Easter Day

Update- This is an email sent out by our Sunday School Class from Melissa who is the sister in law of the man who was killed. Please read and pray for this family.

Hello Dear Friends!

My amazing brother went home this evening just around 9:00 pm. Shock, grief, anger, physical sickness, hurt has filled this night heavily on our hearts. Rich was getting the mail after coming home from taking Jordyne and Kyle to Laser Tag. He was struck and thrown. I do not believe he felt pain, I believe his injuries were so extensive and God was gracious to take him from that. I thank God he saved Rich from so much pain. It is still our deepest desire that he would be with us... however God's desires and plans for us are greater than ours. There are so many questions that have filled our minds and hearts. Kyle, my nephew who has high functioning autism witnessed the entire scene. He was able to give the officers and I good info on the car. They have so far not been able to recover the vehicle or the driver. The driver did leave a trail of his/her car for a few miles...but no car has been found.
Please pray specifically for

Peace, Comfort and HOPE for our family
For my dear sister Michi, Cody and Kyle
Decisions that will need to be made in the days ahead
For a successful arrest of the individual who took my brothers life
For our Anger, Hurt and physical well being
For Kyle as he continues to process what he saw and the events of this night for many, many, many years to come
Finances

As we sat and digested the night as a family, looking at the past couple weeks leading up to this night, it is so obvious to see God's hand in preparing our hearts for even death of this amazing man we all love.
Thank you for praying and reading...my sister and the boys, my parents... all of us know we are loved by an God given support system.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for praying...please continue the days ahead will be very hard.

Melissa

URGENT PRAYER NEEDED!!

I just got off the phone with my brother who informed me of some tragic news. Our long time family friends who we have known from church for many many years just had a tragic loss. Rich, the father, was somehow hit by car (total hit and run) and he was killed. The junior high age son saw the whole accident. This literally happened within the last 45 minutes so we do not know more than just the little bit I posted. Please pray for this family. Pray for Michi (the mom) and their two sons (Kody and Kyle) as they deal with this horrific accident. Rich was a Christian and we thank The Lord that he is now in Heaven with Jesus. Please lift up this family in their time of need and pray for comfort and that the Lord will wrap His arms around them. This is just so tragic. I cant believe I just wrote this. This just breaks my heart.

Brad just told me that there are helicopters and cops everywhere searching for the guy who hit and killed Rich. I had also initially reported that Michi was out of town but she was not- she was home when this happened as well as her sister and brother in law so they were there right when it happened.

Before I begin, I still may post a few things but there was a small change in plans for the clothes. I will let you know later.

Easter Sunday was great. Mommy was a little slow and forgot to get Easter baskets so off to the store on Sunday morning mommy went. I headed to the only store open at that hour- Stater Brothers- and got basically what they had left of Easter candy and a few cheesy toys. I came home, made the baskets (tossed a little bit of money into the boys baskets-- that made it a lot better) while the kids were still sleeping and then jumped in the shower. The kids woke up and they loved their cheesy little baskets and I was pleased.

The cheesy little baskets

Checking out the loot

Mia loved her basket and thought the candy was just way cool (she doesn't get candy that often so she was stoked)


Love the straight from bed look--notice Max checking out Ethan's basket

We all got dressed and went to church. It was the most beautiful mid 70's degree, sunny day. Our church does a huge outreach each Easter at the LA County Fairgrounds. We have the service at the horse racing track - it seats a ton of people- and it is always an amazing service. We had a guest speaker for part of the message- Brian Clay the decathlon gold metal winner- He was awesome and such a committed Christian man. It was a great service. We then went home and got ready for all our guests. Before Mia got her dress too dirty I attempted to take a few pictures of the kids-- they were totally uncooperative.


Owen looking handsome


Mia showing me how her dress twirls around

Checking out a little flower in the grass

My long hair boys

Out of the numerous pictures I attempted to take, this really was the best. The kids, especially Mia, were totally uncooperative--uggg!!!

My little Pole Dancer--haha!!

She had so much fun twirling around the umbrella pole.

Our guests showed up and then we were in full swing and my camera went away. We had a great time with our family and had an awesome Easter celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!!!