Dear Julian and all of Laura's Family: May you hold your own memories of Laura with a gentle tenderness and kindness that supports her fierce love for you. May Laura's continuing love for you comfort you and fill your hearts with love and smiles -- may her love for you, as is God's love for you, be a guiding star whenever, wherever, however you need it. My heart, thoughts and prayers are in community with you -- I am sending lots of love your way. May you be calm and at ease, comforted and deeply peaceful.
Remembering: Even though I miss her so much, on this evening, my memories of Laura bring joy and happiness to my heart. I'm so thankful she and I were friends and that we were able to spend so many happy, carefree days playing together as we grew up in West Point, GA. I fondly remember a magic show we created one afternoon at her house (our standing egg trick was the best!); sharing a tent at summer girl scout camp where we wrote letters home, rode horses, enthusiastically sang all the crazy camp fire songs each night ("...way down upon the Swanee River, that's where the bad bees gooooooo"....), obsessed over our make-shift Hawaiian costumes for the camp's hula night party. I remember happy school days, too: Springwood classes (4th grade to 12th grade), anchor club activities and being proud that my friend made such a wonderful cheerleader! Proms and prom breakfasts that the parents hosted. Graduation and grad parties and festive progressive dinners. And Laura's Bridal Tea -- how beautiful! What a lovely party that tea was to honor, support and celebrate Laura, highlighting that important time in her life as she prepared for her marriage and starting a new family of her own -- I'm so glad that her family and friends from our close knit caring community were able to celebrate that special day with her. Today, I celebrate Laura and the beautiful angel that she is. The sparkling love she showered on us while she lived among us is a powerful legacy that continues to nourish our lives in many quiet ways -- it's now our turn to find ways each day to nourish all who cross our paths with many loving kindnesses!