February 25, 2017 A Very Difficult Goodbye . . .

The day started out like most other Saturdays this past winter: base layers, ski gear, and an early morning trip to Purgatory Ski Resort.  I had stayed home with Madelyn, Meredith and Declan as we were all recovering from illness.  Adam and the other boys headed up around 7 am.  The ski day went as it normally did, meeting up with friends from the ward with lots of runs and great skiing. Kressyda had taken her four oldest children up to ski while Cameron (who had been ill) and Poppy stayed home.

Towards the end of the ski day (around 3 pm) Adam called.  I assumed he was calling to tell me that he was heading home.  Instead he told me that Kressyda had hit a tree and was unresponsive.  I could hear urgency and seriousness in his voice.  Within the hour he called to tell me that she had passed away.  

The word "stunned"fails to convey the depth of emotion we all felt.  I had texted with her just the day before.  She had just been skiing with everyone, like every other Saturday.  How could she possibly be gone, in an instant?

What followed for all of us was sacred and painful as we tried our best to love and offer some sort of consolation to her family that she loved fiercely.  

Her life changed me, and honestly, it changed everyone she knew.  Although we know our goodbye is temporary, we still miss her and her friendship deeply.