I have known Deanne since I was three years old...so over fifty years we have been friends! Certainly over all those years, there have been many memories. I chose this one, because Deanne did something very special for me and the entire experience took almost a year of time.

     Deanne and I had spent the afternoon swimming at the river. We were sitting in the shade, drying, when I looked down and saw a beautiful caterpillar. It was large, almost neon green, had black spots with yellow spots on top of that. I couldn't resist picking it up, but poor Deanne was in panic mode, sure that it was poisonous, demanded that I put it back on the ground. But I said to Deanne: "Imagine what this beautiful creation of Jehovah's might turn into!" With that, we were both hooked! Our curiosity and the idea of the experience we were undertaking, made us both giddy schoolgirls. So I grabbed a bunch of different leaves for the caterpillar to eat and we packed up from swimming, and headed back to the trailer. Immediately Deanne found me a jar to put the caterpillar in and a lid for water. I went outside and grabbed a small tree branch to put in the jar, then threw in the leaves. Carl came home about this time and I showed him our find. After dinner I went home and put the jar on the window sill in my bedroom. The caterpillar spent the next two months eating and drinking. Then one morning I noticed a cotton like material on the branch and realized he was starting his metamorphosis. Right away I called Deanne. She was so excited! I told her I would bring the jar down on the weekend. When I arrived, Deanne was thrilled to see what the caterpillar was doing. Over the winter, the caterpillar and I made many trips to see Deanne. I think Deanne was more excited about the experience than I was. 

     Finally, a chilly March day, I saw a split in the chrysalis. I ran to the phone to tell Deanne. She was like: "Bring it down!" So I did. We spent the day watching a Lunar moth emerge. Then his wings had to dry before we could release him. Deanne and I got in the car and went down to the river. We waited a while to be sure the wings were dry, then we got out of the car and went down by the river and we both removed the lid. Within seconds, the moth walked to the top and flew away. We both cried tears of joy and thanked Jehovah for his marvelous creation!

Later that summer, I was visiting Deanne and as I walked into the trailer, Deanne called to me to wait by the door. So I did. A few minutes later, Carl came to me and told me to close my eyes and give him my hand. So I did. Carl led me to the kitchen and told me to just stand there. So I did. Deanne told me to open my eyes. As I did, I couldn't believe my eyes...Deanne had made a caterpillar cake and decorated it in all the colors of our caterpillar. Tears rolled down my cheeks and I gave Deanne a huge hug. Anyone who knows Deanne, knows the cake was her famous chocolate cake!!! Melted in your mouth. That's one of my happiest memories of Deanne!!!

I have always loved you and I will love you forever in the new system!!! Till we meet again, my friend! 

Deanne was the best mother in law I could have ever had!  She was so supportive and loving and treated me like a daughter from the first moment we spoke.  We became great friends and sisters and she made her granddaughter, Claresa, have the best memories with her grandma and grandpa.  She is dearly missed and I can hardly wait to welcome her back in the resurrection❤️