...to a bright life that went too soon?  If you figure it out, let me know.  Today was Shela's funeral.  It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.  Not the hardest thing by a long shot.  But it was so difficult.  I thought that if I ran the sound booth for her funeral, it would help me stay focused and not cry.  Instead, I had to look through the tears to see the controls.

They asked people to stand up and tell memories.  I stood up and broke down sobbing trying to say that I would miss her calling me at just the moment I needed to hear a friends voice and I would miss her dropping by with a meal or small gift.  She had a knack for knowing what I needed sometimes before even I did.

She had a gorgeous smile and you rarely ever saw her not smiling.  She was so laid back that you rarely ever saw her get her feathers in a ruffle.  I think I know of ONE time it happened and it lasted like 5 minutes.  It was over the kids and it was over in no time at all and she was back to her normal self.  So fleeting.

She had the voice of an angel, and not just me thought that.  The song that really set her voice off and showed the control she had over it was, "Come Thou Fount."  I could listen to her sing that song forever, and now I will only hear it in my dreams.

I know it is over.  I know she is heaven and having a grand old time.  I know I will never see her again...but how do I say goodbye?  It is not fair.  She had so much.  She gave so much.  She touched so many lives.  I will never forget when we met.  It was the week after Sissy was born.  Shela was pregnant with Sissy the first time she attended our church.  The next Sunday, she was in the hospital having or having just had, Sissy.  And the following Sunday, she was sitting behind me holding Sissy and I asked how old Sissy was and she told me.  Then she asked if I wanted to hold her and of course, I did!  The rest, as they say is history.

I am the one who got her on the worship team.  I heard her singing next to me and I told Tina and them that they needed her on the team.  By the time she died, she was the only one left on the team.

She had such a precious soul and was so full of God's grace.  She was so full of life, and now, she is gone.

Goodbye, Shela.  I love you and I will miss you forever.