The Loss of a brother.

Rick Ashby Madsen died tragically on the night of September 2nd on his way home from SUU on his motorcycle. The family was alerted and he was life-lighted to Salt Lake, and all I could do to keep myself busy at 3 a.m. was to make muffins for everyone. I kept thinking to myself that lots of people survive motorcycle accidents, but this would not be the case. Nichole called me at 5:30 a.m. and told us that Rick was not going to make it. Mike and I gathered up the boys, and drove to the hospital. I walked into that hospital room, saw Rick, and I just couldn't believe my eyes. It was bad, and there was no other way to explain it. Two weeks before the accident, Rick was coming up to Provo to bring Claurys to see her friend and sister, and I was informed that they would stop by. That was the first time I got to see Rick.....and the last. Rick was so good when he got here, I was giving them a tour of our newly rented house, and was walking down the hall, when I felt the carpet was wet. I looked into the utility room and the water heater was leaking all over. The first thing Rick did was grab a broom and start pushing water into the drain. Claury's was so great to hang out with the kids as the plumber and water damage specialists came to start fixing the problem. Rick was my guardian angel that day, because Mike works nights and was not there for most of it. I would have been left alone to deal with all of it and my children. What a wonderful blessing and wonderful last memory I have of my brother. I am still in a state of denial, but knowing the plan's that Heavenly Father has in store makes me feel at ease. We can all now say that we have a "Rick size hole in our hearts" and that will never go away, but what we fill in that hole with is up to us. It can be something beautiful or something ugly. I will miss you Rick, but I know you are near.