Friday, December 21, 2012

Friendship Friday ~ Meet Paula

friendship friday

Christmas is only 4 days away.  What better was to bless a friend than by paying tribute to them in some way?  Write about him on your blog!  Post about her on FB!  Whatever you decide – share your friends with us!  We want to hear how wonderful they are! 

(Don’t forget to come back to this post and link up so we can all “meet” your friends!)

A personal note: For a lot of my weekly series posts on my blog, I work ahead.  I do up several posts at once and schedule them to go live on the appropriate dates.  Not so with Friendship Friday. I wait and see who God lays on my heart each week. 

This week, is a bit different from the rest . . .


I learned earlier this week that my friend Paula’s battle with cancer had come to an end.  She passed from this life on to heaven early Tuesday morning.  She’s been in my thoughts (and her sweet family has been on my heart) ever since . . .

I “met” Paula through my previous job when she applied to be a member of the review team that I was in charge of.  She was a great asset to the team – a very talented writer, very organized and on time.  I didn’t think much of it – as with many of the members on that team, I often don’t get opportunity to actually meet them in person.

But, as it turned out, a mutual friend (Shannon) told me that she and Paula (and their girls) were planning to travel to PA from Canada for the Revolve Tour last spring.  I live in PA and I hadn’t even heard of it; but upon checking it out, it looked like something Ashley and I would enjoy, so we bought tickets. 

Revolve Tour 088This is a picture of the three of us from that very first night – our first time laying eyes on each other, and already we look like great friends, right?

The following night, we got to eat supper together and do a little bit of shopping, before we had to say our good-byes. 

Revolve Tour 150Here I am with Paula and her daughter Mattea at supper.

Revolve Tour 153
Saying good-bye.

I had no idea when we hugged and said our good-byes that I would never see Paula again this side of heaven.  Not long after that meeting, she found out that she had cancer. 

Through it all, she was a constant source of grace and strength.  She certainly never let cancer consume her or take away her love for her family or the Lord

I feel extra blessed that I had the chance to meet her in person, to hug her, and to spend some quality time with her. 

Please, if you’re reading this post, say a prayer for my friend Paula’s husband and her 4 precious children.  Also pray for everyone whose life has been touched by her.  There are a lot of people who are mourning her passing – though we are rejoicing that she’s in a better place. 


3 comments:

Mickey said...

Heidi, thank you for your Friendship Friday post about your friend Paula! I did as you asked and prayed for God's Strength and Peace to come upon the family. I'm truly sorry for their loss, but like you, I'm rejoicing with all of you in knowing that she is with our Savior right now! Still, God Bless everyone who was touched in their lives by her.

Heidi Strawser said...

Thanks so much, Mike. Your thoughts and prayers for Paula's family are very much appreciated.

Ginny said...

What a lovely tribute to your friend. I am sorry for your loss and for her family to have to going through this. I, too, am rejoicing that we will all meet in Heaven someday. Keeping her family (and you) in prayer.

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