Linda

So I've been feeling like I needed to write since we've moved but didn't know what to write about. Then I read my friend Shasta's blog and how she lost a dear mother figure by the name of Linda. How could I have wondered what to write on . . . .

So we moved in last Saturday and I had a goal of getting all unpacked by Thursday, the day my sister would be coming in to town with her family. Her husband's mom had pancreatic cancer and things weren't great. I got a phone call Sunday evening saying they were moving things up and flying in that night because Jason's mom, Linda, was not doing well.

Back up a little, I moved to Texas in May of 2005 because I felt prompted that this was where I should be. I knew no one, and my only family was my sister and her kids and husband. Shortly after I moved here I became better acquainted with Russ and Linda. Linda even let me come and stay at her house for a few days and do some work around her house when I hadn't found a job yet. In my first year here I went on 2 family vacations with them and met up with them in Boston on my own personal vacation. It was nice to have such generous people to welcome me into their home and into their family. I met my husband to be a little over a year after moving here. Since then I have not seen Russ and Linda much but Linda was kind enough to quilt a Christmas tree skirt I had made. I saw them periodically when my sister still lived here. Then she moved away and I didn't see Linda much (except when Bonnie & Fam were in town) although I knew Linda had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I thought of her often (usually when I was making my quilt as she was an avid quilter).

So last Monday I talked to Bonnie and told her to let me know if she wanted me to take the kids. Then I talked to her in the evening and she said she was at home as her almost 5 year old Jeremy could not be quiet enough for a hospital. After asking if she wanted to drop off the kids I had an epiphany and told her I was coming to get the kids. I came and got them and they spent the night because Linda was being brought home in an ambulance that evening and Bonnie didn't want her kids to have to see that. I brought them back to their grandparents house the next day and spend some time with Linda's family who had all come in to town to say goodbye. I was reminded what a wonderful lady she was. Always serving others in many ways and often making them quilts (she had several unfinished ones still in her sewing room).

Linda passed away Tuesday night/Wednesday morning with her sons, their families, and
husband in her home. I took my nephew the following night while his sister was at her cousin's house. His parents had explained that grandma was in paradise and he said he didn't want her in paradise but wanted her closer to them in Chicago. He and I talked a little bit about grandma while he was at my house and he said he was sad but that grandma could see him now with her spirit eyes. He prayed that night for grandma to be happy where she was.

I was able to attend a memorial service for Linda last Friday (her funeral and burial are today in Utah) and it was a tender meeting. Mark (her son) gave a wonderful Eulogy where he discussed her and how she exemplified the young women values of our church: Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, Integrity, and Virtue. He talked of her service to others. Her friend gave a wonderful tribute as well and I found myself sad that I hadn't seen her so much. I should have . . . not for her good, as she had many wonderful people who cared about her, but for me. I missed out and I will always be sad about that.

So I guess this is a testament to all, there are a lot of people in our lives who are wonderful. Don't let yourself miss out on knowing them better. You never know how short their time is and you don't want to regret it. You may be missing out on a valuable lesson they could teach you.

Oh, and for those of you wondering why I haven't invited you over, all of this last week is the reason we're not quite settled yet.