I miss Shauna; I know we all do.  I very much miss her today, though.  Just got back from San Francisco with our daughter's belongings.  On Friday she comes home to stay.  For the past year, she has been an MFT grad student at USF.  The good news is that she's transferring to APU and will continue to press on.  I wonder . . . could some of the reasons our daughter is coming home have been better combatted if Shauna had been a phone call away?  Could some of the loneliness, uncertainty, and other worries been minimized with the presence and love of a Christian "auntie"/mentor?  Would she have had a cheerleader to forge ahead?  Would Mara and Carly have had another young adult who was crazy about them?  Could my child have found a church home in SFO?

Always remembered, Shauna . . .
  

I keep Shauna's prayer card at my desk at work. When I am struggling with a case or a client/family, I sometimes find that I look over and wonder WWSD? It helps me to breathe for a minute, step back, and consider with more humility and grace the work I am struggling with. Remember what people need. Find a gentle way to help. Laugh when it gets too hard and let it go.

Shauna and Joleen Jessen offered this beautiful song based on 1 Corinthians 13 at our wedding day at St. Mark's. Their song made our wedding feel worshipful and holy, as if we were in the pews listening to them on any other Sunday morning. I will miss Shauna's rich voice so terribly much. We will think of you every time we think back to our wedding day, Shauna.

Shauna was a wonderful high school youth ministry leader at St. Mark's. She opened her home at Christmas to our group. We baked cookies, played board games, and shared lots of laughter.

Shauna often sang with Joleen Jessen during the 9am worship services at St. Mark's. I will miss how their voices harmonized so beautifully and powerfully to share the message of God's love and grace.

In this video, Shauna sings with Joleen and Stacy Cullison at our November 2011 benefit concert for Aaron Greig and Liv Beck.

Memories so deep
Tears streaming down
Inconsolable, incomprehensible
Life is fragile, fleeting
Precious, a gift
Take nothing for granted
Family, friends,
The world laments.

Sweet, sweet Shauna
Name meaning GOD IS GRACIOUS
Indeed we have been blessed
Pure joy and love
A ray of sunshine
The smile of a thousand smiles
I miss you
Yet you live on in hearts, minds
Angel - take flight
Be Free
Forever.   - Andy Reising, a loving friend

Dear Shauna-
I vividly remember seeing you last, randomly, on the underground BART in San Francisco about five years ago. I was back visiting the States from where i now live in beautiful Krakow, Poland. I may have changed a lot since PVHS, but you certainly hadn't. Your infectious laughter still echoes in my mind when i told you i was now proudly American't because i simply CAN'T handle living in the U.S. anymore. "Well, you never liked fitting in anyway, Tony," was your giddy response. "But good for you, make that mark on the world, be a star if that's what makes you happy." Indeed, i have, and your gregarious smile has made so many others happy too! Thanks for co-acting with me in all those festivals & plays way back when in Mr. Bell's class, and thanks for the positive affirmation when most were filled with doubt & wonder. You were always a stellar actress & singer, so if anybody's gonna breeze right through that audition into Heaven it's certainly gonna be you... 
P.S. I still think you were the best Mary Magdalene!!! 

Yes, "forever missed" says it all and I will miss that smile....it was always there whenever we met.  Although we didn't get to see each other often, I did so enjoy the time you spent here in Maryland.  You had a special way about you to make me feel "good".  You & your friends really seemed to enjoy my cooking or was it the fact that  YOU didn't have to do it?  You were a special person and will always be remembered as such and I know that those little girls will grow up the same,with you watching over them from above.

My dear, sweet cousin, I am so grateful to have known you these past years. I remember many things.... but my two favorite memories are of you kick boxing on your porch in Palos Verdes, and when you and your parents came to CT for the big birthday party for Aunt Peg.... how we laughed, and how you showered Elias with love, and how much I imagined you with your own lovely girls, and wished I could meet you all together. I am at a loss for words, but I am so glad to have known you, to know that the Stowell clan produces such wonderful, amazing women, people, and to think that you leave behind two little women, who will undoubtedly be as amazing as you. My love to you, to your dear sister Molly, and to your parents, Tom and Mary, whom I love dearly. My support to you all. My love to you all. Sara Stowell

My dear, sweet cousin, I am so grateful to have known you these past years. I remember many things.... but my two favorite memories are of you kick boxing on your porch in Palos Verdes, and when you and your parents came to CT for the big birthday party for Aunt Peg.... how we laughed, and how you showered Elias with love, and how much I imagined you with your own lovely girls, and wished I could meet you all together. I am at a loss for words, but I am so glad to have known you, to know that the Stowell clan produces such wonderful, amazing women, people, and to think that you leave behind two little women, who will undoubtedly be as amazing as you. My love to you, to your dear sister Molly, and to your parents, Tom and Mary, whom I love dearly. My support to you all. My love to you all. Sara Stowell

Shauna,
I just got of the phone with Andreas. And allthough he and I never met, it felt as if we've known eachother allready for a long time.
And that, Shauna, is thanks to your love , interest and compashion towards people. With that way of being you connected people throughout your life, and see, even after passing away you still go on connecting.
 Thank you so much for your smile, your laughter, your passion.
 I will always remember the way you asked questions...you first put your hair behind your ear, than paused a little while and than, out of your deepest soul, you asked your question. You loved learning and listening. A profound place in my heart and memories you have. Love, Geert (Belgium