Madi

So I meant to write this all out and post it for all of you the day after it happened but then I got busy with work and I was just tired and a little stressed with the thought of all the things I was trying to get done. But I did write most of this on a piece of paper the day after it happened. 

On Monday, September 10th 2012, something happened.  A friend of mine from high school was in a terrible accident. And she didn't make it. It was a shock. It still is!

I wasn't incredibly close to her, especially after we graduated. But I did know her and I believe we were friends. Her name was Madisen Savage (or Madi for short).

I didn't really know her before our senior year. I mean, I knew she existed but I don't think we ever talked. So what was different about that year?

Chamber Quire

For those of you who don't know what that is, I'll tell you.

Chamber Quire is a choir at Weber High School (they have them at most, if not all, high schools too but they are usually called something else.) But this choir is the high and mighty of choirs in school. Only 32 members can join. 16 boys. 16 girls.

This is where I truly met Madi.

She was such a sweet girl and I loved being around her. She always made everyone around her filled with joy.

I'll admit there were times she annoyed me but... as I write... those times don't even matter.

Here is a picture of the Chamber Quire and I've circled Madi in red (and I've pointed me out... as you can see)

She was beautiful.

Her family had a viewing for her the Thursday following her passing and then another viewing on Friday as well as the funeral. I had to work so I was unable to go to anything on Friday but James and I did go the viewing on Thursday. It was very nice. We were taken into a room where they had a slideshow running of pictures of Madi and some of her favorites songs playing.

Row by row they would invite people to go back to see her and her family. I hadn't cried about it at all but knew that it was coming. While we were waiting in line, a very dear friend of mine, Kirstie Bastow,  came up to me and we hugged and it just all fell out of me. I cried and cried and cried. I just couldn't believe she was gone. It was only a few days before that I was laughing about something she put on facebook.

After that, I got the chance to meet her dad (I had never met any of her family before) and he was a very sweet man. I told him who I was and how I was in choir with Madi and he knew who I was. Even though I had never met him. He laughed with us for a little bit and gave us both hugs. He then talked about something Madi wanted at her funeral when the time came...

Something funny right here. Madi loved bacon! (but I mean... who doesn't? It's candy, right?)

And I found out that she had told her family that when she died, she wanted a bouquet of bacon roses at her funeral.

And there was. It was awesome. I would have taken a picture but I didn't feel like it was an ok time or place to do so. (had I been at the funeral though)

It was very funny.

We then walked over and saw Madi. She looked as beautiful as ever. It was crazy to me that she was actually gone. I just stared at her... waiting for her to sit up and say "Gotcha!" cause .... well, that's the type of person she was.

After that, we met with her mom. Once again, I had never met her before, but she knew who I was. We talked for a little bit and it was great. We then hugged and once again... tears just flowed out of me. I felt so bad but her mom just hugged me tighter than anyone before.

James got me some tissues and soon I was better.

We got the chance to see a lot of my friends from high school (mostly chamber quire buddies).

It was very nice to see everyone. Sad under those circumstances but nice.

After all that, we met up with Shay, Greg and Nikelle and hung out for a little bit.

We all live so far (yet not) from each other now.

Shay is in Bountiful and Greg and Nikelle are in Salt Lake. I'm sure Colette would have been at the viewing as well if they could have. 

Through all of this, I realized something. I'm not scared of death. I mean, you know how everyone is always so scared to die? They haven't lived their lives yet?

Well, I honestly am not worried. When it comes, it'll come and I'll take it gracefully. However, I hate watching people I love go. I know they are in a better place and that they are fine and happy but it still hurts to watch people leave.

But it does help that I know of our Heavenly Father's plan. It helps a lot actually. I don't understand how people can get through the death of a loved one not knowing they'll be able to see them again.

Well, in closing, I would just like to show you some pictures a picture of Madi I found. ( I thought I had more but I looked and looked and looked and can't find anything... sad day. Wish I had taken more pictures in high school. Especially with the amount of things we all did together in Chamber Quire)

This was at a dance in high school... It was... Morp 2008. The theme was Stuck on You (and I honestly  can't remember if the theme was also duct tape or if EVERYONE just decided it was) but it was way fun.

At this one, me, nikelle and colette created a giant sorry board. And the couples played together. It was way fun. We were the pieces. We then had dinner that was made by... Nikelle's mom and some other women if I remember correctly. Or something like that.

The dance was way fun and I enjoyed getting the chance to spend time with everyone. 

(Madi is in the white and I am right under her.)

Madisen Savage was an amazing person and I am so glad I got the opportunity to meet her and become her friend. I still think of her and I pray for her family.

Love you so much Madi!