Dear Sarah

Dear Sarah,

Heaven is shining brighter now.  You are free from the bondage of cancer in your body and I know you are dancing with joy in heaven.  We will all miss you dearly here on earth until we see you again.  We first met in sixth grade at Alamo Height Junior School.  We had numerous classes together throughout junior school and high school.  In high school we studied together but were not great friends outside of school.  You were always super smart and a great study buddy.  I moved to Houston just before our junior year of high school.  We did not keep in touch those last years of high school.  Then God reunited us by way of freshman orientation at UT.  I will always remember how you seemed to have "come out of your shell" since I knew you sophomore year of high school.  You helped us meet friends at orientation by just being your friendly, outgoing self.  I will always cherish my memories from our first year of college living at SRD.  We went through sorority rush and every day after the events we would share our thoughts, fears, and favorite houses.  We visited numerous churches together and finally found Lake Hills Church where we ended up going almost most every week together.  We navigated fraternity parties (that was interesting) and dressed up many times for themed parties (beach bash, safari).  We were loyal attenders of Escape where we met weekly with others to worship Jesus through music and prayer.  We ate many meals at SRD together and bummed rides off of friends who had cars when we wanted to eat out or go shopping.  We made great friends in Rachel, Liz, Hilary, and Jessica.  I was so blessed to have a genuine friend in you, Sarah, to face the first year of college with.

Sophomore, Junior and Senior year we lived in different places but still were the closest of friends.  You were chaplin of Zeta and I always admired you for that.  We started attending the church at Austin Stone and would go together weekly.  We were in Bible study with a group of girls from the Stone.  We went on a road trip over spring break to Wolf Creek, Colorado with Rachel, Hil, Liz, and Jess.  We skied, sat in the hot tub, cooked dinner, and laughed alot.  After your senior year and before my fifth year, you took a leap of faith and went to Zambia, Africa with Family Legacy Missions.  Your stories and pictures from this trip inspired me.  You talked about the precious orphans there and about how they were so excited to just get a hug or drink a "smoothie".  You talked about Esther, the little girl whose smile convinced you that you were called to be a teacher.  This trip to Africa changed your life and it also changed mine because the following summer I went on the same mission trip because of your stories.  Thank you for encouraging me, Sarah. 

After I graduated one year after you, God brought both of us to Houston.  We would hang out in Houston, mainly by going to get Mexican food or a glass of wine.  You were a very special part of our wedding celebration.  I will cherish those memories, videos and pictures forever.  Although we went to different churches in Houston, we still shared our joys, concerns, and prayer requests with each other.  Just before David and I moved to Denver, you and Annie threw a going away party for us at your apartment.  Thank you for that!

When David and I moved to Denver I knew that we would stay in touch closely even though we were now in a different state.  I was so happy that you and Annie came to Denver to visit the first summer we lived here.  Y'all stayed in the living room of our 1-bedroom apartment on the air bed.  We had a blast on the white water rafting trip.  You screamed and laughed the whole time with your infectious laugh.  David will always remember when you felt car sick on the mountainous drive to Buena Vista because we stopped, you got out of the car, and you gave yourself a pep talk.  He talks about this humorous moment every time we drive on Highway 285.

I remember the first time I met Eric.  It was on one of our trips to Houston in the fall of 2008.  You really really wanted me to meet him so I met y'all for coffee.  I remember how happy you were and how I thought Eric was such a genuinely sincere guy.  He was also such a sport for going to dinner at Lupe's with 3 girls- you, me, and Annie one time when I was in Houston.

When you first told me that the lump on your arm was cancerous, I was so scared for you.  You were so hopeful and optimistic and had faith that God would not give you anything you couldn't handle. You started the blog and began using the scary situation for such good....and it was only the beginning.  You had surgery and I remember talking to you about your scar.  At first you were shocked and upset, but then you embraced it.  Then you got engaged!  I was so happy for you and Eric!  I wanted to spend more time with Eric (and of course with you) so Rachel and I encouraged both of y'all to come spend a long weekend in Denver.  I am so thankful for the sweet time we had just hanging out, getting to know Eric, catching up, and doing "Denver" things.  I will cherish memories of this weekend and time we had forever.  We ate out, hiked at Mt Falcon, went to Morrison for lunch, saw Red Rocks, went to a BBQ with friends, church, and swimming and pizza at Adam and Rachel's.  Thank you so much for making the trip to visit us!

When you called me to tell me about the results of your follow-up appointment and that the cancer had spread, I was heartbroken.  I, along with many many others, prayed for a miracle.  Your optimism and hope amazed me.  You chose to use the situation as a way to reach out to people.  I admire you for this and know that God was working so hard in you during the past 6 months.  If this had been me, I don't think I could have done it.  God knew what he was doing.  I so wish I could have come to your first marriage to Eric.  The pictures don't do it justice, I am sure, but you were radiant and so in love.  The first dance was AWESOME!  I had a blast at the bachelorette party and your attitude lifted my spirits about it all.  We looked awesome in the wigs, especially you. :)

I watched your blog daily even though I might not have posted comments.  I followed along and prayed for the pain to go away, for healing, for wisdom for the doctors, for your family, for Eric, for God to perform a miracle.  We didn't know it then, but he was performing a miracle but just not the kind that we had in mind of healing your body here on this earth.  I loved hearing about your ceramics class and about you making gingersnaps in your lime green kitchenaid mixer.  I enjoyed knowing that you were able to visit Meadowood every once in a while and that you went to small group and church when you felt up to it.  You shared devotionals with the world, Sarah. You shared Christ with the congregation of blog followers, your students.  You were a teacher to thousands of people through your blog.  That is a miracle.

Then there was the wedding...the beautiful wedding.  At the bridesmaids luncheon I remember how silly you were and you laughed with your great laugh.  It was so fun to be with you on such a special day.  You were a gorgeous bride and the ceremony was just perfect.  All of the friends and family who shared truly meant every word about how you and Eric have touched our lives.  It was such a testament to who and Eric are and how God has used you both for his grand purpose.

Your wedding in November was the last time I saw you here on this earth.  It is still so hard to believe that you have gone to be with Jesus.   You are in heaven, perfect heaven, dancing with joy.  I selfishly wish you were here still, with us...we all do, but God had different plans.  He wanted you with him now in heaven.  Every time I hear firefly I will think of you, the brightest firefly, Sweet Sarah.  I love you, friend.