A few weeks ago Jon's grandfather was officially diagnosed with dementia. Though I haven't seen him since the holidays it's been really sad for me thinking about him and his wife and sadly their mortality.As a result, I've spend most of the past month putting things into perspective. Work, vacation, disagreements, stress, errands.
Many people know that over a span of 11 months between the past year and a half I lost three of my remaining grandparents. Growing up traveling as much as I did with my parents eventually parting ways, I didn't get the opportunity to know my grandparents very well, but knew them well over the phone, specifically nana Harris.
I've gotten very close to grandpa over the last four and a half years and love him as much as I would any of my own grandparents. As I've been training for my half marathon I've been thinking and praying for so many people, especially those that are here in the present with me. But today I want to share with you about a dear friend who lost her battle to leukemia when I was younger.
Meet and Greet
I was entering high school, freakishly tall, lanky, and awkward except when I did dance or played my clarinet. We had recently started going to a new mainstream/modern church in the next town over, Church For All Nations. They were in revival, everyone was loving God. At that time the two things I remember most was happy and content people, and genuine smiles. My twin, Char, and I were much closer then and stuck to each other like glue. Like two Siamese cats leary of everyone but giving sheepish grins and remembering our Southern-like manners whenever an adult spoke to us.
In bounce Francis and Jennifer. Both twins too. Both fraternal. Francis more reserved like myself. Jennifer as energetic as a golden retrieve pup, similar to my sister Char. We were never the best of friends, but we immediately had that bond that most multiple birth people do. We became instant friends.
Char and I always looked up to Francis and Jennifer, they were older, wiser, and had this God-thing figured out a lot better than we did. They were worshippers, teachers, students, and most of all friends.Through the growing pains of puberty they were great role models for what Char and I could blossom into. We would occasionally go to bible study at Wessamo's house, hangout before and after worship, act in church plays, and work in the church café together. Again we were never best of friends but when they four of us were around each other it was just right.
Jennifer's Passing
Fast forward a number of years, whenever we came home from college and visited my mom's church it was a helping hug from the past. There would be the normal salutations, hugs, kisses, welcomes- as you would do with friends picking up where you left off. This would happen not only with old friends from youth group, but the deacons, and elders, and kids you remembered watching when they were in the nursery- except now they stood near four feet tall.
It was these things in life I started to realize I took for granted when I heard the news. My mom called me, it was in '08. Telling me that we needed to come home, one of the twins had died and lost her fight with Leukemia. Jennifer battled leukemia for well over a year. Had even gone into remission so we'd thought. As a matter of fact I had just seen her over the holidays when I'd gone back to visit.
I don't remember the service. Not clearly. I remember being in shock. Her sister crying uncontrollably- like her womb had been ripped out. My twin was bawling too. But all I could do was stand there and hug. I remember Jennifer's giggles. that everyone who met her loved her curly locks and her cheerful grin. I remember her wisdom from youth group as she grew to be one of the next wave of our leaders. But it was life cut too short. I don't remember her suffering or ever complaining about it. I remember interceding in prayer, but I don't remember mourning. Most of all I remember her singing with my mom on stage...at church...glowing. But knowing Jennifer I know she would have wanted us to remember her happy.
It's weird how whenever you hear of someone starting to not do well that you immediately think of the people who've left this world to go on to a better place. Jennifer is always one of those people that I remember. That I love. That I aspire to be as giving to my community as she was to hers.
As I approach my race in just a few weeks, in addition to the grandparents, survivors, and those we've loved that have since gone; I'll be remembering Jennifer.
Many people know that over a span of 11 months between the past year and a half I lost three of my remaining grandparents. Growing up traveling as much as I did with my parents eventually parting ways, I didn't get the opportunity to know my grandparents very well, but knew them well over the phone, specifically nana Harris.
I've gotten very close to grandpa over the last four and a half years and love him as much as I would any of my own grandparents. As I've been training for my half marathon I've been thinking and praying for so many people, especially those that are here in the present with me. But today I want to share with you about a dear friend who lost her battle to leukemia when I was younger.
Meet and Greet
I was entering high school, freakishly tall, lanky, and awkward except when I did dance or played my clarinet. We had recently started going to a new mainstream/modern church in the next town over, Church For All Nations. They were in revival, everyone was loving God. At that time the two things I remember most was happy and content people, and genuine smiles. My twin, Char, and I were much closer then and stuck to each other like glue. Like two Siamese cats leary of everyone but giving sheepish grins and remembering our Southern-like manners whenever an adult spoke to us.
In bounce Francis and Jennifer. Both twins too. Both fraternal. Francis more reserved like myself. Jennifer as energetic as a golden retrieve pup, similar to my sister Char. We were never the best of friends, but we immediately had that bond that most multiple birth people do. We became instant friends.
Char and I always looked up to Francis and Jennifer, they were older, wiser, and had this God-thing figured out a lot better than we did. They were worshippers, teachers, students, and most of all friends.Through the growing pains of puberty they were great role models for what Char and I could blossom into. We would occasionally go to bible study at Wessamo's house, hangout before and after worship, act in church plays, and work in the church café together. Again we were never best of friends but when they four of us were around each other it was just right.
Jennifer's Passing
Fast forward a number of years, whenever we came home from college and visited my mom's church it was a helping hug from the past. There would be the normal salutations, hugs, kisses, welcomes- as you would do with friends picking up where you left off. This would happen not only with old friends from youth group, but the deacons, and elders, and kids you remembered watching when they were in the nursery- except now they stood near four feet tall.
It was these things in life I started to realize I took for granted when I heard the news. My mom called me, it was in '08. Telling me that we needed to come home, one of the twins had died and lost her fight with Leukemia. Jennifer battled leukemia for well over a year. Had even gone into remission so we'd thought. As a matter of fact I had just seen her over the holidays when I'd gone back to visit.
I don't remember the service. Not clearly. I remember being in shock. Her sister crying uncontrollably- like her womb had been ripped out. My twin was bawling too. But all I could do was stand there and hug. I remember Jennifer's giggles. that everyone who met her loved her curly locks and her cheerful grin. I remember her wisdom from youth group as she grew to be one of the next wave of our leaders. But it was life cut too short. I don't remember her suffering or ever complaining about it. I remember interceding in prayer, but I don't remember mourning. Most of all I remember her singing with my mom on stage...at church...glowing. But knowing Jennifer I know she would have wanted us to remember her happy.
It's weird how whenever you hear of someone starting to not do well that you immediately think of the people who've left this world to go on to a better place. Jennifer is always one of those people that I remember. That I love. That I aspire to be as giving to my community as she was to hers.
As I approach my race in just a few weeks, in addition to the grandparents, survivors, and those we've loved that have since gone; I'll be remembering Jennifer.
As I complete my training it's to fundraise to help find a cure, so that people we know, others cherish, we can help save or improve their lives, minimize their pain, and hopefully bring peace to their families. Please consider making a donation if you haven't yet done so to my fundraising page. It's an incredible cause, with an incredible impact. I ask that as you donate, you do so in remembrance of someone whose touched your life.
Charm's Fundraising Page:
