In just a few minutes...

...it will be January 6th. To most people, that's not a huge deal. To me, and the majority of my family, it's a day that we won't soon forget. One year ago (in a few hours) my sister-in-law Kristy was shot and killed by her husband. It seems like yesterday that I was at church, teaching my girls, while the Bishop waited outside of my classroom. He knew what had happened, but just told me that I had to go home, now. Something happened in Barry's family. Driving home from church took at most, 5 minutes. During that long drive home, many, many things passed through my head, did Ann get hurt? Maybe she fell and broke her leg? And this. Dave shot Kristy. I quickly dismissed the thought, it was ludicrous. Husbands don't shoot their wives, even if they are separated. When I got home, Barry was upstairs, on our bed. Julian was toddling around. I found Barry face down on our bed, crying. I instantly freaked out, and demanded to know what happened. Barry looked at me, seriously crying, and said, "Dave shot Kristy."
After a stunned silence, I asked, "Is she ok?" He couldn't get any words out, he just shook his head. Not being able to focus on Julian or his safety, and mostly wanting something to do, I brought him downstairs to my mom. I told her what had happened and she started crying, it was then I finally realized that Kristy was dead. It was then I realized not only was Kristy dead, but it was her birthday, and I didn't call to wish her a happy birthday, to talk to her that one last time. I honestly don't remember a lot after that, I do know that I googled, trying to know, trying to gain some insight as to what had happened, if it was true. I found out all too soon, that it was in fact very true. I was shocked to see her mini-van on desertnews.com. The mini-van that she was so excited to get, and that I'd ridden in MANY times, from driving in California, to cruising around Milton, and watching movies with the kids. I was shocked to know that my mother-in-law was standing so close to the scene and had to witness something like this happen to her only daughter. I was just shocked. I cried a lot that day and for the coming weeks.

Like I said before, in some ways it seems like just yesterday, and in others it seems like such a long time ago. SO much has happened, mostly for the good. I want to write more, but my little one is crying, and sick. I just wanted to write that I didn't forget this year, and I'll always remember January 6.