Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Love you. Mean it.


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“There is nothing that can replace the absence of someone dear to us, and one should not even attempt to do so. One must simply hold out and endure it. At first that sounds very hard, but at the same time it is also a great comfort. For to the extent the emptiness truly remains unfilled one remains connected to the other person through it. It is wrong to say that God fills the emptiness. God in no way fills it but much more leaves it precisely unfilled and thus helps us preserve -- even in pain -- the authentic relationship. Further more, the more beautiful and full the remembrances, the more difficult the separation. But gratitude transforms the torment of memory into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as a thorn but as a precious gift deep within, a hidden treasure of which one can always be certain.”  

~ D. Bonhoeffer


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here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)

~eecummings


Love Always
Donna








38 comments:

  1. Oh my dear Donna,
    Thinking of you. Such beautiful photos. The words touch my heart.
    Love you. Mean it.

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  2. Precious gift and hidden treasure. Three years she's been absent but present in your hearts.

    Farther along we'll understand why...

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  3. Scrolling... scrolling thru pics, then, start crying at the last one of you little girls.

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  4. Anonymous9:35 AM

    What beautiful reflections, Donna, of a life of love and legacy. I will never forget Bonhoeffer's quote. Thank you for sharing it...

    I pray that you "bear what was lovely in the past not as a thorn but as a precious gift deep within, a hidden treasure of which one can always be certain.”

    Shedding tears of remembrance for you,
    Mary from Wheaton

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  5. This is love.

    These photos are precious. Thank you for sharing your life with us.

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  6. Anonymous9:45 AM

    Fighting back the tears. Love you, Donna.

    Sarah P. from Iowa

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  7. Anonymous9:53 AM

    Thinking of you and praying for your sisters & brother and you. Love you and sending hugs, kisses & tears your way. -- Carol Sue

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  8. Anonymous10:03 AM

    Sniff!! Sniff! I knew today's post would be wonderful! Thank you!! XOXO
    sis' cindy :)

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  9. "and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart"

    What a beautiful way of describing the power of loving another person.

    Love to you, Donna, on this day of remembrance. Love you! Mean it!

    Di

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  10. Anonymous10:07 AM

    Your precious sister Sue, how I wish she could still be here to love her family and be a phone call away for you. I do believe that you will see each other again, be reunited and love will be there. We are on a journey and death is not the end, it is the beginning. love and prayers, jep

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  11. Anonymous10:11 AM

    Peace...


    Bridget in Minnesota

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  12. What a beautiful tribute. The photos are perfect. I'm glad you got me set up and handed me the camera for that sweet little kiss photo. <3 She was absolutely adorable that day. Jacket zipped and hands in pockets. ;) She was loved greatly and she is missed greatly.

    The DB quote is amazing. Wow.

    I love you, Donna. I know how you miss your Irish twin. Thinking of you.

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  13. Dear Donna,
    You capture love and loss and the missing that never leaves. What a beautiful tribute to Sue.

    hmbalison

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  14. Anonymous10:12 AM

    Tears flowing. I LOVE the picture of Sue and Katie in the water. I also love the Cummings poem. "I carry your heart with me." Wow.

    Sandy C

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  15. Anonymous10:22 AM

    So much love in these photos. So much pain in your hearts.

    You and all who are are missing your dear sister are on my heart today.

    Mary Z

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  16. Others will find comfort as they mourn their own personal losses by reading these words today. What a beautiful way to honor your sister. Thinking of you today, Donna.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous7:22 AM

      So true...I did.

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  17. Anonymous10:53 AM

    so touching and full of love. Karen F.

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  18. Anonymous11:18 AM

    What beautiful words and pictures today. "Gratitude transforms . . ." I will hold on to those words. Blessings to you and your family!

    Krista in Missouri

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  19. Big hugs to you. This is such a touching post. I saw this quote earlier this week and have been thinking about it ever since.

    “You will lose someone you can’t live without,and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.”

    ― Anne Lamott

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  20. ha :o) I posted it on my blog :o)
    It's wonderful.

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    Replies
    1. Love all your quotes, Donna - but these today, and the Anne Lamott from earlier -- oh they are so meaningful.

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  21. How beautiful. Thanks for sharing. That e.e. cummings poem is so simply breathtaking. Peace and hugs, Donna.

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  22. What a beautiful tribute. Praying for you.
    E.

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  23. The love you have for you sister/siblings, comes through in your photos and in your words.

    Thinking of all of you today. You brought tears to my eyes.

    Keep the faith.

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  24. You always have such lovely quotes, Donna. I love the photos of Sue. I said a prayer for you today. Love.

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  25. "I carry your heart with me." Yes. Yes, that is what we do when we lose the ones we love. Thinking of you, Donna, and all your sisters on this day. ((((((hugs)))))))

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  26. ~Sonjasunshine3:43 PM

    Bless you and your siblings today. Do you know, I thought of you when I read that passage in Bonhoeffer.

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  27. What beauty. Flat-out, simple beauty. Wish I could give you a real hug today. (Well, any day, but especially right now.) I'm praying for your family. I know it hurts but there is so much joy in those pictures too. I'm guessing there are smiles and tears for you today. Much love to you...

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    Replies
    1. Reminds me of that line in Steel Magnolias, Christina.

      Truvy: "laughter through tears is my favorite emotion."

      and YES to giving you a real hug, Donna :-)

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    2. Christina11:28 PM

      I'll never forget watching that movie with my mom, my aunt, and my grandma...we walked out to the car afterwards, bawling, sniffling, holding on to one another for dear life. It's a memory I treasure. :)

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  28. I tell my sisters (and our mom) that I love them every single day and I truly, truly mean it. Thank you for such a wonderful post ... it meant a lot to me. Linda

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  29. I cry for your loss.
    I am glad God gave her to you.
    So thankful for that.

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  30. You keep her alive in your heart. SHe is with you Dear Donna.

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