A Beautiful Life

Even as I write this, I can't believe that I am using "was" and past tense in reference to my sweet friend Brittany and her little boy Shep. We first met at Seraphim. First as a customer (she was one well dressed lady) , then as an "employee - use this term loosely" as she mostly worked for clothes :-)  and most of all as a friend. Just looking at this picture reminds me of so many memories we made here.  The endless tagging, rearranging, open houses, trying on clothes, and laughter!

Brittany Shepard Pugh was one of those rare, pure hearted, sincerely good people.  She LOVED Clint Pugh.    I will never forget the excitement when he proposed (on a farm.. feeding cows :-)  The ring.  Her gorgeous fairytale wedding so meticulously planned.  I laugh when I think of the stress of the Ebay dress.. that turned out GORGEOUS.  The drama with her bridesmaid dresses (she would smile about that now if she read this) 

Their first house and all the blood, sweat, and tears they poured into it to make a home for their new lives together.  Her first teacher job.  And all the jokes I made about her monogrammed lunch box :-)

Although I lost touch with many of my Troy friends or grew apart from some, Brittany and I remained in touch.  She was a constant encourager through my battle with infertility.  With each month bringing bad news, she always words of encouragement and a reminder of God's plan and God's timing.  And then the good news.. and the better news that just a few months behind me, she was pregnant too.. Of course with a Pugh boy!  Did we really expect anything else?  That precious name.  Shep.  She came to our Sip and See when he was about 10 weeks old and our boys were 4 months old.  And I met sweet Shep.  She wouldn't let me take her picture.. only him because she had to "get back in shape".

She was one of the few people that new about our pregnancy and loss this past summer.  When we were waiting on blood work and test results praying every night for good news.. there would pop up my facebook chat box and she would encourage me and talk to me and let me know she was praying.  We have very similar parenting.. we both are Babywise moms and keep those sweet boys on a schedule.  Eli battled reflux, Shep battled colic and gas.  For every night I was up in the middle of the night, I swear she was too.   We were both thrilled about having boys so close in age.  She found such JOY in being Shep's mommy.  Mickey and milk.. the morning routine in both our households. What great friends our boys would be when they grew up!

Brittany faced many challenges in her life in the time I knew her and she never waivered in her faith.  Not for a minute.  She was a Godly woman, a Godly wife, and incredible mother, sister and friend.  SHe loved her small town life and spread blessings to everyone that knew her.  Her husband needs your prayers. What a difficult journey he is beginning.  My heart BREAKS when I think of him living without her and Shep.   Her mom, dad, sister, and family need your prayers.


One of the last things we talked about was her transitioning Shep off the bottles and she had finished that.  She said she was not going to give up rocking her baby though - she would do that as long as he would let her.  I take comfort picturing her not only rocking baby Shep forever but my sweet babies that have gone to Heaven before me.  I know she will take good care of them for their momma.  I loved her so much and know without a fact that she is dancing before Jesus today. 


So many people have posted and linked beautiful things about her and the kind of woman she was.  Fly Through Our Window , You Will Be Missed, Bellamia, and there are so many more.


I have read so many verses and encouraging words over the last few days.  Tears pour down my face as I right about these lives taken so soon.  If anything its such a reminder of the fragility of life, the quickness in which it can all change, and that we are all on borrowed time. All we can do is live as Brittany did.. savoring each moment with our family, living life to the fullest, and placing our cares in the hands of our Savior.  


I know that I will never make sense of this or understand it .. but please pray that I find peace and comfort in God's grace. 


Jesus said, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” - John 16:22