I have to post this VA Tech story that just came to me via e-mail from my chruch.....it is so uplifting!!
Jarrett Lane, a civil engineering major from Narrows, Va., was in Dr. G.V. Loganathan's classroom in Norris Hall when he was shot and killed. A senior and recipient of a special scholarship for engineering students, he had just celebrated his 22nd birthday in March.
His former teachers at Narrows High School spoke of him today in glowing terms, remembering him as a talented student, four-sport athlete, and valedictorian.
"He was an exceptional young man," said the school principal, Robert Stump. "Very quiet and humble, and very popular."
Mr. Stump said the small school of 330 students and the close-knit community of Narrows, which is 25 miles west of Blacksburg, was in shock over Mr. Lane's death.
"He was always one of the hardest workers," Mr. Stump said. "One time, after he'd had a good basketball game, he went up to the coach, and said, 'Coach, what do I have to work on so that we can be better. '"
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This story will get no press in the main stream media. It's a story a little too religious. It's a story that might be a little too politically incorrect in certain editor's boardrooms; nonetheless it's a story that must be heard. It must be told.
On Sunday morning on April the 15th 2007, Jarret Lane was attending services at the First Baptist Church of Narrows, Virginia. It might have been a Sunday service like any other Sunday morning service: Sunday School followed by opening comments followed by Praise and Worship, followed by the Sunday sermon, followed by an altar call, followed by the benediction and dismissal.
But on this particular Sunday, during the altar call Jarrett Lane responded to a stirring, to a still small voice in his heart telling him to go forward. He stepped out of his seat, walked down the aisle to the front of the small Church and prayed with the pastor to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Jarret Lane had doubtless heard many times in his lifetime the admonition "this might be your last opportunity to accept Christ." It might have been easy to override the still small voice and leave for Sunday lunch, but instead he listened, No! He heard. He heeded. He obtained forgiveness. He experienced the Love and Grace of the Son of God. It was a glorious day for Jarrett.
Less than 24 hours later Jarret Lane was killed along with 31 other innocent victims by depraved and angry shooter Cho Seung-Hui on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
At my place of employment, the news of Jarrett's salvation came to me via E-mail. With tears in my eyes, I spread the news to several more friends who also wept with joy. Then I told some other friends from my Church in Pearisburg, Virginia. We all wept together! I watched very undemonstrative people become demonstrative and utter "PRAISE GOD!" as tears filled their eyes. There was something very special about this story, for you see this entire community has heard nothing but darkness, sadness, and news of despair and despondency. The repetitive scenes and endless discussions of death, injury, and insanity kept appearing on our television sets.
This blackness was followed by conversations, E-mails, phone calls and endless debates at work, home and play of the same darkness, which has so pervaded our community. This tiny pinprick of light, this story about Jarrett Lane has helped roll back the clouds, which have been hanging over us. It has brought us a ray of hope. Brought a smile to our faces. Replaced tears of sorrow and horror with those of joy and inspiration. May all of Christendom read this Story. May all Christians everywhere hear and rejoice. Grace, Grace, Sweet Grace!
Some one mile from the tiny town of Narrows, Virginia (where Jarrett was from), I along with about 100 other parents and friends had gathered at 9:00 P.M. on Wednesday, April 18 2007 to send our High School kids on a 5 day Symphonic Chorale trip to Orlando Florida. The Virginia Tech shootings were still fresh and raw in every mind. I was moved beyond words to watch the students, faculty, and parents slowly form one huge circle, hands enjoined, in the Parking lot for prayer. Later I noticed that parents were hugging their kids a little tighter, a little longer, a few more times. They said, "I love you" and looked their kids in the eyes. I think Jarrett smiled. The darkness is lifting from our community. My prayer is that Parents and their Children everywhere will come to know Christ so that in the event that they send their Loved ones out one day, and it turns out to be the last day, that they will have obtained that beautiful hope that says "We shall embrace again one day". Jarrett Lane's dear mother has that hope. She has that assurance.
Jarrett is home now. He's home. Thank God almighty He's home.
Please pray for our community.
Sunday is the only full day Tyler and I get together each week, so we try to make the most of it. 
Just how long do kids' obsessions last?! 
Lots of firefighter have told me they acted just like him when they were his age. Funny! 
The love for pirates has been competing with firefighters on and off for a while, so occasionally he dresses up as a firefighting pirate. Now THAT'S something I should get a picture of, but always forget at the time! It's quite an interesting combination costume! 
Silly boy!
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