A good friend

This is my friend Rachel Whiting. She is in my ward at church and is the girl that I trained for the half marathon for 4-5 months with when I was pregnant with Berkeley. She had just had her third boy at the time we were training and had to go through a surgery right after she had him. We ran together several times a week and anyone who is a runner knows that you have a special bond with your running partners! We had deep conversations and were able to help push each other (mostly she pushed me) when we were tired. She is someone who is so selfless and is such an awesome wife and mother, I wish I could be more like her! She is also gorgeous and has three cute cute kids. After we ran the race, being pregnant, I needed to take a break from running and since we live so far away from each other and we each are so busy with our kids and families, we weren't able to get together much at all, but I still think the world of her and wish we lived next door to each other so we could get together more.

So, yesterday, I was looking for a babysitter for a girls' night out I was going to. Jeff called me and asked what happened to my friend Rachel. I said I had no idea. He said he got an email from the Elder's Quarum that an activity at the Whiting's house was canceled because Jason's wife had been in a serious accident. That was all the information that was given. Oh my gosh! Hello? What is with boys? Seriously, either don't say anything at all about it or give ALL the information. I was calling everyone I know that is good friends with her trying to figure out what was going on and in my head I was thinking the worst: Is she dead? Is she in critical condition? Were her kids in the car with her? Are they injured as well? Of course I let my imagination run away with me, thinking that I may never see her again. I was trying not to panic, but I was so worried about her and felt helpless that there was nothing I could do to help her! Finally, I got a hold of my friend, Andrea, who is good friends with Rachel. According to her, Rachel was on her scooter, collided with a car, was unconscious for 30 minutes, and broke her jaw and her leg. She is going to have to have her jaw wired shut and not walk for 3 months. I was so relieved that she was not in critical condition and that she was going to live, but I my heart was broken for her. She is an amazing runner and was about to run a marathon, so I know this is going to be so hard for her. She has put in so much work training for the race and it was something special she and her husband were going to do together. I feel so terrible for her and wish there was more I could do to help at this point. I know soon, I will be able to watch her kids and take her meals, but I just wish I could give her the comfort that I know I can't. I was going to go visit her in the hospital, but as of now she is heavily sedated and her family has asked that there be no visitors. I have just been praying for her and I can't get her out of my mind. I just pray that she will recover quickly and keep her spirits up. She really is so strong so I know if anyone could handle it, she could. It also is a strong reminder of how precious life is and how quickly you can lose a loved one. Jeff and I had talked about getting him a scooter previously and I am so glad we didn't! He travels on fast roads, so that was the main reason we didn't. I just always need to make sure that I am living right and showing those around me that I love them so I will be more prepared in the event of a tragedy.