Life Lessons

This past week an amazing and sweet friend died from cancer. Catie was only 30 and has three children ages 6, 4, 2. Little Mary is Nicole's friend and Catie's husband Steve works at UNC and he and Jim go out to lunch a lot. Catie taught me SO much and I wanted to share a little. She was always smiling this radiant, hundred watt smile- even through the toughest of times. She had been diagnosed with cancer while pregnant with her youngest, and chose to keep the baby and the risks that came with that. I remember sitting in a class with her a year later and seeing her hold that baby while a teacher mentioned what a blessing her baby is-then while the teacher moved on in the lesson, she just held her sweet baby a little closer with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. She absoutely treasured her children. When the first battle with cancer had passed, she invited our family over and made us a delicious dinner and dessert. She loved serving others instead of constantly living over past trials. Even as she faced cancer a second time not too much later, I always saw her with a smile on her face that radiated the faith and testimony she had of the gospel. As her conditioned worsened with eventually less and less successful treatments, she continued to place her trust in the Lord. Her biggest concerns were for her dear husband and children- she never whined or complained about her trials that were beyond what I can imagine.

Her husband Steve described it so well "I couldn't even begin to describe all the physical pains, discomforts, and annoyances she faced, nor the emotional weight she felt as she saw what was coming and worried about her kids, family, and friends she would leave behind. But despite all of this, though she had every reason to be angry or depressed, she remained positive--publicly and privately. She loved her family and friends, kept her faith in God, and never stopped smiling. A couple weeks ago I was looking through pictures I have of Catie and something struck me. Even as she was facing cancer and death and everything that entails, I could always see happiness in her eyes and in her smile. all of the pictures of her while she was suffering tremendously. I am striving to be more like that as well. She was so happy for each day and moment that she was to spend with her children."

I want to always remember the beauty of the legacy she left for all of us and treasure life and each precious moment with our family.