Sheesh, I am an inconsistent blogger. I have an excuse, though. I have been writing … a lot! It has been so good for me to get my thoughts down, and I am still blown away that I get to do it for thousands of readers each week.

Although this blog was started so that I could write about running, it is through the start of it, that I have found my passion for writing, and there are so many more things to write about than running, so I hope you will continue to follow regardless.

A couple of weeks ago, I opened up for the first time (to the public) about the passing of my older sister. I know that I have referenced her on here before, and more specifically on my post “Running in Heaven.” However, I have never written about her passing.

To be completely honest, I didn’t think that I ever would, being that it is such a painful and difficult thing to talk about, but with the passing of a young, teenage girl in my town, I had the overwhelming feeling that I needed to share.

Here is the link to the article, The Silence of Suicide.

In opening up about it, it has helped me to feel not so alone. I am glad that it had such a good response and I hope that it was able to give a much needed voice to others in similar situations.

This week (tonight, actually), I have an article coming out entitled, Celebrating life through organ and tissue donation. 

My older sister was a donor. Although due to the circumstances surrounding her death, and her having been on life support for days, her organs shut down and were not able to be used. However, because she was so healthy, her bones, skin, tissue, tendons, corneas as well as a valve from her heart, were able to be donated to help so many.

Although it is so difficult to be on this end of the donation side, it does give me comfort to be able to know that even in death, as she did in life, my sister was able ( and is able ) to help others to live a more fulfilling life.

Here are a few pictures of her. Her smile alone, tells what an amazing and wonderful person she (is).

Megan being a great big sister to me (the baby at the time 🙂 )

She came to visit us from Georgia. She was expecting her 3rd child at the time. She was so happy, and a perfect mom.

In the hospital after having her youngest daughter. She wanted so badly to be a mom; it was what made her happy.

A pencil sketch done of her after she passed. This really represents the way I will always remember her.

This is where I know she is. This is such a comforting picture. I look forward to the day I will see her again,

**On a running note, I will be pacing the 3:35 pace at Salt Lake City Marathon on April 20th.  Watch for a full re-cap … 🙂