Sara

I talked with Sara for a long time yesterday. Can I just say that I have perhaps one of the most inspiring women in the whole world as my dear, dear friend? She's great. Everytime I think that I have a right to complain about something I think of all this dear friend of mine has gone though in the last 2 1/2 years and it shuts me up in a second.
She just finished planning her 3 year old nephews funeral (which is going on at this exact minute actually) and she was so full of perspective and Gods hope for this tragic situation.
I don't want to write about death or sadness or everything that has gone on in the last week with this family and the tragedy that has taken place but instead I want to focus on the blessings that God has given me through this dear friend of mine.
Sara and I have been best friends since the 7th grade - we went through a lot together through our teen years. We fought like any two best friends do and then we always ended up missing the others friendship so much that eventually one of us would give in.
Then she met Sam.....Sara and I both wanted to be the "single for life" girls and neither one of us really dated much in high school - we were to focused on enjoying life and just having fun. I remember when she started dating Sam - it was our senior year (we went to different high schools) and I had gone down to Mexico from spring break and when I came back Sara had a boyfriend. I was FURIOUS! Not only that she had a boyfriend but also because she had been liking this guy for awhile and had never even MENTIONED him to me. Of course I thought something was odd about that and immediately didn't like him and I didn't hide my feelings either.
I made some calls and interviewed people that I knew went to high school with Sam and knew who he was and got the low down on who this character was that was dating my best friend - someone that I loved very much.
Needless to say I didn't get the best information on this fella - I found out that he had quite the repuation for liking to party.
After that I was on a MANHUNT! I hate this guy and I hadn't even met him yet. Finally the day came that we were to meet and I had already had my mind made up that I didn't like him. I was not so nice to Sara either.

Well I met the guy and made it obvious that I didn't approve of the relationship and that I didn't think he sincerely liked Sara or that it would last. A year later I figured I might as well give the guy a chance - although I was still skeptical.
I moved off to Texas and not long after Sara called to tell me that she was engaged. I figured at this point I better just get over my dislike for this guy (who realy wasn't all THAT bad I was just protective) and be supportive.

Here we are 7 years later and Sam & Sara are VERY happily married and I can honestly say that I really love the guy and think he is absolutely perfect for Sara. I was so wrong about him but that's just like me - doubtful and not choosing to see the best in others.....so unlike Sara - she always chooses to the see best in others and with Sam chose to see what he could be not what his past painted a picture of him to be.

And now this brings us to the present.....Sara has gone through it all. She spent days wondering if her husband was alive when he was caught in an avalanche and no one could locate him - she then has spent weeks and months in the hospital and they went through the process of starting their lives over after due to frostbite he was forced to get his leg amputated. She then has been such an encouragement to her husband as he continues to "get back on the horse" (or bike in Sams case) and train for the paralympics while he's gone traveling and competing a large part of the time.
She is a wonderful teacher - full of love and patience and has always been a friend that no matter what I know will always be there for me. She has loved, supported and believed in me at times when I didn't believe in myself.
And now here she is.....planning a funeral for the tragic death of her brothers 3 year old. She's been dealing with the media who has constantly been harassing her family since this whole ordeal happened and in the middle of it all of this she's calling me to see how I am and to tell me about how great God has been to her and all about the great plans he must have in store to bring the family through this tragedy.
The woman is such an example of faith, integrity and courage to me and I feel so blessed to have her as part of my life.