Lisa's Story (At least a small bit of it)

**Lisa's Weekend**
#LisasWeekend

We have some dear friends that got a job overseas this last year, contracting to help develop another nation's government. His salary is not great and his employer would not grant him family benefits, so he paid for his wife and several daughters to come and "visit". They spent this past year living in 3/4 of the house that he and another worker from his company share. They are the GREATEST FAMILY and the most genuine people you'll ever know. Lisa, the wife, became pregnant; Due in June. However, she was diagnosed with placenta accreta and was just sent home to the USA by the doctor. She spent a week with family, and then began bleeding. On Sunday, she was rushed to the ER, where they were able to save the baby. Lisa, however, could not stop bleeding, and several hours later passed away. We are devastated. She leaves behind 7 children. Her husband Jared flew out on Monday with their oldest daughter (16) who had remained behind with him.

They are a strong family and will get through this, but without a mother, and with a new baby, they are going to need some help that Jared's job will not provide. In fact, they granted him 3 days bereavement leave, which expired today. Its difficult under such circumstances to think about the next steps when suddenly you need to be both father AND mother, provider and nurturer, when the requirements of providing may not allow the nurturer part to do the job.

So many of you find ways to serve others. For some of you, this may be a great way to do something for someone that they cannot do for themselves.

LISA's WEEKEND: I know that a lot of us will easily spend a good amount of money this weekend on dinners and entertainment, and that we probably do so frequently.

I'd like to ask you to spend one of those weekends at home, even though you "really want to Get out", and spend the money you would spend there on a family that would "Really want to have their mother back".

Instead, spend the time at home, walking with your children, holding their hands, hugging, no cell phones, no distractions. Splash in the water, find shells, go for ice cream. Make Lisa's Weekend the time to be WITH your loved ones, and teach your loved ones by example how to sacrifice a little for others who need a lot.

If you are not able to give, or feel this is not for you, you can still spend #Lisasweekend being with your loved ones and remembering that there are others who can not, for whatever reason.

LISA's WEEKEND is a time for family. A time for service. A time for gratitude.

Find a way to make a small sacrifice and donate some money or/and time to some cause that will lift someone's burdens just a bit, smile a little wider, and hope a little stronger for better days to come.

Thanks.