Thank you from Mom

I am loving reading these comments and stories!  Please share more if you have any.  I wish my faith were as strong as Pam's and I could better understand what has happened these past few weeks.  I am including a pictue of Pam taken just two or three weeks before she entered the hospital. Hard to believe such a beautiful young lady could be gone so fast. Here is what I wrote earlier that was read at the funeral:

My sweet baby girl....   I miss you so desperately.  I miss our late night talks, our late night kitchen raids, your hilarious emails, your love of monkeys and flowers and jazz and Sinatra and candles and all things soft and cuddly.  I miss watching the birds by day or the stars by night with you on our deck.  I miss you bouncing in the door filled with stories of friends or school work or problems we needed to solve. I miss our long talks over dinner and our shopping marathons. In fact, I have already dreamed this week that you were just on the other side of the Old Navy dressing room door as I was waiting for you to come out any minute.  I miss our talks about boys.  I wont dare ask for a show of hands of any guys here who's heart was ever captured by you. 

Your love of music began back in marching band years ago.  The first song you listened to on your ipod when they began your chemo was by Miles Davis.  Music was always such an important part of you. I understand there may an award in your honor given in marching band next year.  Mr. Davis, your band director, said you were one of the reasons he kept teaching. 

You have made a lasting impression everywhere you have been.  I miss your enthusiasm for life, love and friends, and for Gardner-Webb.  You considered it such a thrill to just walk across campus and see who you might bump into. It was always a treat to you to talk to anyone who crossed your path here. I remember us talking your freshman year about how cool you thought it would be to be Dr. Theado for a lot of reasons, but also to get to work here and be a part of this ministry every day. You often mentioned to me in recent weeks how you wanted to stay at Gardner-Webb forever.  Your goal was to get well and come here to serve in any capacity available. 

Your friendships here are deep and lasting, as is yours and mine.  Honey, you have been the best friend a mother could ever dream of having. Even though my heart is shattered from the unbearable pain of losing you, I am filled with the tremendous joy of having had the privilege of being your mom.  It is such an awesome honor and I will be eternally grateful that the Lord entrusted me with such a wondrous and delightful daughter as you.  Your vibrant personality has enriched all of our lives, and your love for life has been a wonder to watch. 

When we entered the hospital eight weeks ago, little did we know it would come to this.  But you never once questioned or complained.  You were fearless.  In fact, when you were diagnosed with lymphoma, your first response was "maybe I am supposed to be a cancer survivor as part of my ministry."  Awesome.  Your faith has always been breathtaking. Always looking for how God can use you even more than he already has. You never wavered in your trust in the Lord's plan for you. Such a beautiful spirit. 

Your doctors at UNC all fell madly in love with you from day one. They saw in you what we have all seen in you over the years.  A young woman who was the finest example of Christian love you will ever find.  You always assumed the position of the least important person in the room and lifted everyone else up in the process.  Your 22 years were so rich and concentrated and full of life, and filled with so very many people who love you.

You made us all better people by having you in our lives. Me especially.  You have been an absolute joy and will continue to be a thriving part of my life forever.  I don't know how I am supposed to let you go.  It is a crushing pain in my heart, but I will see you again, my Darling.  In the meantime I will stand back and watch what happens next, because your ministry, young lady, is far from over.  I love you dearly.  Good bye for now, my darling.