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Feeling sad . . . a Tribute to my Friends.

June 24, 2015 by Patti 22 Comments

I was going to write a happy post today.  It was going to be filled with pretty pictures of things I’ve been working on.  In it I hoped to say some witty things to make you smile.  I was actually  in the midst of mulling over what I’d say as I drove home from a trip to the happiest place on earth . . . Home Depot . . . when, Ding, Ding . . . went my phone, and the Messenger window popped open.

It was my friend, my life-long friend, letting me know that her husband had passed in his sleep on Sunday night.

I knew he hadn’t been well for a long while but still . . . it was a shock.  You see, it was only yesterday that we were mere teenagers who double dated together.  It was only yesterday that I was a bridesmaid in their  Spring wedding.  It was only yesterday when, only months later, she was to be a bridesmaid at my Winter wedding but was too embarrassed to stand up front with her pregnant belly. 🙂

Today’s post is a tribute to the life of my friends who, for the sake of privacy I’ll call:

Danny & Sandy

Danny & Sandy

Danny was nothing short of COOL!  He looked really tough . . . though he was as gentle as could be.  He had a muscle car and Levi’s and shaggy hair and a beard.  He was a big guy who road a Harley and didn’t look like someone you’d want to mess with.

Sandy was his opposite.  She was a church girl who went to beauty school, had REAL blond hair and wore pretty clothes.  She was a loving kinda gal but not a pushover by any means!

Over the years life happened and we drifted our own ways, Sandy and me.  Whenever we did get together though it was like we’d never been apart and we always shared without reservation about the various struggles and triumphs in each of our lives.

Life wasn’t perfect for Danny and Sandy.  They had, like most married couples, times where they weren’t sure they would make it. They had a bunch of babies who grew into adults, then those adult children gave them a bunch of grandbabies . . . They struggled and never gained great wealth but they had and have a family who is close and who loves deeply.

Life wasn’t perfect for me either.  I made some bad choices.  At times I opted out rather than persevere.  I think I took a little longer to grow up and settle in.  Eventually life turned around for me and became very good.  That is where I am today.

So just a couple of weeks ago, when I posted on Facebook about our adventure down to Florida to buy a painting for my dining room my friend Sandy messaged me and said,

“Painting is beautiful . . . I look at it and see you . . . You have the most amazing life Patti.”

Old Door Mirror & Dining Room Wallpaper 006

“Hahaha!,” I wrote back, “The amazing life of Patti Krank! You know me well my longest lifetime friend and you know my life is far from perfect. I have fun though and I am blessed.”

Her reply,

“Life is an amazing journey isn’t it! Trials and troubles come but when Jesus is the center of your focus He sees you thru…and then once you get on the other side of it you look back and realize his hand was on me and He was there all the time, seeing me thru…what a blessing.”

This loving message from someone watching her husband slowly die of congestive heart failure.  And Danny . . . what kind of suffering has he been going through, knowing that his time was coming to an end?  How hard it must’ve been to say goodbye to his beloved wife of forty years and his children and grandchildren.

Today, as we messaged back and forth Sandy said that she has the assurance that Danny is in heaven with the Lord.  That assurance brings peace.

So you see now, why I couldn’t write a light and happy post today.  Tears flow as I grieve for my friend’s heartbreak and this world’s loss of a wonderful husband and father . . . on Father’s Day.  I think I also grieve a bit over how short this life really is . . . because it was only yesterday . . .

I hope that in Heaven Danny is riding his Harley at full throttle, feeling strong and free in the Presence of Jesus.
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Filed Under: Christianity, Death and Loss, Freedom, God's Grace, Inspiration Tagged With: Friendship, Grief, Heaven, Jesus, Loss

« A Powder Room & Learning to be Content
An Unexpected Gift Outside my Door & Lessons Learned »

Comments

  1. Kelly Murray says

    June 24, 2015 at 7:40 pm

    No words, except thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  2. Jan Kennett says

    June 24, 2015 at 8:45 pm

    Tears of grieef — and teears of celebration for such a wonderful life and llove!

    I’m sure Danny is joyfully riding through heaven’s breeze, realizing that this life is but a blink but that Love is eternal, that Love enbraces all of us with the assurance that it can never fail, no matter what the circumstance.

    Comfort to your dear friend during this sad time.

    Reply
  3. Jan Kennett says

    June 24, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    Sorry for the extra “e’s” — on my phone.

    Reply
  4. Wendy Johnson says

    June 24, 2015 at 11:14 pm

    Well said . Prayers for you all

    Reply
  5. Nancy says

    June 25, 2015 at 12:14 am

    Dear Patti, thank you for sharing this loss. All of you will be in my prayers.

    Reply
  6. Shelly says

    June 25, 2015 at 2:18 am

    I am so sorry, Patti. What a very sweet tribute to your special friends. You arts an amazing woman. “Sandi” is blessed to have you.. And I know she feels the same about you…. and you about her.

    Reply
  7. Sandra says

    June 25, 2015 at 7:06 am

    Patti:
    A lovely post and tribute to your dear friends. I also have a life long friend and you could have been writing about us. Your post is a reminder to all of us to truly treasure our friendships and our time together, as our time on this earth is really short. My condolences to you and your dear friend.

    Reply
  8. Kim Judice says

    June 25, 2015 at 9:16 am

    What a wonderful tribute to your friend. I love reading your blog and appreciate the authentic way you share your life with so many. I will pray for comfort and peace for “Sandy” and her family.

    Reply
  9. Leslie says

    June 25, 2015 at 9:34 am

    Awww, Patti.
    I’m sorry about your friend’s sadness.
    But happy that I’ll meet Danny one day, too. Life here is short, isn’t it. I always say that life here on earth is the childhood of our immortality.
    I’ll be remembering Sandy. And you.
    Lots of love… your new Southern sister 😉

    Reply
  10. Tammy says

    June 25, 2015 at 10:45 am

    What a beautiful post! Thinking of you and your dear friend and praying for you all.

    Reply
  11. Stacey says

    June 25, 2015 at 10:46 am

    I’m so sorry for your loss. There is comfort in knowing though…maybe not today but one day.

    Hugs,

    Stacey

    Reply
  12. Carol Cook says

    June 25, 2015 at 11:42 am

    Definitely a sad post – tears in my eyes as I type!

    But, also a happy post about friendships, life, living, persevering …

    Reply
  13. Arell says

    June 25, 2015 at 12:47 pm

    A beautiful post, full of love. What a great tribute to your friendship. It really moved me. My condolences to you and to your friend.

    Reply
  14. Goldie says

    June 25, 2015 at 1:12 pm

    Dear Patti,
    What a wonderful post today about your friends. The Bible says “There is a time to laugh and a time to cry” Going in your sleep is a shock to family but it is the way I now hope myself and my husband go. Who has a perfect life? — I used to think everyone but me. Now at the age of 84, husband 87, I know that if everyone put their troubles in heaps and I could pick one, I would probably take mine back. You are so creative and God has blessed you with that talent but I believe sometimes we have to go through trials to become creative or rather we become more creative and compassionate because of them.

    Yesterday we had to evacuate our home quickly because of a fire in the hills right behind our house. Didn’t even have time to take important papers or couldn’t get our wits about us to decide what was important. They let us back into our home after 10 p.m. and all was well. Thanking the Lord for that but they told us to expect a very volatile fire season because of the drought. Southern California is really suffering from that.
    God bless.

    Reply
  15. Kari-Anne says

    June 25, 2015 at 2:48 pm

    Thank-you, Patti, for sharing this tribute. We will rejoice with those that rejoice, and mourn with those that mourn. You and Sandy must have a special friendship, that started just yesterday ~ but will last for eternity!

    Reply
  16. Katherine Sather says

    June 25, 2015 at 3:46 pm

    Very sorry to hear of your loss. May
    God give you peace in this sad time.

    Reply
  17. Cindy says

    June 25, 2015 at 7:12 pm

    Sad to hear this ! Reflecting on Gods promises for all of us! So hard to lose your beloved ! I can’t imagine it! My husband and I of thirty three years,also children and grandchildren .May the peace of the Holy Spirit come over the entire family and feel somehow the comfort that we will all be together in BLISS for eternity! Amen!

    Reply
  18. Sharon H says

    June 25, 2015 at 11:43 pm

    Patti, bless your heart….What a beautiful, heart-wrenching, tribute to your friends. It’s always a difficult time when a loved one dies. Even when we know they’re in Heaven with our Father, our personal sorrow is mixed with the Joy of that knowledge. The phrase, “parting is such sweet sorrow”, comes to mind and i think it’s pretty accurate for the Christian. I love that old hymn, When we all get to Heaven….what a day of rejoicing it will be! Jesus paid the price so that as believers, we can have that assurance. He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten. Bless you and your friend and her family.
    Phil 1:3, my friend.

    Reply
  19. Maria says

    June 26, 2015 at 8:45 am

    Just found your blog while cruising Pinterest. Loved your post about contentment and the powder room. All so true. My heartfelt condolences to you and your dear friend. So happy to read that they both know Jesus. Isn’t He just the most wonderful? Nothing better…so blessed. Enjoy a peaceful weekend!
    Maria in NY

    Reply
  20. Cathy@my1929charmer.com says

    June 26, 2015 at 11:56 am

    What a beautiful post in honor and tribute of your friends. Parting is never easy, always sad and filled with memories past! Condolences to you Sandy and you! A IG friend.

    Reply
  21. Cindy says

    June 30, 2015 at 6:32 am

    Beautiful Patti! Praying for your friend.
    Blessings,
    Cindy

    Reply
  22. Pat says

    June 30, 2015 at 8:35 pm

    Patti,
    A beautiful tribute to your friend and her husband.
    May God give you comfort and peace as you make yourself available to your friend in her hour(s) of need.
    Each day is a gift. . .
    Fondly,
    Pat

    Reply

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I am Perfectly Imperfect Patti, daughter of the King, wife to the amazing Mr. OTN, mom to two grown daughters, a great son-in-law, and companion to two spoiled dogs. At Old Things New I share DIY’s, budget friendly home transformations, as well as posts about how God transforms our souls. I myself have been made new and I love to share what I’ve learned through WRITING and SPEAKING. To view a short Vimeo of “Our Story” (Mr. OTN and I) please follow the link at the top of the page.

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