Good Bye Ms. Donna

Tonight I went to the funeral home for my fellow Sister in Christ, Donna.  I felt led to pay her a bit of a tribute because she always encouraged my writing and always made such positive comments about this blog.  I really dreaded being overcome with sadness tonight.  Oddly enough after I spoke to her amazing family I felt happy and joyous, there were no doubts about Donna’s impact or where her next journey would take her.  She was the real deal, and a terrific person.  She was a friend, mom, sister, wife, and foster care mother.   I wish I had more time with her, but here are some life lessons she taught me-

1.  Your best accessory- a smile right before something pink and purple of course
2.  Yes lipstick IS important
3.  A warm embrace goes a long way
4.  Teaching Children about God= Wonderful Adults who Adore You for Teaching Them
5.  Pass Along Compliments
6.  Laughter is the best medicine- with a capsule of song and dance
7.  Instead of criticizing young people…… embrace them, enjoy them, love them, and let them be who they are
8.  Facebook is best used for Praise
9.  Why eat one scoop when you can eat two?
10.  In your weakest, scary, and tired moments…..Trust God 

On my way home I celebrated Donna by buying two Macadamia Nut White Chocolate Chip Cookies and sang Wish They all Could be California Girls (except I substituted Carolina Girls for California Girls, :)).  

One time Donna told me I looked like Mrs. America (hey I ate lunch on that compliment for weeks) but Ms. Donna you wear the crown in my eyes! 

Romans 14:8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lords.

Bringin' Hats Back

Bringin' Sexy Hats Back

Maybe you've heard of this song-

well this morning at church we brought HATs Backkkkk!  Today we wore hats and scarves to celebrate our sister Donna.  Donna has cancer but it doesn't have her.  She is such a fun woman- the only woman I know who can relate to 6, 16, 36, and 60 year olds alike.  She loves the Lord and life, and she has a great sense of humor ( a shared quality).

Many people today really criticize churches.  It is easy to do when you see churches create private club type memberships/mentalities, protest in streets with words of hate, and observing members who choose to live the words of God for only an hour on Sunday.  A small percentage can really damage the rest.  God calls us to come together in worship and love.  Today was an example of how women came together to support another sister, to encourage, to raise, to laugh, to cry, to have an hour of joy together.  As a church we support each other, we make meals, we fix houses, we watch kids, we clean, and we lift those who have stumbled...its the way the world should work and it feels good.

You must check out these beautiful women and hats (I've cut out faces because believe it or not everyone may not want to star on my public blog).  But you know me, I love a good fashion statement! (and don't worry I actually listened to the sermon, even with all those pretty hats around me.)

Donna you have successfully brought HATS back!

                    

[Verse 1] Rewritten from Sexy Back-

Donnas bringing hats backkkkkkkkkk
Them other girls don't know how to acccctttttt
I think it's special we’re a packkkkkkkk  
So turn around and show the backkkkkk
Take em' to the bridge

[Bridge]
Awsome Sista’
You see those ribbons
Sista watch them sway

I’ll let you wear mine and we will prayyyyyy
No other hat makes me feel this wayyyyy

Take em' to the chorus

[Chorus] Wear that hat girl
Go ahead, be gone with it
Wear it to the front
Go ahead, be gone with it
VIP
Go ahead, be gone with it
Dinner on me
Go ahead, be gone with it
Let me see what you're working with
Go ahead, be gone with it
Don’t let your hat slip
Go ahead, be gone with it
You make me smile
Go ahead, be gone with it
Go ahead child
Go ahead, be gone with it
And get your hat on
Go ahead, be gone with it ................................