Simply Tragic

I have struggled to put my feelings into words the past few days. Saturday evening as I was preparing for our Primary Program the next day, I received a phone call from our Relief Society president informing me of an accident. Our Primary President's (and friend of mine) little girl had been kicked by a horse while the family was out helping wean cattle on the desert. Little Danielle had been lifeflighted to Boise and was litteraly clinging to life. I instantly broke into tears and began praying for a miracle. I couldn't see what possible good could come from this family losing their little girl. The father is not a member of the church, and Sarah, our primary president, has only been active for a few years. Sarah is only a year or two older than I am, and her 4 girls range in age from 12 down to Danny who is 16 months old. A few hours later we were notified that Danny had passed away. I sobbed uncontrollably for nearly an hour. I couldn't sleep that night, nor have I slept well any night since then.

Danielle Lorraine Hall

Sunday was extremely difficult. We postponed our primary program and I took over for Primary time- both singing time and sharing time. We talked about our theme for the year and sang songs from our program. I struggled to contain my emotions as the songs brought on a deeper meaning than ever before, particularly our new song for the year, "I Know That My Savior Loves Me."

Sarah and I have become pretty good friends the past few years. We work in primary together, we did Little League baseball together this past spring, and she was my visiting teacher for a little while. My Lainee is only a few months older than Danny, and the girls often play together while we are working on different projects. Just a week ago both Sarah and I were at the Ward Harvest Party with our children and without our husbands. So we sat by each other and talked. Danny kept trying to poke Cooper while he was eating, and I laughed because Danny has the same teasing personality as Lainee. Randall made it to the church later on and was helping us clean up. Sarah was vacuuming the hallway so Randall was packing Danny around and playing with her. Everytime I look at Lainee I see Danny's face, and my heart just breaks.

Life is so fleeting, and can be taken away in the blink of an eye. Arron and Sarah are always out helping her mom and dad with the cattle, and their girls are always along for the ride. Danny just happened to dash behind the trailer where a horse was tied up. In that split second their whole world was torn apart. I think back on all the times when something similar could have just as easily happened to one of my children, and it scares me to death. I never want know the pain of losing my child. So the past few days I have held my kids extra close, checked on the a few extra times at night, given them a few extra kisses, and tried to be more patient with them. After Danny's two funerals and everything that goes along with that, I am exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally, but I am ever so grateful that tonight I get to kiss my sleeping babies goodnight. And my heart aches for my friends who cannot do the same.

I am ever so grateful for the knowledge that through the atonement of Christ and by the sealing ordinances available in our temple that my family can be together forever. My only hope for the Hall family is that they draw closer together and in time can realize this same blessing.