Tag Archives: Grief

Mondays are for Memories – Connie

One of my birthday buddies, Connie Breyer, met Jesus face-to-face last week. And oh, what a greeting she must’ve gotten! For those of us still on this side of eternity, though, the parting has been hard. I haven’t been a part of Connie’s everyday life for many, many years, but still, I consider her one of my closest and dearest friends. We didn’t speak often, but we always knew we were there for each other. Because I knew she was a faithful reader of this blog, I would often think of her as I figured out what I should write about. Several years ago (2018), I wrote the following little summary of our friendship. But as I read it now, I realize what we had was much, much more precious than what I was able to convey here. But it’s a start.

Long, long ago, in (what seems like) a galaxy far, far away a young bride [me] met with a ‘more experienced’ bride [Connie] once a week for lunch. And encouragement. And prayer.
Time passed, babies came, and schedules changed. But the friendship and encouragement and prayers never ended. Our little twosome grew to include others as we changed from being young brides to being young moms.
Friends moved, babies grew, and life happened. Things changed.
But through it all, three of us somehow, by hook or by crook, managed to continue to meet once a year to celebrate our November birthdays. We’d often meet at church on a Sunday in November, enjoy lunch, catch up with each other, and end the day in prayer. It was a very precious day for me, as I would often go the whole year without being in contact with them. But that thread of friendship never broke. Never even frayed!
Since we’ve been on the road, we three birthday buddies haven’t always been able to connect during November. But whenever we can work it out, we work it out!!

birthdaygirls08 ConnieBonnieandme
birthdaybuddies Connie Bonnie BonnieConnieand me

I didn’t make it back to Hometown this past summer, so being able to connect with these precious Birthday Buddies, these Sisters in Christ was especially sweet this past October.
Untitled
I’m so thankful for these friends from that galaxy far, far away!
Birthday
So Thankful for US!

What a blessing both Bonnie and Connie have been to me over the years!  As Bonnie and I talked this past week after she shared this sad news with me, our tears were mingled with such sweet remembrances of times we had spent with Connie, and how much she meant to us (and most everyone else who knew her!).  I am so thankful that this past summer we were able to get together for worship and then lunch!
Untitled
Me, Bonnie, and Connie (surprisingly color coordinated!)
We had the husbands along (sometimes that just happens!), so we didn’t get to spend hours catching up, but it was still the sweetest of visits.

My heart aches for her family, especially her beautiful daughters and her beloved grandchildren.  And for the many people whose lives were brightened by this triumphant daughter of the King.  Our grief is real and hard. But I am praying that they (and I!) will continue to rest in the knowledge of the glorious life that Connie is now enjoying.
“…That you [we] may not grieve as those who have no hope.” (I Thessalonians 4:13)

I can only imagine, dearest Connie, what your new life is like. We miss you here – and always will! But oh what joy you must be experiencing!

Your friend, the young bride,
Steph

 

A Visit with Lynne

Lynne and I met when our oldest sons were in preschool together. They are both 42 now, so you know we’ve been friends for a long while. They’ve moved a couple of times over the years, but we somehow managed to stay in touch, however loosely that may have been.  When Roger retired (or mostly retired) they settled in Ludlow, VT, which just happens to be on the way to The Cabin!  Since we’ve been on the road our friendship has blossomed again, as they have often come to The Cabin for an overnight or two and we have stopped to spend time with them in our comings and goings to our cabin. It’s been a lovely thing!
Croswells and us
Late in March of this year dear Roger slipped quietly and unexpectedly into Heaven.  Oh, how our hearts ached for Lynne. As we were preparing to head to the cabin in late May I asked Lynne if she was ready for company.  She was hesitant at first, I think – so much seems so overwhelming right now, but she finally said yes. Come. So Gary dropped me off on our way north and I was able to spend three lovely, quiet, tearful, and maybe even a bit productive days with this dear friend and sister in Christ.

I joined her on one of her daily walks
Untitled
and we found a five-legged newt!
Untitled
We helped him get safely to the side of the road. (Though it’s not a very busy road and he probably would’ve made it without our assistance!)
We lingered over breakfast on the porch,
Visit with Lynne
filled the house with the delicious smells of homemade soup,
Visit with Lynne
attacked some crazy weeds in the garden,
Untitled
did little dusting and did a little puzzle puzzling.
Visit with Lynne
And finally, when the chores were done, we spent some time in her studio – the first time she’d been there since she lost Roger.
Visit with Lynne
Visit with Lynne
It was hard, but it was good.
We sat quietly and remembered Roger with both laughter and tears. We prayed. We talked about the days to come and the days that are gone. Her grief is great, but her hope in the LORD is greater! I was blessed and honored to spend those precious days with her.

We all miss you, Roger – but we know you are in such a better place! See you when we get there!

Love,
Steph

This Extra Day

Did you have a good Leap Day? Ours was a little different in that we went to a funeral. It’s not often that we get to say a final good-bye to a SOWER friend, let alone join in her celebration of life. Let me go back to the beginning….
We met Dave and Edie on our third SOWER project, Green Isle Boys Ranch in Clermont, FL. It was our first big group
Green Isle Group
(That’s Dave and Edie standing behind us, if you can recognize the 2005 us!) and we were just a little overwhelmed. Okay, a lot overwhelmed. Dave and Edie, along with several other dear couples, took us newbies under their wing (wings?) and were a tremendous help to us as we started this SOWER journey. They encouraged us to go to our first SOWER reunion, and keep on serving our LORD.  I’m not going to tell you that we stayed in constant contact, but that didn’t really matter. A special bond was formed and time and distance did not diminish it.
While we never actually worked a SOWER project together with them again, we saw them at the SOWER FL reunion in 2007 and we connected in 2010 when we stopped at their home in N. Chili, NY and did some sightseeing along the Erie Canal.
EdieandDave
The following year we met up with them for a lovely dinner with friends in Lake Wales when we were traveling through the area.
Lake Aurora Reunion-3

UntitledAh, Edie! You and Dave were such an encouragement to Gary and I, and even though we might not have connected often in the flesh, I believe we have always been connected in our hearts.  Heaven’s gain is surely our loss. We are so thankful that we were able to join in the celebration of your beautiful life today – and were able to give that Dave of yours some good SOWER family hugs! You will be missed, dear friend!
Love from your ‘newbie’ SOWER friend,
Steph