Remembering our friend

One year ago today we lost our friend Mark Austry. I will never forget that phone call and the shock I felt. I could not wrap my head around it. We had been with him and his wife Mariana, the night before. It was one of the best times we had had together. We laughed so much and left that evening with such joy. We talked the whole way home about being excited to see them again and hoping to see them more often. Mark was running the Rock-n-Roll marathon the next morning.
I got a call from our friend Jenna the next morning and was shocked when she told me he had passed away. WHAT? HOW? He had finished the race with his brother and after taking a drink of water, collapsed. We found out later that he had Myocarditis.
It has been a hard year for his wife and daughters. We have been blessed to have been part of their lives and watch what an amazing bond they have formed. Mariana is the strongest women I know! She has been an outstanding women, mom, and spiritual leader to her girls. Mark would be so very proud. In Mariana's words "Be nice to each other, hug each other and pray together. It makes all the difference." You can follow Mariana on her blog that she writes with her friend Judy.