Introspection

Its pouring rain today, which is actually soothing since it seems to fit my quiet and reflective mood.

One week ago today, I lost my oldest and dearest friend, Beth Bowman Russell, after a long battle with cancer.
This is the second dear friend I’ve lost in less than two years to this dreaded disease. I’m heartbroken.
I know she is in a better place; free from pain and suffering. But the world has lost a brilliant
light because for anyone who knew her, they knew her spirit lit up the room. She was gracious,
compassionate, loving, and had the biggest heart of gold. She was funny and fun to be with.
We met in college more than 30 years ago and were college roommates. I have such wonderful
memories of all the things we shared during those times. And after college, we remained close —
while not in global  proximity, through letters, phone calls and emails. We were bridesmaids in each
others’ weddings, we each had two sons, and both became authors. The only thing we didn’t
share was a love and passion for quilting! She left the fabric and thread to me…..

There will never be a day I don’t think of her and send a smile and prayers to the heavens above for
her and the gift of friendship she shared with me for so many years. I admit (a bit selfishly) I will miss her
even more when I have a  milestone birthday later this year and she won’t be here to go
through the challenges and celebrations of the next phase of life with me. Fortunately, I had the
privilege of sharing her 50th birthday with her earlier this year. I sent her a quilt stitched with love.

Beth authored the Women’s Bible Study Guide, Woman in the Mirror, which can be found online
or through the bookstore at Perimeter Church in Atlanta. I was so proud of her and happy for her to see
this dream of hers become a reality a few years ago! If you or someone you know is struggling with eating
disorders, this is a wonderful study which I highly recommend.

So, if there’s one fact that has become abundantly clear recently, it is this:

LIFE IS FRAGILE PRECIOUS!

For many of us in the quilting industry, the sad news about Libby Lehman came as a shock that she suffered
a brain aneurysm a little over a week ago, right after AQS QuiltWeek in Paducah.
I had just spent so much time with Libby while judging the quilts at the show.
We went out to lunch and dinner quite a few times and had the best time together.
She is truly a lovely, generous, warm and wonderful woman. I’m still in shock that this has happened.
She has undergone several surgeries and is currently sedated to allow her brain time to heal and the swelling to go down.
Please send prayers and healing thoughts to her and her family.
If you’d like to send a card, here is the address:

Libby Lehman
617 Caroline
Houston, TX 77002

I think it would be wonderful to flood her mailbox with cards, letters and good wishes for a speedy recovery and to let
her know so many people are thinking of her daily!