Victims of Domestic Violence Being Blessed by our Late Shannon

Shannon, each day I find you in little moments. through e-mails of other women experiencing domestic violence..through a deeper appreciation for the consecration at Mass, the moment when heaven meets earth and we are united again..in moments with my girls when I have a million things to do but just put it aside and spend time with them... In the thoughts of the reality of heaven...how much more real it seems to me now that I can picture someone I love there....I think of you and am encouraged by you. I can feel you working in my life. You are a blessing to me. I miss you every day. And every day I can see how you are making me a better wife, mom, daughter, woman. Love you girl.

The messages and comments have continued to come in..

amazing messages of hope prayers and love..... 

for shannon..for her family..for me and all of those who mourn her.

They always seem to pop up on my phone at the most ideal moments..

the times when I need that prayer the most. 

One e-mail recently touched my heart in such an amazing way..I asked this young woman if I could share it....

For privacy I will call her Laura. She is a 27 yr old mother of two. (3 and 1 yr old)

They are her life. She sent me photos and she is BEAUTIFUL..and her two little ones are so sweet.

"Hi.....You dont know me, but you are changing my life...
I'm originaly brazilian and i live in Paris.
I have been in the midle of domestic violence, 

my husband is very nervous and get stress very easy..
I never did go to the police because i was affraid, i'm not in my country and i have two babys and he always said that he would take the kids out of me since he is french...
After read your blog and the history about your friend (i'm really sorry!) 

i decided to go the police and i did!
Now i'm looking for a full time job to be able to go out of this place, here in France they have lots of help for womans in my situation but only after she leave the place...
So i wanna to thank you and share with you a little bit of my history, its really dificult to face this, its ofensive, the last time he did slap me while i had my baby in my arms, fortunatly he didnt get hurt.
Thank you again and a big hug
-Laura"

She also passed a long this note to Shannon's Family....

"I'm here very far but believe i'm hurt by her lost too, i think that she is in a good place close to God, i know you dont know me but her history touch me and my life and made me do something that i feel i was incapable, so she is doing good things already. Please count on me for everything you need, with the kids and i will everyday pray for her."

When I first read this e-mail...I just felt so proud of her for taking that first step...and this amazing sense of peace and just...joy. joy that shannon's life and story were affecting people even after she is gone. That she was the motivation that this young woman needed to make that step. Shannon is doing amazing things from heaven..we all knew that..we all said it..but to get a concrete example sent to me in my inbox..wow..It felt like Shannon was like "pst. natalie..girl..i'm ok..and you're going to be ok..and other people are going to be ok! we can do this together.." It might sound crazy. But it was such a consolation. I wrote back "Laura" and expressed to her how her e-mail made me feel. And how I was going to pray for her and her family. I told her how this was the first step in her journey to a beautiful new life. And how she is going to be an amzing example of a woman to her little ones and those around her.

If one thing can come from Shannon's death....I hope that Women can see their amazing worth. Shannon was able to see that in the end. He might have taken her life.. but she had taken that step to free herself from him and his control. She saw the beautiful woman she was..deserving of love and respect.

I hope this young woman's e-mail

 inspires you and encourages you. 

As I'm writing this I just received a comment on a previous post..from a woman who was touched by shannon's story and has been thinking about it ever since she first read it...and is going to do something for a local women's shelter in honor of shannon..

thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Please continue to pray for Shannon and her family.

I'm not sure what you believe in..but I believe that we all have a plan..God has incredible things in mind for us! 
And as long as we are open to Him he can use us as His hands and feet.
I started this blog to celebrate motherhood...
not sure of what would come of it and my musings! 

only God knew that it would end up being an outlet of 
such support and community for me during this difficult time. 
It has helped me so much sharing here..and I'm happy that we have

connected as women in a deep way. 
How amazing that a brazilian woman living in paris read shannon's story
 and it helped her to make that first step towards being free of domestic violence. 
If nothing else...My blog was for her! that she could read that post.

God knows.

Thinking about the big picture...
helps me to not dwell on the little struggles of the day.

 Like potty training a 2 yr old... she peed all over the floor...twice.

 or when I go to pour some water from the brita filter 

and it had just been filled up...thus spilling ALL over the floor. 

or being bitten and chewed on by a teething 10 month old. 

or just not having a moment to breathe let alone not be touched.

or cleaning a room only to have it de-cleaned by the babies at my feet..

it all seems perfectly wonderful.. when you look at the big picture. :)
..............................................................................
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.