Sunday April 24th was a beautiful Sunday - we all went to the Ski Sundown appreciation BBQ where Nick walked all the way up Gunbarrel (there was still a bit of snow up there...
And we enjoy a few beers with the folks we worked the short winter with. Breezy day - but wonderful to see and be with the happy faces of winter.
Than we went home to finish up the mulch that was delivered to our home. as Chris, Nick and my dad were headed to the Alton Brown Good Eats show that evening as a birthday gift from us.
As Chris was hauling mulch, the boys were out playing and I was doing yard work - our neighbors were on a walk with their sons and stopped by to show us photos of a bear in their back yard. Bears are getting way to friendly and close this time of year.
So when 5 cop cars whizzed past we instantly thought someone called the police on the bears - maybe they were too close.
Sadly that is not how the story goes.
The police cars, ambulances all rushed to the Doyles home. Ever neighbor was now studying outside on the corner but not allowed any closer. The ambulance left not in a hurry and the family left. As neighbors we began hearing bits and pieces of what just happened.
Everyone outside,
Kids playing in the yard, on the hammock
Hammock attached to a large old tree that had died and was cut back 8 years ago.
Tree hit their daughter Ally
I could feel every neighbor pray as we waited to hear how Ally was doing.
Not a single one of us expected the call that came 1 hour later that Ally was rushed to the hospital - but had passed away. So instant - her little life was over and her family and many others changed completely forever.
The days that followed were a blur - countless neighbors, friends and family wanting to help - a community looking to support in any way possible. A Go Fund me page was created and within 18 hours reached 30,000. I clicked on it now as I started to record this and its up to $46,000
The family didn't ask for this - but no one felt they should have to pay a cent for funeral costs and anything going forward. They may use it as a scholarship, memorial however they choose. I am certain everyone that donated wanted to give that money graciously to the family.
Our neighbor hood met Monday evening in hopes of being able to more directly help them. Have them feel the everyday support at home. One of the small gestures we did was to tie Pick flowers with grey ribbons to our mailboxes and the night of her wake and funeral we had a luminary placed by each mail box.
The wake was - gosh I don't know the words. Yet countless folks lined the funeral home to hug the family that was in a way now supporting a grieving community. I am not sure how that all made sense. But they did it. Each member of the family embraced hundreds of us who cam through not knowing what to say.
I am not sure if their link will show up for you - but if you watch it, you may not have a dry eye. It is a video Ally put together for her mother 2 years ago as a Mother's Day Gift. Looking at it know makes it a truly magical video and makes your realize the ways God is truly intertwined in our paths. Ally was a special soul and is now in heaven. To see my children try to understand this is painful yet meaningful in the same breathe.
Every day is a gift - their lives will never be the same - they will never forget Ally -
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