As usual, I'm always late for your birthday, but never forgetting you on that day.  I was in Michigan with no internet, visiting with Alyssa.  A newspaper article prompted me to share this poem with another lady named Diana that passed before her time:

God saw you getting tired

When a cure was not to be

So he closed his arms around you,

And whispered, "Come to Me."

In tears, we saw you sinking,

We watched you fade away,

Our hearts were almost broken,

You fought so hard to stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,

Your gentle hands at rest,

God broke our hearts to prove to us,

He only takes the best.

So keep your arms around her, Lord,

And give her special care.

Make up for all she suffered,

That seemed to us unfair.

So many times we've needed you,

So many times we've cried.

If love could have saved you,

You never would have died.

      I miss you so much, Love Susie  XOXOXO

When I graduated from eighth grade, I got letters from all of my family on the retreat. Of course I sat in my corner and cried my eyes out. But one letter made me laugh and cry, and was by far the best. It was from Grammy and she told me her favorite memory. I had been visiting her over the summer, and it had been a long day. Grammy wasn't feeling well and Dad was out grocery shopping, my job had always been to make Grammy laugh and be the quirky person I have always been. Grammy and I were upstairs and the doorbell rang. We had no idea who would be knocking on the door at that time of night. I went down and opened the door, Grammy close behind me. When I looked out, I saw noone. I turned to Grammy and said, "There's noone here but someone left you flowers." Grammy looked out the door and started laughing. Noone had brought her flowers it was just her plant, and the person knocking on the door had been my dad who had gotten locked out. Moments like these were few, but I still smile and laugh when I think of her.

My precious Diana, now with the angels after a brave battle.  I will forever remember her with fond childhood memories of playing greywolf, loving her new school clothes that she'd say I could borrow except they never fit or looked like they did on her.  Playing house and making furniture with cardboard boxes and picking vegetables from the garden to feed our dolls. In winter we would go sliding on the hill in the fields and had so much fun with her, John and Kay and Patti. I remember visiting her with friend June in Aurora, CO. as I drove cross country on my way to CA.  As years went by and we were miles apart, I looked forward to a Christmas card and said many a prayer for her.  I am comforted that she abides with Jesus in perfect peace till we meet again.