05/10/2026
This weekend marks 17 years since my son’s accident. It was the worst weekend of my life. He died on Friday, May 8,2009 in a kayaking accident on the Tallapoosa River outside of Auburn,AL on graduation weekend his senior year. He wasn’t graduating so he went kayaking. He was lost on the river for two days while 5 counties of rescue workers searched for him.
He was recovered on Mother’s Day Morning 2009 at 10:32 am after our church prayed the last pray the children had written in Sunday School.
It took me awhile to get back on my feet, but I attribute that totally to God,who provided me strength. He put the right people in my path to help me.
I had three other children to raise and a supportive husband by my side.
Losing a child isn’t the normal progression of how things should go in life. I was frozen for about three years. I finally realized Walker was gone, but I was still here and had to life my life.
I knew that was what he would want me to do.
In 2019 we lost Walker’s girlfriend, Sally, who was with him in the kayaking accident in 2009. That hit really hard and I found myself grieving again. It was as if I lost the last remaining people of Walker. I watched her mother grieve and remembered that pain.
Then In 2024 I lost my Mom and a very close friend four months apart. My grief was overwhelming yet through it all, God remained faithfully by my side to pull me through it.
I’m not looking for a pity party.
I am here and writing this to tell you, that no matter how low and down you feel, God will always be there if you let him in. He has been there for me.
Today I feel gratitude for all my many blessings.
Life is fragile. We need to cherish the people we love each day. We aren’t guaranteed tomorrow.
Thank you to all my family and friends who continue to walk this walk with me.
If you are someone grieving today, please drop your name in the comments, so I can pray for you.
We are here to lift each other up and if my posting yearly touches one heart that needs hope I’ll keep posting each year.
Sending my love to all of you today and especially to those grieving the loss of a loved one.
