Monday, November 02, 2015

Goodbye friend....

I usually do a weekend post to wrap up...

but with vacation, my weekend doesn't feel like a real weekend anyways.

& today is an unusual day to go back to work.

Today, I'm heading to go to a friend's funeral.


I know I've mentioned on here that the past few weeks, we've been doing a home-church thing at a friend's house & it was this precious friend.

How strange it feels to know we no longer will be having church with her anymore...

but what an amazing thought to know that she's got a front row seat at worshiping our Heavenly Father right now.

11 years.  That's how long this little lady has been fighting.  & goodness, is she ever the fighter.

I can remember it like yesterday.

I was sitting in a seat at the little hairdresser in town waiting to be called over & Vicki came in to wait for her appointment time.  Happy to see a friendly face that I knew from church, she sat next to me & told me that she just came from the doctor's office & they found a lump in her breast.

I try to keep the positive thing going & told her that we'd pray that it would be something that they would be able to handle with surgery.

It wouldn't be that simple

But she was blessed through the years with bouts of remission.... & then another battle... & remission again...

cancer.  How stupid are you that you dont get the hint & just stay away.

Vicki was battling her cancer while our friend Stephanie was also fighting her fight with liver cancer.  What a friendship the two of them formed as they were able to encourage along in their own battles.

Cancer. You suck.

Team VICtory in honor of our breast cancer fighter!!!

If you were lucky enough to know Vicki, you know that she never complained.  Never waivered in her faith.  Handled her battle only pointing to the One who was helping her get through every day, every week, every year, every occurrence of the news that the cancer was taking a new form.

Her attitude was amazing.

I know you hear people say that about friends - but I wish you could know how true it is with this lady.

Soft spoken.... kind... gentle....

It's funny because in the hospital, I heard  a story of Vic loosing her temper one time when someone came after her kids - mommas can relate - & I just had to laugh because I can't even wrap my mind around the idea of Vicki even raising her voice, much less in anger.

Ricky & I have been so blessed to get to know Vicki through out the years starting from meeting in our church.  We were all part of a small group where we would gather on Wednesdays & eat together & discuss the Bible & pray for each other.  What a special time.

I always loved Vic's thoughtfulness on every Women of Faith trip we took - she always just wanted everyone else to be happy.  Except when it came to speeding.  There would be no speeding when Ms. Vicki was driving to our retreats.  Not on her watch :)

Look at her beautiful in her yellow (standing right behind me)

I'll always remember the way Vicki had a way of seeing both sides of every story, even when you wanted to be angry or upset at someone or a situation - she would help you see the good in everything.  I'll take that will me more then anything.

I can remember sitting with her & her husband when we went out for lunch as we were waiting for her first great-grand baby to be born - our Grand buddy Emerson .... I was a nervous wreck wanting to get back to the hospital & she was as calm as a cucumber assuring me that she wouldn't miss the birth of that baby so if she wasn't nervous, I shouldn't be nervous.

the moment she got to see her first great grand daughter

She has shared her family with us & let us become an honorable member of her gang... Ricky & I just love them all - from her children & their families to her grandchildren to whom I've been honored to have in my own youth classes & have watched become amazing adults who I love calling my friends.

& her husband.  Ricky & Steve are the funniest together.  They could get together & talk about the University of Kentucky wildcats for days.

What a pair - her & Steve.  I love the stories of hearing them meet & going off to elope.  They are one of those couples you just can't imagine one without the other... & they dance. Oh, how they dance together.  I could watch them swing around the dance floor for hours on end.  They just moved as one throughout life..... pray for her husband.  He is one strong man, but even something like this can wear a heart down.


Pray for her mother, Jean.  She just lost another child a few months ago .... to loose one child would be devastating - loosing 2?  I can't imagine how her heart is broken.  Her siblings have to feel the loss so hard as well as having lost a brother & now a sister.

Vicki & her momma

& of course, pray for her children.  Sha, Bryant & Kyle.  While they are grown adults now, I know I can't imagine loosing my mother at any age - I don't think you are ever ready.  My heart aches for Kyle as the baby of the family too....



Pray for her grandchildren.  3 of them are now adults, but still never makes it easy... & 1 of the grandchildren is just a small little girl who loves her Mamaw.  This will be hard for her to wrap her mind around.  & her great-grandchild, Emerson, is at the age where you know she's going to have faint memories of her... but so thankful there are pictures & videos to remind Emerson of the Mamaw who loved her so.


Emerson is also Stephanie's granddaughter so I am holding close to my heart the vision of Vicki & Stephanie just talking all about this little girl & how happy that their son & granddaughter got married & formed their own family.

Oh... how the world feels so empty when such an amazing person is taken from us....

But no matter how sad we all are right now, we have to have a little bit of joy knowing that her suffering is now over... & the many rewards she has earned in Heaven is now being shown to her... & the many faces that she knows that has gone before her, the reunions are just beginning.

& to know she's seeing Jesus face to face.... I can't imagine there is anything greater then that.

Vicki declared her love for him... & wanted everyone to know that love of Jesus.... I hope she now sees the seeds that she has planted for Him all throughout her life time, the fruit of her labor, the impact she has on this world for His kingdom....

& I'm sure it didn't take long before she drew her last breath of this earth & inhaled Heaven's scent before she heard the words,
 "Well done my good & faithful servant"


The legacy she leaves.....
You'll be missed friend....

20 comments:

  1. Just had to giggle about the "no speeding". On that WoF trip her lens popped out of her glasses and went right down a sewer drain. I was riding with her and a group and she drove wearing her prescription sun glasses until the sun went down. Then she asked me to take over. She monitored my speed the ENTIRE way!!! I finally just set the cruise control and told her I wouldn't touch the controls!!!!! :D She will be missed... her smile, her gentleness, her encouraging spirit. I'm thankful to have known her... I'm thankful that she had such a love for the Father... and I'm thankful that we will one day see each other again. Excellent tribute to such a great lady.

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  2. What a beautiful tribute and post to your friend and her family. She sounds like an amazing woman! I'm so sorry for your loss my friend. Heaven grows sweeter all the time.

    I love you my friend ~~ dawn

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  3. I'm so sorry for your loss - your tribute to her is so beautifully written! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  4. This is such a sweet tribute to your friend. She sounds like such a special lady. I wish I could have known her.

    Praying for you and Ricky and her family as you celebrate her life and her being home with Jesus.

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  5. I'm so sorry for your loss. This was a beautiful tribute to a special friend!

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  6. I'm so sorry for your loss. She sounds like the most wonderful woman and friend. Praying for peace and comfort for you all. Lots of love!

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  7. She sounds like such an amazing woman- what wonderful pictures and memories you've captured for their entire family. Thinking of you & praying for you <3

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  8. I'm so sorry for your loss, Rebecca. She sounds like she was a very special lady whose memory will live on in the hearts of those who love her!!!!!

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  9. Oh I am just so so so so sorry. I hate that. I hate cancer

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  10. So sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. What a beautiful tribute to her!

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  11. I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like she was an incredible strong and caring person and will be missed by many.

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  12. I found myself tearing up reading this. I'm so sorry for your loss. She sounds like such an amazing woman. I hate cancer.

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  13. I am so sorry to hear about your loss. It sounds like Vicki was an amazing woman and made an impact on your life. Sending hugs!!!

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  14. I'm so sorry for you and her family, but happy for her. What a beautiful tribute this is to her. ❤️

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  15. I am so sorry for your loss. Very nice words for your friend.

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  16. So so sorry for your loss - I'm glad you had her in your life (& she had you)!

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  17. It was through tears I read this beautiful tribute to your sweet friend. How blessed to know the promise of seeing her in eternity, though the pain of loss is so surreal and raw isn't it? I will be praying for her beautiful family, her husband looks beyond sweet. Bless his aching heart O Lord. Comfort him greatly in the days ahead.
    So sorry for your loss too sweet Rebecca Jo. xo
    Hugs!

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  18. So sorry to hear about the passing of your friend. Take care and God Bless.....((Hugs))

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  19. Even though I don't know Vicki, this brings tears to my eyes! She sounds like an amazing woman of Faith and I can't even imagine the devastation the family is feeling. Praying for you guys!

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