The Blogosphere is a peculiar environment where we often develop relationships of anonymity. We are flies on the walls of strangers' homes and we become close to people who may not even know we exist. I know Mary Ellen Barrett, though she doesn't know me. I have smiled at her children's antics and I have eagerly read her advice. It was, therefore, with great sadness that I learned this weekend that her oldest child, Ryan, died on a camping trip in the Catskills. I can't imagine the pain the Barrett family feels with the loss of their precious son. They have our prayers and our deep sympathies. I think that the little boy who only wanted to serve God must be very happy to now serve Him forever. But we will still miss him greatly.
This was absolutely heartbreaking to me. I had never read her blog until this happened. My oldest ds is close to the same age and camps all the time with Boy Scouts. It's just something you never even think about happening. So very sad for this family!