Disappearing Posts (I did it!)

Some may remember a post about a tragedy in our family nearly a year and a half ago. Someone young and immature used it to bully, humiliate and try to exploit the person at the center of that post—so I took it down. It’s sad that someone can go through something so traumatic, struggle to find their value again after they feel they were robbed of it, nearly give up the battle, and then find the will to fight their way back—only to have someone use the story they found about it to try to ruin that survivor. 

Maybe some day I’ll republish it, but for now, it’s going to be unpublished. 

I’ve tried to figure out what to do here. I have so much to say, things I’d like to share with others to help them feel supported, inspired and hopeful. But unfortunately, as proven by the necessity of taking down my last post, sharing my story doesn’t just impact me, but those I love who are also part of that journey. 

I’m not giving up, but I’m deciding once again how much I’m willing to share and put myself out there. Not because of how it may impact me, but because I’m fiercely protective of those I love.

My family is doing well though. I’m so blessed to have them in my life. My husband and children are an inspiration to me. I see the things they’ve gone through, lessons they learned in the most painful of ways, and how hard they’ve fought to become who they are and I’m just in awe. I’m so thankful for my life. 

When Unspeakable Things Happen

Alix Norman before her murder. You can help her mother here.

I grew up in a small town called Brigham City where I experienced both the good and bad parts of small town life. One good thing I remember had to do with a girl named Chrishell, whom I knew in high school. I saw her as bubbly, happy, easy-going, friendly and non-judgmental--that part was a big one for me, because I'd experience a lot of negative judgement growing up the way I did.

Chrishell always had a huge smile on her face and she was beautiful. She often invited me to go to church, but I never took her up on it, because that was during a time when I had turned my back on God. She never judged me for refusing her. She would just smile her beautiful smile and ask me to go another time. I genuinely liked her, but we never saw each other again after we graduated, and she became a distant memory.

That is how it remained until the unspeakable happened and I found out through Facebook that the tragedy I'd read about on the news had happened to Chrishell. I couldn't fathom it. How could something like this happen? When I'd first read about the apparent murder-suicide of a stepfather to his 16 year old stepdaughter, it both saddened and sickened me. But finding out that it happened to someone I used to know and liked and respected, took it to a whole new level.

I've kept up on the story since then, hoping to find out something that could make sense out of something so senseless. But really, it will never make sense, and my heart goes out to her and those others of her friends and family who were floored by this awful event.

When I got up this morning and got my kids off to school, I saw a picture in my newsfeed on Facebook which got my attention. It was a picture of Chrishell's daughter, Alix, with a link asking people to help her. I can't do much, but I figured I should do whatever I could. And one way I can help is to spread the word.

Some friends of Chrishell have set up a website to accept donations to help her through the financial part of this tragedy. If you can't afford to donate anything, please help to spread the word. Let Chrishell know that people care about her, and that her Heavenly Father loves her, by doing His work.

She once extended her hand out to me. Now I want to help her.