A Hard Week

Hi friends. This week I come to you with a very heavy heart. Last week we found out that Sam's uncle Drew passed away. Yesterday we attended his memorial service. I haven't done something this emotionally taxing in quite some time. This loss was very unexpected, but some knew it would be inevitable. Drew was many things: A businessman, a jokester, a faith-driven man, a loving father, a shoulder to lean on, and so many other things. I had met Drew a few times, and his smile was infectious. My favorite memory is being at Sam's aunt Shae's home for Christmas last year. We were playing a game where people had to act out the card and make one single person laugh. Now, I can have a pretty straight face, and no one was able to make me laugh. But Drew was by far the closest. Sam lived in Drew's pizza shop at one point in his life. Drew opened up a few restaurants several years back in Oklahoma City. However, he was battling a hard disease called ADDICTION. We are not perfect. We make human errors. We do things we heavily regret. However, that doesn't define who Drew was. I got the privilege to hear everyone speak about Drew and how drastically he had changed others' lives. Even if he had a hard time getting out of addiction, he helped so many others maintain their sobriety. I really am at a loss for words. He leaves behind one sister, two brothers, 5 nephews, a mother, and one son. Sitting with Drew's son was the most heart-shattering moment of my life. I haven't felt a pain that deep, and if I have, it has been so long that I can't even remember it. So many are mourning yet celebrating the impact his life had on all of us. He is preceded in death by his father, Samuel Fredrick Mains III. Addiction is real. It does NOT define who you are. God loves you exactly as you are, and He died to save you and to help you get better. God is our guidance and our hope. Now we can rest assured that Drew is no longer suffering and in pain. We will miss him dearly and I know our wedding won't be the same without him. But, what an honor it is for me to marry into the Mains Family. If you are struggling with addiction, please reach out to your loved ones so they can help you in the best way possible. You do not have to suffer in silence. You can get better, and God is your fortress and comfort in times of desperation. For more information, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-4357. Please visit Drew's obituary to learn more about who he was. He shows us all how to love and live out our faith. 

https://www.crawfordfuneralservice.com/obituaries/Drew-Taylor-Mains?obId=29371965 

With love,

Lauren