We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming...

I will post more on the Panama wedding later tonight, but first...

One of the very first blogs I started following when I was newly introduced to this blogging world, was that of Abby Sunderland. I was browsing the "popular blog" list on the blogger homepage and of course the one titled "Abby's Blog" caught my eye.

The blog is that of Abby Sunderland, 16 year old sailor who is attempting to solo-circumnavigate the globe. I became a follower of hers as she was somewhere off the western coast of South America, and enjoy reading about her travels and adventures. She is an incredibly mature and intelligent 16 year old - not to mention unbelievably brave.

I send her comments every now and again - words of encouragement - just like the rest of her over 5000 followers. We cheered for her as she rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and made her way towards Africa. We consoled her when she had to admit a small amount of defeat and pull into Cape Town for repairs to her auto pilot. We cheered her on again as she left port and continued to sail around the world - now not non-stop, but still solo. And now, with the breaking news reaching every country in the world, we are praying for her safety and that she is found.

She is currently in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and her status is unknown. Bad weather was in the area, and her emergency beacon was activated. The nearest ship is still over 30 hours away from being able to reach her.

There are multiple breaking news stories on the internet from every media outlet in the world, but I encourage you to visit her blog. You can read the update from her parents that they posted this morning HERE. News that is straight from the source.

Regardless of your thoughts on whether she should be out there in the first place, she is still a person who is potentially lost at sea. A person who has parents, siblings, and a huge group of people who love her, and are praying for her safety. 

I encourage you to also read through the archives of her blog, and read about her adventures. This isn't the first bad weather that she has seen - and she handled those situations with more maturity and poise than I would ever expect from a 16 year old. Or 24 year old in some cases!

The sailor in me can't help but think about the worst case scenario. I understand how difficult a search and rescue effort can be, and how unforgiving the ocean can be. 

Please keep Abby in your thoughts and prayers, as well as those assisting in the search effort, and the people awaiting her safe return.