I was just getting ready to go to bed, and while glancing at my blog roll, I saw a post from Natalie @ The Busy Budgeting Mama. It was a post on her best friends FUNERAL. A beautiful young, mother of two shot dead by her estranged ex boyfriend. This tragedy happened just in the next county from me, and seeing the beauty of this young lady my heart just cried. She was let down terribly by the system, which should have done so much more to protect her. I am very disappointed in the system, and in people at times like this. What could ever cause someone to actually brutally kill anyone? How can anyone really do it. I don't care what in the world happens, to brutally kill someone, is just not normal. My heart aches, for the family, for her two beautiful children, who were robbed of their mommy. My heart aches, at the thought that one minute you are alive, and the next something like this can happen. 
Shannon tried every way possible to get a protective order against her increasingly violent ex boyfriend. Nothing seemed to work, and while it was documented he was still granted visitation to the children. She was shot last week, during a routine child custody swap. Please read Natalie's post MY BEST FRIENDS FUNERAL to get further information, and pass the word along about some changes that need to be made RIGHT AWAY in the system.
Here is what Natalie said about writing this post :I want others to know about shannon
and her story.....
-The system failed her...
and I pray that her story makes people aware of the incredible flaws in our system and motivates them to make a change! a change to save lives that would otherwise be lost to domestic violence.
-I write this to make people aware of the victims so close to us..1 in 3 women are effected by Domestic Violence. I pray that more of us would reach out to help..
-I write this that people would join me in praying for peace in our communities, our families, ourselves and our world.
- I write this for healing..for myself and for all mourning the loss of our beautiful Shannon.
- I write this for strength to forgive.
