I have had a busy weekend. It was a quick 24 hour trip to and from Long Beach, CA. This was a first for me. I had a wonderful visit to Scrapbook Daisies in Long Beach. Thank you Martha and Tony- I had the BEST time. They are a brand new scrapbook store and they are doing amazingly well. Their grand opening was so fun! We even had a ribbon cutting with the city. I spent the entire day at the store and then taught a workshop on Friday night. I honestly NEEDED to talk to so many of the girls who came. I did not want to mention it there...but I had found out Thursday night that my dear sweet friend Laurie S. had passed away after a two year battle with cancer.
Okay... THIS is why I have not come home and blogged. The only thing I could think to blog was..." I hate CANCER, I hate CANCER...and type it a million times." It took me a few days to be able to write this post.
I want to share with you about my sweet friend for she made the world a better place and I will forever in my heart remember and love her. I have NEVER been more influenced by another woman in my adult life.
On Laurie's facebook- I saw this comment and knew it spoke volumes about my friend-
"Makeup is not beauty. Death does not mean you lost. Fear is not a lack of faith. True strength can not be taken away. You cannot choose your miracles. Faith can't always cure you. Death is not an end. And you can never say I love you too many times! How can we not believe in miracles? Your life, your light, your fight, your faith, your hope, your happiness, your beauty, your battle, was all too great to seem real. It was a miracle that someone so amazing could be in my life, could love me. You have changed my life forever, I will never forget your faith."
I felt so strongly that I needed to share with you a little about my friend. I am having a hard time thinking that she is no longer here. I know that death is a natural part of the life cycle. I know this and yet I am mourning the loss of this wonderful woman. She changed my life and others by knowing her.
I met my friend Laurie 14 years ago. I had just moved into our home in Murray. I was pregnant at the time with Zach. I had three young girls. She was one of the first girls that I was fortunate to meet in my church. She was this beautiful 28 year old woman. The girl who was so beautiful that she could have been a movie star. She was tall, thin and had long beautiful red hair. She had a beautiful little girl who was the light of her life. She had a really hard time getting pregnant and it took many years for her to have her daughter. Everywhere she went, she took her little girl. She was a GIFT from God and she appreciated every day with her. So many mother's with young children complain about how hard it is to have little ones and she was always expressing the gratitude and love she had for her daughter.
I was assigned to be Laurie's visiting teacher in our church. That meant that I was asked to visit her every month (or more) to make sure she was doing well, and help her with anything she may need help with in her family. We became good friends. I always felt like I got so much MORE from knowing her than she got from our friendship.
I had never met anyone in my entire life that effected me more. SHE was the girl that I admired most in the world and wanted to be like. In all the years that I have known her, I NEVER once heard her say a unkind word about anyone. I loved how she was always kind, always positive and I loved talking to her. She focused on the good in ALL that life is!!!! I decided years ago that I wanted to emulate and be more like her. I felt often that she was a ANGEL here on earth. I know... almost too good to be true, but this was my friend Laurie! It is because of her... I truly think I became a better person.
About a year after meeting Laurie, I was at her house visiting with her. I remember we were in her living room. We were talking about trials and enduring. She was sharing about the recent death of her nephew in her family. Her sweet family was deeply saddened. Her sister was having such a hard time with the death of her son. Laurie, shared a very scared experience with me. She shared this sacred story, She explained- I know that death is NOT the end. She said that her nephew had come to her after he had died. He wanted her to deliver the message to the family that he was with GOD and that he was still alive. He wanted them to know that death was not the end. He was worried about his mother most and knew that Laurie needed to help his mom. I remember, crying with her and feeling the witness that she did experience seeing her nephew after his death. Little did I know that a few shorts years later, I would lose my mother and that Laurie would once again help me through my deep grief and mourning.
I know we all have our own religious beliefs. I am not trying to say anything more than for me personally- I know that death is NOT the end. I know that as I am mourning the loss of my friend, I am so thankful to know that I WILL see her again.
Laurie, went on to suffer with more infertility, but over the next several years, she had two more beautiful girls. They were her world. She loved her husband (NEVER heard her say a bad word about him!) and family. She was so full of light that I always wanted to talk to her and be around her.
A little over two years ago, she was blessed to be pregnant again with her fourth child. A true miracle again!!! It was during this pregnancy that they found that she had cancer. I was devastated and could not believe how strong she was. She lifted her family and friends. She believed with all her heart that she would be healed. I watched her fight the fight of her life with GRACE and FAITH.
She lost her battle with cancer on Thursday at 8:00am when she returned to live with our Heavenly Father. I was a little frustrated with myself this weekend. I have felt down and depressed and basically heartbroken for her family. I will forever keep her memory alive in my heart and will strive to be more like her every day. I love you Laurie!!!!!! The world is a better place because of you! Please say a prayer for her family. I know that it will comfort and bless them at this time.
