45. I have a 2 year old daughter who I hope is settled with a family of her own before I have to leave her life. I have older kids that I worry less about. None of us are guaranteed another minute of life.

Tonight my daughter went to the Frothy Monkey Coffeehouse to see some of her friends playing music. What wholesome fun! When I was her age (13), my family would go hang out at The Second Touch christian coffeehouse on the square in Columbia, TN. It was a safe place, and fun. They had lots of Christian music, a "house band" and Amy Grant even came once (but that was just before we started going regularly). Kids SO need good things to do with their time, and playing music is a "good thing", as is listening to it! It was a little loud, up close, but off to the side was good. My 2 1/2 year old has been playing with her older brother's old "First Act" drum set (minus the bass drum pedal, which I have misplaced), and it was nice to see how drums are really supposed to be played! I also loved the Bemis Next Step toilet seat in the Frothy Monkey's bathroom---so very cool and Dilara used it with the "child seat" in place.  I want one for home SO BAD--she doesn't like her potty much. Looks like they are around $35-40, so I guess we'll do without.