Cherished

November 1, 2017, was the day my life turned upside down in an instant. A day full of unsettling occurrences all led up to one phone call--the tragic death of my baby sister. Not only was she gone, but she was taken away from us by the hands of a murderer, and we were left to settle in the dust. Ever since this unspeakable tragedy occurred, I have wanted to share my sister's amazing story. I never knew how or when this would happen, but knew it needed to be shared. So many incredible, unexplainable things happened, and it was scary to think that these things or her memory could somehow be forgotten in time. I knew that God would direct my thoughts on how to share this if and when the time was right, and I know that time is now.

All everyone heard up until now was a murderer's side of a made-up story, without being able to tell Tara's side. Well, now it's our time. Now it's Tara's time. Let me forewarn you though, this isn't your typical story. This is the 100 percent true story of a brave young girl who never backed down from what she believed in. It is a conversion story the likes of which you've probably never heard from a person living in this time. It is the story of tragedy and immense grief, filled with court dates and trials. It is the story of family, love, mental health, lurking evil, and overwhelming goodness. It is the story of the power of prayer and the intense reality of the spiritual world, in a constant battle for your priceless soul. It is the story of great hope of the afterlife.

We were advised for four years straight not to say much back to all the lies we heard because it may have been used against us in court. Four years is a long time to wait, but more than anything, we wanted justice for Tara, so we stayed silent. Well, now it's finally Tara's turn, and it's time to shout her truth to the world. This is Tara's story.