November 24th...

20 years ago, Beckie was 34 years old, young and vibrant with high expectations of graduating in the spring with a nursing degree. Beckie was a mother of four boys, worked full-time and went to nursing school driving 43 miles one way. Beckie never complained about having to hang the laundry on the clothes line to dry even in the winter, having to haul their drinking water from town or the long hours she had to spend just to keep food on the table.

Sadly, Beckie never realized her dreams and was brutally gunned down by her 15 year old step-son; he turned and slaughtered the other three boys and set the house on fire to cover his crimes.

Even after 20 years, my loss of my sister does not diminish and it probably never will. I am not writing this blog for sympathy or to cause hurt to others but to reflect the things that Beckie's life has taught me. The first is, never give up, do your very best and look for the blessing behind every bad time. Second, always look for the best in people, don't judge them and never gossip or talk bad about others. The most important thing I have learned from Beckie's life is to celebrate your life, live each day as if were your last with no regrets and to always leave others with a smile.

Still smiling,
Jo

P.S. To read the full story, my sister Ellie has it posted on her blog:
http://mscreek.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html#5050652361808253203