THE DAY I FOUND OUT

I didn’t know where to begin or how to write this… I decided well…..start from when you found out…..

I had seen my friend tagged on Facebook the next morning after July 4th in a post about her, her daughter Mila and her mother and father in law missing and that Eddie her husband is so far the only survivor……

I thought: “THAT CAN’T BE RIGHT”

I clicked on the post to read more and found out a flash flood had ripped through a campground in Kerrville Texas.

I couldn’t believe what I was reading…I mean yea…I’ve read awful stories of tragedies but they never happened to MY FRIENDS OR MY FAMILY.  

I didn’t know what I was thinking besides hearing the word “no” in my head. It may sound odd but I felt like I wasn’t all there or that somehow time had ripped for a few moments and everything had just paused.

I don’t remember sounds, I don’t remember time, I only remember where I was.

I never experienced the death of a friend before…..and I’m not talking about someone that I knew of……. I am talking about A FRIEND.

A LITTLE ABOUT CAMILLE,

I met her when I was working at a law firm back in 2018. I remember the day she came in for her interview…. she sat with such confidence and the way she walked you knew she was comfortable in her skin and knew who she was.

She exuded boldness and after getting to know her more through get togethers and working together I learned she was not only beautiful on the outside but beautiful on the inside. She was a sister in Christ, and had a wonderful personality. She was funny, smart, stylish and a little sassy. 😂

Camille cared so much about people. I remember when on one of our walks around Sikes Lake in Texas she had told me “you need to stick up for yourself because nobody else is going to”.

She wanted me to excel in life and not let anyone hold me back or allow myself to be taken advantage of.

After Camille and Eddie brought Mila into this world, Cami wanted photos taken of her and her little girl in matching jean jackets, pink tutus and brown cowgirl boots….I mean…how much more precious can you get?!

We did a session in the morning at a location I found that had some sunflowers. 🤗🌻 I remember being nervous because I wanted to give her the best, but I also remember having such a chill and fun time with Camille and her daughter Mila Rose. Camille always supported me and my love of photography.

I remember her saying:

“If you don’t start your photography I’m going to come out there and make you!”

She saw something in me I didn’t see, she encouraged me, and never stopped supporting me.

WRESTLING WITH GRIEF

I knew God turns everything that was meant for evil into good and that He is never surprised.

I knew Camille, her daughter Mila and her mother & father in law were in heaven but out of my selfishness I would find myself asking:

For what good is coming out of this?

Why did my friend & her daughter have to die?

Then I remembered:

They are HOME.

No more pain, no more sickness, no more evil. Camille is at peace, face to face with Jesus and I imagine she heard from Jesus something along the lines of:

“Well done my faithful one”.

Ugh….just thinking about that is making me tear up.

GOD’S GOODNESS THROUGH THE PAIN

Even in grief there were glimpses of his goodness. This loss reconnected me with a friend who was wrestling with God. After long talks, she joined a church in Texas—and she told me she’s getting baptized this September.

🥹✝️ I know Camille is rejoicing with me in that.

I was able to attend the memorial in San Antonio a couple weekends ago and a bittersweet moment for me was when I turned the page of the memorial pamphlet and saw one of the sunflower photos of Camille and Mila…..tears of loss mixed with gratitude of their love was remembered through that image.

For You, If You’re Grieving,

I wanted to write this for someone who is—or will one day—walk through grief.

Grief is not weakness it’s proof of love. When we feel that heartache of loss, it doesn’t mean our faith is small.

Remember Jesus Himself wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus.

That moment reminds us that God doesn’t dismiss our sorrow, He enters into it with us.

If you are carrying loss right now, your grief is valid and your tears matter to God.

HE SEES YOU.

He knows the weight you’re carrying….and He invites you to bring it to Him—not to fix it instantly, but to walk with you in it.

Fellowship with others who follow Jesus is a gift for the hardest days.

Community won’t erase the pain, but it can hold you steady when you feel unsteady.

As you carry the memory of those you’ve lost, may you also carry this truth:

You are not alone in your grief.

The God who weeps with you is the same God who promises comfort, hope, and eternal life.

If you are grieving, I want you to know you’re not alone. Send me a message (or even just whisper in prayer) the name of the one you’re missing.

Saying their name matters, & if you’d like, I’d be honored to pray for you as you walk this hard road.💛🤍