A Bittersweet Day

Today my husband and I attended a beautiful memorial service for a wonderful friend.  She knew Jesus as her personal Savior and is in Heaven now free from pain - that's the sweet part, but earthly partings [even though temporary for believers] almost always come with tears. 

I went through some of my pictures tonight and found several of my friend, Lucille.  One was taken at Christmas time several years ago in Frankenmuth, MI with her and her husband and my parents.  [Who is that skinny lady in black - I barely recognize her! ;-)]  

[L-R front row Ron and my Mom.  Back row my Dad, Lucille and me.]

The photo below was taken at my daughter's bridal shower which Lucille helped give.  One of Lucille's spiritual gifts was hospitality, so it's not surprising she was in the church kitchen working before the shower started.  

[Lucille is wearing the red sweater]

In 2004 when I was a Sandy Clough tea lady doing home parties, Lucille hosted a party in her home.

[Lucille]

Here she is doing what she did best - serving others!

[Lucille and Me]

Perhaps my most favorite memory of Lucille [in view of her recent 'homegoing'] was in Dec. 1987 when she and her husband, Ron, and Jerry and I had a role in the Warren Woods Community Choir presentation, "Let's Make a Memory This Christmas."  They portrayed our parents and were grandparents to John Watson and Kristy Ingram. 

~ Jerry and me before one of the four performances began ~

36 years have passed since that choir presentation, but Lucille made a wonderful memory this Christmas for everyone she left behind. In the tributes given by family and friends, they all shared how Lucille didn't blame God for her terminal cancer.  In fact, in the midst of her pain she gratefully thanked God for all the blessings He had given her throughout her life.  She excitedly anticipated seeing Jesus! As I listened, I breathed a prayer that when my time comes to leave this earth, I will make a memory like Lucille's for my family and friends.

Speaking of Christmas and family...  Have you ever bought a present that you could hardly wait to give?

I ordered two jewelry music boxes for granddaughters Brianna and Brooke this year for Christmas. It comes with a lovely poem for granddaughters in the lid, but also has the option to put a personalized photograph in its place.  I opted to insert a photograph.

The music box plays "You Light Up My Life."   To put inside the jewelry box I had necklaces made with their names.

This is the necklace that goes in the little white box above.

I only have to wait four more days until I can give it to them.  They don't read my blog so I'm safe sharing it.