a hand…

This post is a tribute to someone very dear to me.  And to tell you what she meant to me and the other Rusties, I have to start by saying that our friendship can only be explained by saying that God had a hand in it.  A 27 year friendship.

As I celebrate THANKSGIVING, I count this friendship among many of my blessings, these three beautiful women that God brought into my life so many years ago.  My husband nicknamed us the Rusty Magnolias (he’s a jokester that way), and so we became the Rusties.

We’ve experienced every milestone in our lives, had good times, many get-aways.  As well as mischief, and so much more throughout those years.  Some beautiful memories made that no one can ever take away.  We even have notes of our 27 year journey to tie us over when we can no longer travel, or make new ones, or remember.  We’ve been blessed with each other.

I snapped a picture…

this picture, a couple of years ago because all of us agree that God had a hand in our friendship from day one.  (And, because we all have the same bracelet that we’ve worn for many, many years, a reminder of how dear each one of us is to one another.). When I snapped this picture, I wanted to make a special copy for each of us but I kept putting it off.  Last spring I came across it, and I told my husband what I had wanted to do.  I told him I was going to wait for this Christmas to gift them.  (Old wise one) said, “don’t wait!  You should do that now.”  I am so glad he said that and that I did.

Little did we know that this Christmas one of our Rusties wouldn’t be with us.  Had I waited, she never would’ve gotten her picture.  Or shared the insight and significance of the hands with us.

a hand…

I wanted to share the words that Laura wrote when she got her gift.  (She’s perfectly wise and wonderful that way!)

So on point!

But my heart is forever broken. Knowing that she will no longer be here to laugh, talk, travel, and share this journey with us or make future memories with.

We said our final goodbye to her yesterday and it was by far one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Nothing can compare to how difficult this experience has been.  This loss, this hole left by one of our precious Rusties.

Our little circle will never be the same again.  And although it’s not for us to question why something like this happens, I can tell you that this beautiful soul was a precious child of God here on earth and she is now rejoicing with HIM.

I am forever and eternally THANKFUL that she was a part of my life.  She was a friend, a sister, a mentor, a kind human being, a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother to her babies. And, above all… a faithful servant of our Lord and Savior.  God had a hand in all of this.

I will miss you dearly sweet friend.  Every single day, for the rest of my life, but I find peace in knowing you are home.