Thankfulness...

[Dan and Laurie Ward]

On the eve of Thanksgiving, 2008... of the multitude of things I have to be thankful for, I am thinking of one in particular this season. It happens to be the good fortune of getting to know Stephanie, to be a part of the rich fabric of her life before she was called back to her maker. Good friends are precious. Good friends who are also next door neighbors, doubly so. Steph was often away from home on holidays. She and Mark had so many wonderful family members and friends to visit. But I always thought of her, and her magical smile on special days. I would feel a bit of jealousy toward whoever she was visiting... they were seeing that smile, feeling that warmth, not me. But the jealousy would pass quickly, replaced by gratitude that I could visualize it in my mind. It would return when she got back home. The smile hasn't left. I see it now in Sam's face when he is out playing with his dad. I feel it when remembering Steph with mutual friends. And I try to grasp it when feeling sorry for myself over some little thing, knowing what Stephanie went through, always smiling. Thank you, Stephanie, this holiday is about you.

[Ann Marshik]

That is absolutely beautiful and so very, very true! She had that special touch (the midas touch, as a friend of hers recently said) and boy did she touch a lot of people. Thank you Dan and Laurie for sharing!
Ann