Debi

I received a shocking phone call yesterday to find out my teaching partner and dear friend had passed away in the night. I am still in a fog, wondering what could have gone wrong. Deb was undergoing cancer treatments. She was almost finished and was looking forward to her recovery period. We joked last week about how she was going to really get in shape this fall! I told her she could come and kick my butt to join her at the gym. She had plans to come to our school Terry Fox Run. She was going to be my art mentor next year and come by to teach me the finer points of teaching chalk pastel to kids. She had plans for a tropical vacation with her family to celebrate the end of her treatments and hopefully the end of her cancer. And now she's gone. It's so hard for me to understand. My heart aches for her husband and two young children.

Last night I lay awake asking God all kind of questions. God was gracious to let me blabber all night, complaining and questioning his motives. I wanted to know why I didn't have more time for at least one more visit. I wanted to know why I hadn't said all the things I wanted to say. This morning in the shower He spoke one word to my heart and that was, "Listen." So, I am trying to quiet my soul and hear what God has to say. I'm going to take some time for that today.

I'm about to go out to their home to deliver some home baked goodies and cards of comfort from myself and various staff members. It is going to be strange to pull up to their house knowing Deb is gone.

I went to school on Tuesday to prepare for the fall. God had timed it perfectly somehow. I accomplished so much I was in awe and felt someone was actually guiding me. I kept thinking to myself all day that it was unreal how much I was getting accomplished, considering I didn't feel I was working very efficiently. I was able to go through Deb's stuff and make decisions about throwing old things out and recycling others. I did it happily, knowing she would be relieved that I had weeded out so much and organized our classroom so well. That night Debi died. If I had waited until later this week to go in to school, I know I wouldn't have been able to be ready. It was such a sign to me of how God looks after every detail. I am in awe.

Pray for Debi's family. This is such a difficult road for them to travel.