The Van Courts: Three years ago...

I'm not sure if it was 3 short or 3 long years ago... that what started out as a normal day in our lives, including planning to get pedicures later in the day... turned out to be one of the worst days in our lives.

Monday, September 28th, 2009, was a day that will never be forgotten, at least not by myself and 4 of my best girlfriends... as long as we live. It was the day that Sheriff Officer, Brian S. Etheridge was shot and killed in the line of duty. Brian was Sarah's husband, Sarah was one of my best friends, a nurse at Wesley with me, and a couple Phillip and I had spent (our only free time) with.

I remember the day as if it were yesterday. I remember what I was wearing (I still have it hanging in my closet... I've never worn it again... and occasionally wonder if I should garage sell it... but I just haven't yet)... I remember who I was talking to on the phone when I found out. I remember every detail of that day.

Three years ago today, September 27th... I don't remember... and perhaps neither does anyone else, with the exception that, it was the last day our lives were "normal".

I had already quit working at Wesley, and was busily packing up our house as we prepared for the big move to Salina. All of my friends and I thought it was just terrible... we had become so close... we were the "A" team nurses that all of the physicians wanted working for them and I hated moving away from everything that I had just become so comfortable and acquainted with, it was hard to see God's plan in this move, but I've learned that trusting in Him has brought me so much joy (and Salina really is a great place to live :).

I was on the phone with Paula Wertz that Monday morning... it was a lazy morning... I had gotten clothes on, but was still trying to get super motivated. Paula and I were talking about getting together all of the girls later that afternoon to get pedicures when suddenly our conversation was interrupted. The first time, Paula ignored the call, even telling me, "Sarah's calling... I'll call her back when we're finished"... and then Sarah called again. Paula left me on hold while she talked with Sarah and when she clicked back over to me... there was an eeriness in her voice as she simply stated, "Brian has been shot". I was confused, as was she. No one had any idea how back the gunshot wound was... and Paula was heading home (from taking her kids to school) to change into something and head up to the hospital to meet Sarah. My question "should I go to the hospital also?". I didn't want to intrude... or be the nosey friend... especially if it wasn't anything big... but I just remember feeling chills. Paula and I ended our conversation... and then Jeannine called me. And through a series of phone calls... all 4 of us decided to go to the hospital... just for support for Sarah. By the time we all arrived... we had realized that this was, in fact, a big deal. Phillip was working in Wellington at the time... and I remember our conversation as he asked "should I come up there"? No one had any idea how the day was going to go... so I told him to stay at work. It wasn't until later... after discovering the Brian did not make it through the surgery... that I told him that I needed him there.

Phillip arrived on Labor and Delivery (the only place he knew at Wesley) in work clothes and dirty grain boots and was led to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit by a fellow Labor nurse. That embrace was one of the best I had ever felt. Sarah had lost her man... and all I wanted was mine.

I'll never forget our sleepless night that night... as we lay in bed together... sobbing. How could this have happened to our friend? It was surreal, still, at that time... but so incredibly sad... for Sarah... for their Sweet baby Natalie... who at 2 1/2 years old... no longer had her father.

The "girls" (Sarah, Crystal, Jeannine and Paula) and I, have a bond that will remain with us forever. As we pulled together, supported one another, and most importantly, Sarah, through that time, and continuously since then.

Sarah's story should be some sort of Hollywood Blockbuster... as she is now remarried, and Crystal and I helped bring little Miss Kate, Natalie's sister, into the world last December. Sarah may be one of the strongest women I have ever met... but even she needs a little extra prayer. Tomorrow will be a particularly difficult day for her... as she probably won't sleep tonight, terrified of reliving her nightmare of September 28th for the 3rd time.

So as September 28th, 2012 rolls by, as a seemingly normal fall Friday... please think and pray for my friend... as she struggles through the day that changed her life forever.

Sarah and Brian at one of our Christmas Party's

At the most incredibly honoring funeral (an image instilled in my mind) I have ever attended.

At Sarah's Wedding, the Girls and I, standing beside her... as we celebrated her new Happily Ever After

We have made it an annual event that we go out of town together, once a year... to get away for a while, right around this time of year. This was in 2010, in Kansas City.