See You Later, Fran!

This week I lost a friend. But, what heaven gained…oh my. Heaven gained one of the most faithful, beautiful worshipers. I know God and Fran are enjoying each other right now. That makes me smile.

I am choosing not to say, “good-bye” to my friend Fran. I know I will see her later. I rejoice that Fran is now perfectly healed and praising our Savior face to face. But I’m terribly sad that I won’t see her again this side of heaven, and I’m grieving for her precious family…her husband Ed, that she loved so much, her daughter Emma that was her pride and joy, and their adopted daughter Eden, who didn’t have nearly long enough with her new mommy.

Ed wrote a beautiful message about Fran’s passing, you can read it here on her blog.

It’s hard to describe how well you can get to know someone on an online message board, like the Five in a Row board where I got to know Fran. It’s really a neat community, we pray for each other, share the small joys, asking questions about parenting and homeschooling…you get to know the ladies that post there on a regular basis. In the summer of 2008, Fran and I got to meet “in person” at the Five in a Row conference and we “hit it off” so to speak. We laughed about some of the funny things we had in common, and vowed to get our girls together to play at some point.

Last summer, they came to TN to go camping and visit with us. Unfortunately, alllll the rain cut our visit short, but we did get one day for our girls to play together and Fran and I to talk. After they went home, our girls started writing letters to each other and we made tentative plans to get together this summer once again.

I am so sad that we will not be able to get together this summer. I am sad that when I first learned her cancer was back I didn’t move forward with our plans and go to visit her then. I never would have imagined it would all happen this fast…

I am sad that little Eden got such a short time with her mommy. Fran inspired so many of us by seeking out a special needs child to adopt. God had been growing Fran’s faith in such amazing ways, and this was just out of the overflow of her walk with Him.

I am sad that Emma won’t have her mommy to talk with as she becomes a teenager…as she falls in love…as she has her own babies someday.

I am sad for Ed. Fran loved her family fiercely. She loved cooking fabulous meals for them. She loved doing Christmas up BIG time. She loved homeschooling and just being at home with her family. She is an inspiration to all of us as moms and wives.

All of these things bring much sadness to my heart…but I am so thankful today that we who are His do not have to grieve without hope. HE is our hope. We will see Him face to face one day. I can’t possibly wish for Fran to be back on this earth with all the pain. I am truly happy for her…and a bit jealous. 🙂 She beat me to Jesus.

I’ll see you again at Home, Fran.

*Ed posted that this song will be played at Fran’s celebration service. I think his posting this song was a special gift from Fran to me. My Hannah danced to this song at her ballet recital a few months ago. I had never heard it before Hannah’s ballet class, but I loved it. Now, I will have even more reason to cherish this song and the beautiful reminder that Fran is with her All in All now.