Angels sail back to God on the sea of joy.

– Terri Guillemets

I would like to dedicate this blog to my beautiful sister-in-law, Lisa (aka my little sis), who recently passed away at age 39, too young, too soon.

A few short months ago my husband and I visited, my sister-in-law, at the hospital. I recall we had a rough drive back, thinking the worst was to come. My husband shared with me at that moment that God needed Lisa up above, to keep things in check. If you had the opportunity to meet Lisa, you know she was tough; tough at work, tough at home always keeping everyone in-check. Lisa must now be looking down at us from above, guarding us all  being a light always to her precious sons, and of course to her loving husband.

I met Lisa 18 years ago, she and my brother-in-law had just started dating. My brother-in-law brought her to the hospital; an hour after I gave birth to my youngest daughter on this very day; April 14th, back in 2001. It would be the first time she and I would meet. I recall thinking what an awkward way to meet someone for the first time; feeling so tired after a 17 hour labor. She sat near the foot of my hospital bed and flashed me that cute shy smile. I remember thinking she is someone special to remember.

Lisa had extremely large hands – often the joke whenever we got together. She was always conscious about how large her hands were, always making fun claiming they were manly compared to my tiny bony hands (size 5 finger). Her hands were a representation of her personality – she was so strong; a warrior.  Her hands often herding her loved ones to where they needed to be, protecting, and loving.

Naturally, the home she would pick for her family would be in the country where she would enjoy the openness; a place to express her creativity; a place where she would enjoy riding her horses. A home she actually took on as a project, having it custom built to her taste, her personality, being involved in picking every detail of that beautiful ranch.  It was wonderful to watch her ride, she seemed so free. Her hands were meant for farming and for tackling the roughness and toughness of life.

Everything about Lisa was unique, her sense of style, the way she tackled life in general -she was truly special. Here I was now, sitting at the foot of her hospital bed one October evening sitting in awkward silence not knowing what to say or do to comfort her. There was a moment when we locked eyes for what seemed like an eternity, I was at a loss for words, as I stared into her beautiful deep green eyes and watched a tear roll down her cheek, as she expressed how she had done all she could in the slightest whisper. As they wheeled her away for a CT Scan I kissed her on the forehead and we both whispered: “I love you”.

On April 1^st, 2018, my uncle passed away; Lisa would have already received her medical report a few months earlier and a few weeks after his passing, would now receive devastating news that would forever alter her life and the lives of her loved ones. I must say, this one is definitely leaving a big hole in my heart.

We said our final goodbyes on April 11^th, 2019, when she was laid to her final resting place.  We shed tears for her feeling it was too soon, but our hearts will be forever filled with the warmth of our eternal love for her. 

I would always address Lisa as my little sister in greeting cards and in text messages. So, little sis: “you came into our lives for a brief moment and we thank you for blessing us with the gift of compassion and love. You fought a tough fight like a warrior leaving two beautiful boys as your legacy and we shall return that love eternally. Your departure has brought a special bond between two families that share a common love – you.  You are now another angel we can call upon to protect us and keep us safe because in the end that was always your purpose to stand like a warrior; protecting, fighting for a cause, as on earth you now fulfill your purpose up above.

God bless you little sis, may you rest in peace.