Shannon's death is already changing the world.. saving lives.

This morning at the airport..I was slightly distracted by the typical craziness that goes with traveling with a 2.5 yr old and 10 month old.....but as I sat on the plane..sienna sleeping in ben's arms..and sophia coloring next to me..I took a picture of their cuteness then had a moment and I thought to myself....i'm flying back home to atlanta to go to my best friends funeral instead of 2 weeks later for our kids to play together like we had planned.

 it all seemed surreal. we were going to take them to the pool and just hang out in charlotte at my parent's with my sister and her kids. it was our vacation for the summer.

But this is a much different trip then we planned. 

We just arrived to charlotte. Driving to Atlanta tomorrow morning.

Everyone is sleeping but me. 

(sienna included. she's in my lap a sweaty sleepy baby.)

I walked into my parent's house thinking of how shannon had said

"I'LL DO ANYTHING TO SEE YOU!" and was going to drive here from atlanta.

 I thought about how we would have gone "hey girllllll!" 

hugged and swapped babies to squeeze on.

But Ben showed me an article on his phone..

and it made me feel somewhat stronger. 

Her life and death are already making a 

change in our world for the better....

"The death of Shannon Lawrence–one of several deadly incidents blamed on domestic violence across metro Atlanta this past weekend–has prompted the Cherokee Family Violence Center to call for a discussion with judges, prosecutors and law enforcement about ways to better protect victims of domestic violence." - Rodney Thrash of canton-ga.patch.com

The following article is by Rodney Thrash of canton-ga.patch.com

"The executive director of the Cherokee Family Violence Center pored over the court files of Shannon Lawrence, the 25-year-old Canton woman who died after Sunday's fatal custody swap in Milton
The files, Meg Rogers said, revealed a woman who was afraid.

"She’s reporting it to law enforcement," she said. "She’s reporting it to the court. She says in her court pleadings he has guns" and asks authorities to remove all weapons from her ex-boyfriend's Cumming home.

That ex-boyfriend, 25-year-old Christopher Erdman, is now in the Fulton County Jail, accused of shooting Lawrence four times in the face and neck in front of their children.

For more than 25 years, the Cherokee Family Violence Center in Canton has assisted battered women. Lawrence was one of them, according to records in Forsyth County.

"So often," Rogers said, "people ask, ‘Oh, why don’t they leave? Why didn’t they call the police? Why didn’t she get a restraining order?' 

"We could not have asked for anybody to have done more than what it looks like she did. This woman was really let down by the system."

The death of Lawrence–one of several deadly incidents blamed on domestic violence across metro Atlanta this past weekend–has prompted the Cherokee Family Violence Center to call for a discussion with judges, prosecutors and law enforcement about ways to better protect victims of domestic violence.

No meeting has been scheduled yet, but Rogers said protective orders have to be  stringent. Lawrence had one in Forsyth County that was dismissed in March for a weaker, consent restraining order in Cherokee. Erdman, Lawrence and their attorneys all agreed to it, as indicated by their initials in court filings.

Three Fridays ago, Lawrence told the Cherokee County Superior Court that she feared for her safety. Under the protective order, the consequences are more severe and Erdman would have been arrested for aggravated stalking.

But with the consent restraining order, Erdman was just summoned to appear before Cherokee County Superior Court Judge Anthony Baker on June 15 – next Wednesday.

It wasn't the only missed opportunity authorities had to protect Lawrence, Rogers said.

Baker gave Erdman, who served Lawrence with paternity papers in January, "liberal" visitation with the couple's children on the same day the consent restraining order went into effect.

"I mean this man, according to Shannon’s petition, was sending a 100 emails, stalking her, violating orders, had access to guns, had a concealed weapons permit," Roger said. "We certainly want to look at our protocol in Cherokee County, at the way abusers can use the judicial system to gain access to victims."

Baker is out of town and could not be reached for comment. Rogers said she doesn't blame anyone in particular.

"Where I see where the system really confused this issue is treating this just like any normal civil case," she said. "Almost ignoring the domestic violence and the stalking."

In addition to murder, Erdman faces a number of other charges: felony murder, aggravated assault with a weapon, tampering with evidence, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony and two counts of cruelty to children."

I love and miss you so much..You may be gone from me for now..but you are still transforming the world! seeing that real change could happen for others experiencing domestic violence gives me hope and joy knowing your life and death can save the lives of a generation. I feel immeasurably blessed to have had her as a friend...and I know that her work here on earth is just getting started. I am heartbroken that it ended like this for her.. i kept waiting for my sister to tell me that she was at the hospital..to come down and see her to cheer her on to get better. But she is in a better place..she is safe now and at peace.

My mom and I were in the kitchen...talking about what we should do.. she pulled out a brownie mix. and i said yes.. if shannon was here..we would so make brownies right now. :) i love you. rest in peace.

Thank you for your prayers, e-mails, comments.. I have felt such love from you during this difficult time..( friends and complete strangers!)  I can never thank you enough. Many of you have shared your hearts with me.. some of you having experienced loss or been effected in some way by domestic violence. As women..mothers..it is moments like this that I can reallyyyy see your amazing hearts. thank you for caring...for sharing this grieving with me... crying with me... and listening to me as I share my heart to heal.

So many of you wonderful loving people have asked how you can help Shannon's children, and the family is awestruck by this outpouring of generosity for these two children and Shannon's memory. If you wish to contribute, simply click on the "Donate" button to make a secure donation through Paypal.


To read all posts related to Shannon you can click here.
Please share her story..donate if you can.
If you have been touched by her story and would like to 
visit her Memorial Page you can visit here. 

Please Pray for peace in our world 
and for all those affected by Domestic Violence.