Geneva, AL

at 03/12/09 11:09PM

Tuesday afternoon, a guy killed family members and people he didn't even know before driving to a fabrication shop(called Reliable Products) and killing himself--totaling 11 people dead in all. You've probably read the story or seen it on the news. It is such a terrible thing to describe or hear about.

Kristen was in AL this weekend and she flew back to CA on Tuesday. Rosemary was originally scheduled to drop Kristen off at the airport in Birmingham on her way back to TN as she was on spring break. Since we won't see each other for a month, we decided I'd take the afternoon off and drive her up to B'ham to catch her plane. On the way home, I almost stopped dead in my tracks when I read the news about the man in Geneva who killed all those people and ended up at Reliable.

Geneva is a town 45 minutes away from my house. Reliable Products is a great customer of the company I work for. I called the welding supervisor and he said he was fine and everyone at Reliable was fine. I told him I'd still try to come by this week as they are going to buy another one of our welding machines.

Not to be overly dramatic, but if Kristen had not suggested that I take her to the airport, I would have went to Reliable Products that afternoon. Granted, I probably would have been gone before the shooter arrived, but who knows? I've stayed there all day before, I could have stopped and got gas in Geneva or Samson, where the shootings took place.

Tomorrow I am going to Reliable and meeting with some people who were there when the guy came in. It will be a weird experience for sure.

Tonight, I read "Five People You Meet in Heaven." The guy dies and goes to 'heaven' where he meets these people who are connected to his life and explain certain aspects of how and why events happened and affected his life. I thought it was a neat and touching story.

I know that people tend to think the world revolves around them for good and bad, so I will admit this may be the case for me. But it feels like God was using Kristen to take care of me. And I am thankful for that. I encourage you to pray for the devastated people in Samson and Geneva.

I'm glad you weren't there. And I'm sorry that your friends in AL have suffered this terrible loss. It's so awful.

by mjintexas at 03/12/09 11:40PM
WOW..that will make you think for a bit. I was sad to hear about him killing his family.

by alex at 03/13/09 12:30AM
definitely something to think about. Glad you're okay that's for sure.

by rica5219 at 03/13/09 12:35AM
Wow. I thought about you when hearing the story the other day, bc I know how close it is to Dothan!

by kris at 03/13/09 7:24AM
It's such a tragic story. I'm sorry for those families who lost loved ones but I'm grateful you were okay. And I know Kristen is too!!

by megan at 03/13/09 8:08AM
"Five People You Meet in Heaven" is a great book. Glad you are safe. Looking forward to the cabin next week.

by kevin at 03/13/09 8:08AM
God's in control for sure. I hated to hear the news of the shooting, but I'm glad to know you and your customers are ok.

by auamy at 03/13/09 10:52AM
It is tragic in every aspect. I am so thankful that you changed your plans. God is good and has worked through Kristen many times. It was weird though, because on Tues. night I went into the nurses lounge to get something and I heard on the TV the newscaster saying "Thank you (so and so), reporting for the Dothan Gazette ( or something like that)". I looked at the TV to see if it was Dothan, AL, but it didn't say, and I couldn't tell what had happened. Then the next morning when I opened the paper, of course the shooting was all over the front page, even a map of the area, but no mention of Dothan. I'm not feeling too good about Kristen moving to such a violent place.

by slicksgirl at 03/13/09 11:59AM
Not at all weird. She isn't your wife yet, but God uses Stacey to take care of me all the time - of course, He would do the same for you!

by madtomkidd at 03/13/09 3:16PM
Wow that is weird will, things happen in weird ways sometimes.

by volschickg at 03/13/09 4:50PM
Such a tragic event - I didn't realize how close you are to the situation. SO glad you are ok! It's amazing how things work out sometimes - so much to be thankful to God for!

by jess at 03/15/09 1:56PM
I did when read about that story. Very sad. And God was watching over you (as He always does)!

by i_am_a_sheep at 03/17/09 7:34PM
I'm so glad Kristen saved you!

by millychloe at 03/18/09 9:07PM
I'm so ready for you to give me a hug! (and kiss)

by krazykrizn at 03/27/09 6:07PM
plural please

by krazykrizn at 03/27/09 6:08PM