April 16th, 2008

525,600 minutes
525,600 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In 525,600 minutes –
How do you measure a year in the life?

How about love? How about love? How about love?
Measure in love.
Seasons of love.

525,600 minutes, 525,000 journeys to plan
525,600 minutes, how do you measure the life of a woman or a man

In truths that she learned or in times that he cried
In bridges he burned or the way that she died

It's time now - to sing out
Though the story never ends
Let's celebrate
Remember a year in the life of friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8iTeDl_Wug&feature=related (Seasons of Love)


For Valentines Day this year, James bought me tickets to see RENT, one of the most incredible Broadway productions ever performed (according to me). I can’t think of any better way to capture what this last year has been like for us….how do you even begin to look back at a friend’s life? At the lives of 32 members of our family? 525, 600 minutes…a year of questions, struggles, moments of normalcy, and a focus on living and celebrating the life that we have.

I can’t believe it’s been a year. I’m not sure I can even remember most of what has happened this year that wasn’t April 16th...and since then a lot has happened…my freshman roommate married her best friend, James and I celebrated being married for an entire year, AJ had his first birthday party, James became an Ensign in the Navy, Jamie had a beautiful child…

It’s a beautiful reminder that life can go on despite such a life changing event. Though it doesn’t really make dealing with the pain any easier…they seem like such different things…not part of the same life. I miss Stack so much…and not a day goes by when I don’t see his smile. I miss thinking of our awesome years at Tech…staying up to toast the sunrise, random road trips on the blue ridge, the breath taking burgundy and orange fall leaves, that first crisp snow that sparkles in the sun, the sleepless, coffee filled nights of writing, the 8:00 classes you only took for a good professor, the mist filled practice field on game day, the cheesy MV dances that Stack choreographed, the hours of fun and friendship…

We still treasure these memories, but they are filled with other memories…with hundreds of sirens, with memories of lockdowns, with thousands and thousands of teardrops…with a ribbon to remind us of what we lost and why we can never ever forget.

I’m reading a book right now written by a pastor at our church in Blacksburg...When Answers aren’t enough…Experiencing God as Good when Life isn’t. It’s a simple and powerful reminder that God is good…despite the evil in this world, and the evil that scars our lives forever.

It’s hard not being in Blacksburg when that tiny town nestled in the Blue Ridge is such a huge part of our lives. As we meet new people and start new jobs, as soon as anyone hears that we went to Virginia Tech, it’s always the same: “Were you there?” “Did you know anyone?”

It depends on the day, on the emotional strength we are possessing, on the tone of voice and who is asking…they ask, yet they don’t want to know the answer. The Y word ends conversation…it’s a truth they can’t handle, nor can they understand it. And…I’m beginning to come to peace with the fact that that’s okay. We are okay talking about it…if you are willing to listen and you care. The reactions have been amazing…why do you ask a question if you aren’t prepared for the answer?

We are thankful for all of your love and support over this year that has absolutely sped by…Virginia Tech still needs your prayers…

525,600 minutes
525,600 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?