On June 27th, D fell asleep and didn't wake up again. Her body battled hard to stay alive, but the cancer was too powerful and her liver was too weak to take any more.
She was 36 years old. Friday July 16th will be her 37th birthday. The birthday she won't celebrate with us.
You all know her as the cancer patient. That's really all I've told you about. But she was so much more than that. I'd like to share a tiny bit of her with you.
Her passion was horses. She's had a horse since she was 12 years old. (which is the same year I met her.) She had everything horses and went so far as to buy a NFL Colts watch...because it was pink and it had a horse shoe. (She wasn't into football...LOL) Her latest horse was a rescue horse from Hurricane Katrina. Her favorite type of riding was dressage. I'd tell you more...but I know nothing about horses.
She loved the color pink. Hence the pink watch. She loved having her nails done and having her hair done and she loved looking good. She was beautiful.
D loved life. She loved everything about it. She loved animals. She had a dog that passed away last year and she had that dog for 17 years. That's almost half of D's life. That dog was her baby. D had no children of her own.
Her husband....he's devastated. He was the love of her life. He was sleeping with her when she took her last breath. He was D's angel.
The last 2 weeks have been harder than I ever thought possible. We went to Vegas for her funeral and then a week later had our own memorial here in our town. Both tributes were beautiful and sad and hard. Bossman gave the eulogy at both. His sister would have been proud! He did an amazing job.
Now that the memorials are done....we must move on. And we will. She would have wanted us to mourn and then get on with life.
Now that I've written the sad news.....BOY do I have stories to tell. Even in the saddest times....funny stuff happened. AND no memorial could be complete without drama from the mus*lim. So...stay tuned....
But for now.....hug your family! Be grateful....Be happy!
Written while ignoring laundry by::
At times like this, it is difficult to say much more than I am sorry and that you and your family are in our prayers.
ReplyDeleteFD
Sending love and hugs to you and the family. Keeping you in our thoughts as always.
ReplyDeletexxx
I'm very sorry for your loss. She was very young. Time will heal the hurt.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Hermione
Grace,
ReplyDeleteYou were lucky to have her in your life and she was lucky to have you and Bossman and your kids.
I like hearing your stories sad, funny or in between.
Love you!
PK
Grace, D sounds like a really special lady. Thanks so much for sharing her with us. Thinking of you all.
ReplyDeleteOh, Honey, I am so sorry. I have prayed so hard for her healing, but God knows better than us and she is now safe with Him, which is small comfort I know when you hurt so much for the loss. May He give you the strength and understanding you need to get through this. Rest in His peace, and know the prayers of many are for you and your family.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you. xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Oh Grace dear, I am so sorry for the loss of D. Far too young to be taken from your family.
ReplyDeleteFrom what you've written about D, she sounded like a strong women and thought so hard. I think your right she'd want you to move on and be happy.
Thinking of you all.
Love,
Ronnie
xx
My sincerest thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am sorry for your loss but am glad her suffering here on earth has ended. This is a song that helped me when my father past. I hope it brings you comfort. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jXrmAKBBTU. Its Vince Gill, Go Rest High on that Mountain.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your special sister in law with us.
C
I know what a long rough road this was for everyone, especially, of course, D. What a gift that at the end she simply didn't wake up. May we all be that lucky when it's our time to go.
ReplyDeleteI used to be bigtime into horses and I've owned several. Mostly show jumping although I did some three-day eventing which includes dressage. I pretty much sucked at it, as I did with most structured riding techniques, but it's a beautiful discipline and if I had stuck with riding, I most likely would have gone more towards dressage and less jumping (jumping is an adrenaline rush but eventually, at least for me, I got tired of the "thrill").
But I love horses to this day, and all animals, and I understand the love and passion D had for horses. They are very sweet animals and very social. And riding has a freedom to it that nothing else gives you.
Dressage has been called "ballet on horseback" and it's very beautiful.
I will always think of your D that way now, gracefully going through the movements in the arena with her horses, thank you for the image. {{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
I have to say I teared up when I saw the first sentence. I knew it was coming but it didn't make it any easier.
Looking forward to the stories you have, especially the muslim MIL. She cracks me right up although I'm sure she's less funny to you guys, ahaha.
~~Amber
Grace, sorry for your loss I read here often but this is my first comment. god bless your family and D sounded like a wonderful sister. I share her love of horses and her birthday and I will be thinking of you and her on Friday. The Vince Gill songs is also one of my favorites. My thoughts are with you during this most sad and difficult time. p.s. I always laugh at funerals too!
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to you and your family. God bless you all.
ReplyDeleteLove and Huggs!
Theresa