Tag: Hailey Owens

Twelve years ago, this blog began on a day our community did not want – a day marked by shock, tears, and the unthinkable loss of a child. Today, we find ourselves mourning again. Different circumstances, the same shared sorrow. Two Ozark law enforcement officers have been killed by a criminal act, leaving families shattered and a community stunned into silence.

Moments like this reveal both what we hate and what we love. We hate that violence invades ordinary days. We hate that families receive knocks on doors no one should ever hear. And yet, once again, we love our community. We see compassion in quiet conversations, courage in those who continue to serve, and prayer rising as a collective response to grief.

Tragedy has a way of shaping us. The question is not whether we will mourn – but how. As we remember, recommit, resolve, request, and rest, we choose to respond not with fear or hopelessness, but with faith rooted in Christ. We mourn together. And by God’s grace, we move forward together.