Angelica Grace Designs Blog

Thursday, January 20, 2011

LIFE IS FLEETING!

As some of you know, we lost a beautiful friend of the family last week. Kylie Elizabeth-Marie Baird (Schilling) was only 23 years old. We got to know Kylie and her husband, Jake, because they were employees of Brent's at the office before we moved out of state. What I remember most about Kylie is her huge and I do mean HUGE, beautiful, smile. She had one of those smiles that was impossible to not be touched by.

When Brent called me last Wednesday morning, shortly after he had left the house for work, to tell me that Kylie had passed away in her sleep in the middle of the night early that morning, I lost my breath. I was unloading Kross from the car and was on my way into a doctor appointment. Ironically, it was a doctor appointment to have a complete physical done. I was feeling pulled to get in and get looked over this year so that I could have a base line as I started a new year and new goals for a healthy life style. I had been worrying a lot about my heart condition, my parents and their health, where my life was headed if I didn't make changes physically concerning my health and so on. I was on my way into the doctor to take the first step in making big changes. I have run out of excuses and with a PFO heart condition as well as a small heart murmur, I am STUPID for not living a healthy lifestyle. Just stupid!

When Brent told me Kylie had passed away and that Jake had tried desperately to save her via CPR, for a moment I was hopeful regarding what his next words would be. I learned that he was actually successful at resuscitating her only to find out at the hospital that she was without any brain activity, brain dead from the loss of oxygen. Jake had awoke to discover her not breathing and tried incessantly to save her. I was crushed. It was just more confirmation to me that life is so very short. So very fleeting. I love the verse (Psalms 39:5 NLT) that reads like this: "You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath." When you think about it, it's so very, very, true. We've had several passings in or around our circle of family/friends this past year and it's sad that it takes those special people passing to kick our butts into high gear and start living for eternity rather than the temporary. It's sad that we have to loose someone important to us in order to remember that WE ALL have a date with death sometime in our lifetime. And for some of us, it will be sooner rather than later. It's sad that it takes their passing for each of us to suddenly remember how important and priceless life really is yet we always go back to our same old ways within weeks of a tragedy like this only to be reminded again with the next loss.

The gut wrenching part to Kylie's story, for those who didn't know her, is that she was a brand new Mom. She had just had her first child 8 weeks ago. He's only a mere two months old. Just two months old. Her baby boy is only two weeks older than our little Kross. I look at Kross and cannot fathom his life without a mother. Let alone my other two children. Jake and Kylie's baby boy, Judah Jeremiah, is without his Mother here on this earth. On an even more sad note, Kylie's own mother died just 8 days after giving birth to Kylie's younger sister several years ago. With both her mother and with Kylie, the autopsy's are inconclusive. The doctors are unable to make sense of any of it and both of their cases are left with more questions than answers. Now Jake, Kylie's husband, is left to raise Judah alone. There are no words. Just no words.

My point for this blog post today was to share a video with you. It's a video of Kylie's pastor speaking last Sunday and delivering a sermon that has to do with the new year and just how short life really is. Whatever your faith, beliefs, or religion, this is a great video to watch. It's about 40 minutes long and you really need to listen to the whole thing in order to benefit the most from it. At around 19:29 minutes into it, the pastor brings up Kylie, discusses her short life on this earth, and gives you some insight as to what a beautiful and influential girl she was. Definitely make sure you watch that part but also try to sit down, take 40 minutes for yourself over a soda or cup of coffee, and watch this video. It's worth the time. I promise. You can find the link by clicking HERE. And for those of you wondering, Kylie is a friend from Indiana. They are from Greenfield, Indiana and their church looks and sounds FAB if any of you are looking for a new church home in that area. The pastor appears to be a young guy with a great way of delivering a sermon with meaning. Some pastors loose me and therefore I can't stay focused. I always look for pastors who explain it to me in Lehman's terms. This guy did a phenomenal job of that. I also loved his use of word pictures. (the value of life in relation to how some value money)

Kylie was an avid and very faithful reader of this here ol' blog. I know she is in heaven amazed that her photos are on here today because she always made such a big deal about my blog and how much she loved it. It breaks my heart that it is due to her passing that I post her gorgeous and beaming smile on here today. I soooo wish it could have been for a different reason-surrounding different and more joyful circumstances.

Life is short people. Get yourself in line. Work on your health. Hug the ones you love. Mend broken relationships that are meaningful to you. Forgive those whom have wronged you and either choose to connect with them again or just leave the forgiveness at just that. Forgiven! Life is short. Life is fleeting. Focus on the eternal - not the temporary. Look at your hand right now. Seriously...look at it. Our lives are only as long as the width of our hands. Think about that each time you look at your hands in the future. Use that verse as a word picture - a reminder to live for eternity and not the temporal.

In the meantime, please lift Jake and baby Judah as well as Kylie's father and sister up in your prayers. I have a ton of prayer warriors who read this blog and I know I can count on you guys to help pray for this family.

Dance high in the clouds with your Mother Kylie. Dance.

Kylie Elizabeth-Marie Baird

October 9th, 1987 - January 12th, 2011

PS...The bank where Kylie now worked is taking up memorial contributions which can be made to any Ameriana Bank in Judah Jeremiah Baird's name. (Kylie and Jakes 8 week old baby boy)

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13 Comments:

Anonymous Alisa Slagel said...

How heart wrenching. Brought me to tears. I am so sorry for their families. And little baby Judah.

1/20/2011 1:05 PM  
Blogger STEFFIEJ said...

THAT WAS AMAZING TO READ ANGIE...YOU KNOW I HAVE LOVED LOOKING AT YOUR BLOG AND SEEING YOU ON FACEBOOK EVER SINCE YOU FIXED MY DISNEY PICTURE FOR ME :) BUT THIS POST WAS BY FAR THE MOST TOUCHING FOR ME PERSONALLY TOO..I HAVE BEEN HAVING PANIC ATTACKS FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS NOW..THEY CAN'T REALLY FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM OR HOW EXACTLY TO MAKE THEM GO AWAY..I'M ON SEVERAL MEDICATIONS RIGHT NOW BUT IF I WERE TO GET OFF THEM, THE ATTACKS WOULD COME BACK..SO OF COURSE AS A MOM (TO FOUR) AND AFTER READING YOU POST ABOUT KYLIE THE DAY IT HAPPENED, I HAVE THOUGHT MORE AND MORE ABOUT MY HEALTH AND LIFE IN GENERAL AND AGREE IT IS TOO SHORT AND YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHAT EACH DAY WILL BRING..IT BOTHERS ME TREMENDOUSLY WHEN ANYONE DIES THAT I KNOW..AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW KYLIE..BUT IT TRULY HITS CLOSE TO HOME WHEN A MOTHER OF A CHILD DIES..BECAUSE I MYSELF, ALSO, PICTURE MY CHILDREN WITHOUT ME AND IT DEVESTATES ME TO THINK ABOUT IT...IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANY OF US..AND I LOVE THE VERSE YOU CHOSE TO SHOW US EXACTLY HOW SHORT LIFE TRULY IS..I CAN SAY THAT WITH ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME RECENTLY, THAT I VALUE LIFE MORE THAN EVER..I PRAY MORE AND TRY TO BE A BETTER CHRISTIAN THAT I KNOW I CAN BE..NO, I'M NEVER PERFECT AND OF COURSE HAVE BAD DAYS JUST LIKE ANYONE ELSE, BUT TRAGEDY ALWAYS PUTS YOU "IN CHECK" SOMEHOW...SO VERY SORRY THIS HAPPENED TO KYLIE AT SUCH A VERY YOUNG AGE AND DEFINITELY WILL CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HER HUSBAND AND BABY BOY AND WHOLE ENTIRE FAMILY..AND I HOPE THAT OTHER PEOPLE WHO READ YOUR BLOG, READ THIS POST AND IT HITS THEM AS HARD AS IT HIT ME..IT WAS A MUCH NEEDED REALITY CHECK FOR ME AND I HOPE TO MAKE MY LIFE MORE MEANINGFUL FROM HERE ON OUT..THANKS FOR SHARING..AND I MUST ADD. I HAVE A LOVE FOR FABULOUS UNUSUAL BABY NAMES..AND KROSS IS BY FAR THE "STRONGEST" FAITH STYLED BABY NAME I HAVE EVER HEARD..NOT SURE IF THAT IS WHY YOU CHOSE IT..BUT I HAVE DEPENDED MORE ON THE "CROSS" THESE DAYS THEN I EVER HAVE IN MY LIFE AND "KROSS'S" NAME IS JUST PERFECT..IT'S GREAT TO WATCH YOUR LIL' FAMILY GROW..THANKS FOR SHARING THIS WONDERFUL STORY..IT BLESSED MY DAY TO READ IT AND I AM SURE KYLIE IS BEAMING FROM HEAVEN KNOWING SHE "MADE" YOUR BLOG THAT SHE LOVED SO MUCH... AND THE STORY OF HER DEATH WAS USED TO HOPEFULLY REACH OUT TO OTHERS...JOB WELL DONE!!! STEPHANIE

1/20/2011 2:01 PM  
Anonymous Nicole Donnelly Ryan said...

So, so sad....I can't even imagine...I will be praying for her whole family.

1/20/2011 2:07 PM  
Anonymous Debbie Zargarian said...

Angie, thanks for writing about it so beautifully and meaningfully. I went to the link and listened to the sermon too, and it was very good.

1/20/2011 2:14 PM  
Anonymous Becky said...

Angie-I am from Greenfield, and even though I did not know Kylie, was so heartbroken to hear her story! Here's a link to her obituary that was in her hometown paper.

Take care!
~Becky

http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/obit/2513/

1/20/2011 2:15 PM  
Anonymous Nina said...

Beautiful post Angie...love the quote towards the end...Prayers going out for her family...so tragic.

1/20/2011 2:31 PM  
Anonymous Julie Ann said...

Oh Angie, my heart breaks for this family. After losing both my grandfather and father in a 2 week span in September, I have learned to appreciate every moment I have with my family. I had 38 years with my father. Bless Judah- I pray he will see this someday and know what an amazing woman his mother was, and that he will be in her arms again someday.

1/20/2011 5:42 PM  
Blogger katy said...

Angie...what an incredibly sad post...Kylie's friends and family will be in my prayers. I cannot imagine. I have four children, the youngest is 4 months...I've accepted Christ's salvation and I am not afraid to die, but honestly, I can't imagine leaving my children while they are still young...it shakes me to the core. WOW. You are right. Life is So short, we are but a vapor, we should love on one another and make the most of the short time we have here...hugs.

1/20/2011 10:30 PM  
Anonymous Fiffer Raush said...

Thanks for sharing this Angie. My heart aches for you and all who knew Kylie. I watched the sermon. Powerful!! Wow...already God is using Kylie's life for His glory!! Great pastor,too -- sure wish we had a church like that to go to.

1/22/2011 9:23 AM  
Anonymous Jennifer said...

Hey Angie, I finally watched the video you linked to in one of your blog posts about Kylie. I haven't watched all of it, but I intend to do that later today. I didn't even know this girl, and I just sat here with tears streaming down my face at this total loss of wife, mother, and friend. It was evident that the pastor was just as moved at her loss. Anyway, thank you for posting the link. I have about 15 more minutes left to watch, but I wanted to thankyou for bring it to my attention. His message so far as put a fire under me. Hope you have a fabulous weekend.

1/22/2011 9:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How heartbreaking! What a tragic loss! Prayers for her family and precious baby Judah.

1/22/2011 10:36 AM  
Blogger The Mermaid Cottage said...

Well written post Angie. Although I didn't know Kylie and her family, I will keep them, along with all who loved her, in my prayers.

Life is very short...why does it take a sadness like this to make us honor the lives God has given us? I guess the best way I can honor you friend is to make a better effort in living for eternity rather than the short-term.

Thanks, Sheila from west Michigan

1/23/2011 6:37 PM  
Blogger Dita said...

I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. What a beautiful, special girl taken far too soon.

I pray for her husband, family, friends and her precious baby boy.

Thank you for putting things in perspective and reminding those of us who sometimes lose sight of what is really "real" just how important and meaningful the "every day" really is.

Big hugs to you, my friend.

Dita

2/17/2011 7:57 PM  

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