Remembering Stella

Beauty, Grace, Strength, Fun and Love

Cabin Christmas 2005
P.S. My mom still has that M&M's sweatshirt.  :-)

It's been 3 years since she left us.  3 years today. On the day she left, it was much colder than it is today.  On that day, it actually snowed a bit, which was perfect because she loved the snow. She loved the warm sun too.  She loved life, loved her family and loved having fun. She was one of those people who just oozed love.  In fact, if you were a friend, you became family. She was a kind hearted person with a dog's soul.  That's probably why we loved her so much and we continue to miss her everyday.

She was kind, fun, adventurous, serious, hard-working, dedicated, budget conscious, direct, a great cook, supportive, a beautiful wife, an amazing mama, a super fantabulous friend and an all around wonderful person. She took care of everyone and everything. When making breakfast, she would make extra pancakes for the pups. She loved her animals, they were family.  Her laugh was contagious. Her smile was so very bright. She loved things that sparkle.  She loved vacationing to warm and cold places.  She was so proud of her baby girl...they were best friends. She was an artist and the best Pictionary player ever.  She loved potato chips and chocolate.  When I was a little girl, she told me she couldn't wait to retire so she could go play full-time. She worked hard and she had a zest for life that was so rare, so genuine and so precious, I don't believe I've seen anything quite the same.

True Love, Goo, Best Friends & Life Partners
Colorado Summer 2009

Ultimate Love
2009

 All the memories I have of her are great. Truly great.  Cabin fun (and by fun I mean, her helping to protect us from Scott's shenanigans.  See also: me shouting for her to save me from floating down the creek on a small piece of floating pier fully dressed in brand new shoes, oi vey. ), Disney World, holidays, birthdays, family dinners, boat races, Shanghai Rummy games and so many more.  It's truly hard to capture her presence using only words.  When you were with her, you were in the presence of someone who was truly a shining star.  Her amazing and filling presence was something you felt and no words will ever describe it totally and completely.  You had to feel it to truly understand. We were blessed to feel it. And, to this day, when I think about her, I can still feel it. It warms me from the inside.

She fought hard for a long time. In the face of that horrible cancer, she continued to have fun, love and live her life. She traveled and played until the very end. She smiled and shared and she didn't miss a beat.  In her last days, when we all knew the end was near, she kept us smiling.  From another room, she knew exactly when Sara was putting the wrong kind of cheese in the lasagna. She knew she wouldn't be here to see and experience so much more of our lives.  But, her zest for life and love was with her until the very end.  Her spirit was never broken. She had no regrets.  She was so full of grace and love that it brings me to tears....3 years later.

Today, I remember our last conversation and her instructions to me...take care of my girl, make sure the cabin is a party house (and bring food because Scott won't grocery shop), have fun and always be happy.

As you'd expect her words were poignant, direct, loving and heartfelt.  And, the instructions are words to live by.  We miss you everyday Stella. We play as much as possible, your girl is following her dreams (which I suspect you would have loved her doing), we party at the cabin and we are striving for happiness everyday.  I'm thinking about you today and I miss you everyday.

Thank you for being you and loving us so much while you were here.  You loved us as daughters, you made us feel so very important and you always made us happy.  You've given me Beautiful Perspective and you will always, always be a bright, shining star in my life. 

Until we meet again.

xo~

The whole bunch of us

Cabin Walk "Stella's Walk" 2007