Friends,

Wednesday was the first day of winter, the very darkest day of the year. For our sister, Trudi, and her two daughters, Zoe (17), and Lily (13), these past 5 weeks have been the darkest of their lives, not understanding how or why their husband and father, Ron, could possibly be in the hospital fighting off a devastating infection, trying to remain hopeful, wondering when he might come home, and then having to imagine the unimaginable. On Thursday, December 22, Ron was taken from his family far too soon, a hurt that many of us cannot even fathom.

But, even the very darkest day of the year is followed by the promise of the light, and Trudi and her girls could really use a lot of light right now.

I know this time of year is so busy. I know we are spent, and often stretched thin. But this is also the time of being thankful, of giving, of holding tight to the ones we love the very most. As you are spending time with the people you love this Christmas, will you please remember my sweet sister and her beautiful girls, and pray for them? This will be the first Christmas in over 21 years that Trudi has ever had to spend without him, and the first Christmas of the girl's lives without their Daddy.

We've lost one of the hardest working people I've ever known. Ron is synonymous with Alabama football, Prince music, and Nascar. He adored his girls, and worked so hard to make a life for them that he was proud of. He was always welcoming, always ready to fire up the grill for one of his famous "Bama burgers," always ready to fill your cup, and to have a laugh.

Trudi has privately been holding onto this horrible hurt, and she would never ask for help, but if you're called to do so, would you consider giving a little to ease the burden of medical bills, and of moving forward without their primary provider?