28 Comments

  1. Your words are a beautiful tribute to this friend. You, too, are an encourager. I can’t imagine the stress of what you are experiencing, but somehow you also have found the courage to share your most personal thoughts. Thank you for being so open and so encouraging. I look forward to your weekly posts.

    1. Thank you, Cathy. We have been strengthened by the encouragement and prayers of faithful ones like you. We feel God in this journey.

    2. Dear Lori,
      Thank you for sharing your honest uplifting perspective through your blog. You too bring your readership hope and comfort. You are so courageous and much loved. Your faith and your story inspires me. Thank you for helping me live my best life (die my best death).
      Love and prayers,
      Leigh Ann

      1. Leigh Ann, your encouragement buoys not just me but many others on their difficult journeys. Thank you my friend and fellow fighter!

  2. When I open email and see a blog from Lori I can hardly wait to read it! So encouraging to read your words and seeing your attitude towards a life threatening illness. We pray for you and Del daily, you are never out of thoughts. I thank God for having known you for many years, taught at least two of your babies in cradle roll classes, watched them grow to beautiful adults. (Makes me feel old thinking how many years ago that was!). And seeing you and Del deliver life changing messages about marriage and family in Colonia 89 was heart filling then and now. My life is happier because of yours. Love you and family, and so miss you.
    .

    1. I don’t know how to respond to your overflowing kindness, Gay. A tear slipped out as I read this. We miss you and Jasper so much and think about you both. Our times in Mexico are some of the highlights of my life. So glad we share those memories. Love you!

  3. Pretending to be well. I saw my older brother do this gracefully. He is an example to my family as to how to face challenge. He would consider you (Lori) to be his hero. Thank you for helping me recall.

    1. I love hearing your perspective, Jon. You honor me by reading and relating. Blessings to you, my friend!

  4. You pull at my heartstrings every time I read your blog. Blessings and prayers for you as you write your journey. Love you so much.

  5. Lori, the beauty of the spirit with which you write is so inspiring. The friend you mentioned must have been a wonder-filled and inspiring soul and you are one of my “heroes” of faith in today’s world! The gift God has given you in so many areas of life give others a hope they never knew or thought of before. What a blessing you are to so many in every walk of life.
    I can’t imagine how uncertain the road is that you are walking on right now. I pray that it will be a long one and the Father will “move mountains” in your behalf. You are truly an INSPIRATION and BLESSING to all who meet you. We love you and your family more than you will ever know, Lori.

    1. Carolyn, I appreciate your kind words. We are so blessed to have the support of family, friends, and church. We know God is in control.

  6. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend, no matter how long you’d known her, and am so glad you did get to meet her. You truly are an inspiration, more spiritually than physically even. Love you and your family so!

  7. Lori, I always read your blogs while I am at work on a break. Sometimes, I have to bring a tissue with me. Know I am reading them and praying for you always.

    1. Thank you for reading and sharing, Christy. Hearing from you is always a huge encouragement to me.

  8. You have always been one of my greatest “encouragers,” Lori. Thank you. To be honest, I’m still kind of denying the gravity of your illness because I just don’t want it to be true. So I probably have not been the most encouraging to you during this ordeal. But you are in my prayers and in my heart always. I love you so much!

    1. Brad, I owe you a lifetime of cheering you on. You have always been one of the most encouraging and hopeful people I know. Great to hear from you. Love you

  9. Pure poetry, fresh with life, urgent in message, painful in sorrow. I am so glad I have found you. As a fellow heart failure sister, our mutual friend, Jeanie, pointed you to me as she was visiting your mutual friend, Carol in Memphis. Thank you.

    1. Oh Jane, so glad you are here! Your insight will be an amazing addition. Thank you for your generous encouragement. Looking forward to hearing from you again!

  10. You are an encourager too: all the years I’ve known you. The words you say of her, I think of you and I know many others do too. Circumstances in this life lead us places we didn’t ever expect to be. Yet as you have processed openly/honestly in your blog, inviting us along your journey, God has been glorified. Every. Time. My heart aches with the thought of yours and it’s challenges. I can never tell you enough what a blessing your friendship has been and is: my forever friend. Praying continually alongside, love you always.

    1. Tears flowing down here in the airport on my way to Cleveland. I needed this today. Your love has always had perfect timing. Thank you, my sweet faithful friend.

  11. So proud to know you Lori and be able to call you friend. You have a way to communicate thoughts and ideas so beautifully. You have always been an example to others, but your ability to use this platform to show how God is working in your situation is inspiring to many. I know that walking this road does not flow as easily as your words. We continue to pray for your healing, and for God to use you to His full measure.

    1. Thank you, Kim. It has been a blessing to hear from so many faithful believers and to be encouraged by your daily examples as well.

  12. Lori, I still can not read this without crying. I can’t even. get past the first sentence. Donna would be so honored that you said all of these fabulous things about her. She really did look up to you a lot. Can’t believe this happened just 2 days after my wedding.
    She loved your blogs and would talk to me about each one. You really inspired Donna!!! Thank you for this from the bottom of my heart!!!!!!

  13. Lori, I couldn’t respond when you first wrote this (pain was too raw). I miss her every day. Her influence on my life was beyond amazing. I need her influence like (don’t become bridezilla, when I was complaining about wedding stuff not going right).
    This post that you wrote for Donna was a great tribute to her. I still cry when I read it. And I probably always will.
    Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

    1. She was an amazing person for sure. I was blessed to know her if only for that short time. I know she felt the same way about you. She told me so on a couple of occasions. We only get a handful of those special relationships in life. I know you will always treasure this one.

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