March 19th 2011 my sister Shirley passed away quite suddenly. She had had some problems on and off with health . I really don't know too much as she had not spoken to the rest of the family in over a year. Reasons I do not quite understand but that was Shirley. She could find a reason not to comjmunicate with you and you not know the reason.
I am sad that she has passed without speaking to us, I would have loved to say"I love You" but that wasn't in the plan of God. He took her home with her family at her side, she has been able to talk to them privately, only God knows what was in her heart. I felt peace at her funeral, it was as she planned, simple but impressive, good music , lively sermon then to the graveside. She had purchased her flowers, casket, white limo for the ride to the grave. All plans had been made and paid for, that was Shirley, didn't want to bother anyone. Sherrie , her daughter was very sad as were her two sons, David and Darren, the joy of her life in later years was Kaitlin, her granddaughter. I was so proud of Sherrie, who put forth her plans.
I am glad that I had the privilige of being her sister for 68 years. We didn't play together too much as she loved to play cowboy and Indians while I loved the dolls, house and singing. Dad had built a playhouse for us girls but not for Shirley, she ran around with the little boys, while I played in the doll house.
When she was six months old she contacted whooping cough, the coughing was so spasmodic, sounding like a whoop . We were at church when she started coughing lost her breath, our pastor grabbed her threw her up in the air, which she then caught her breath and started breathing again. She survived that horrible disease, while other children did not. We had the measles, mumps , chicken pox about the same time along with our brother, Charles. We survived childhood, moving to our new home, slept in the same room. Childhood was just a good childhood doing the things that children do, play, running,eating ice cream ( our dads favorite). One year at Christmas, Santa brought us bicycles, we happened to see when they were delivered!!! We even picked out our bikes before they next morning! What times... my brother ,Charles, passed away in 1974 from Leukemia. We would never get over his death, a part of the Leonard family had left us to go be with God.
Good times, sad times, all times that are endured as children then young adults and adults. God has been good to all of us, good parents who loved God, tried to impart to us , values that would help us to have a good and fruitful life.
I miss Shirley, even though there wasn't much conversation, she was still a part of my life. She did called me when Vann passed away, crying, telling me how much she loved him , sad he had died. That was Shirley, she could be there for you.
Shirley, I love you. Will see you in heaven one day.
Psalms 84:11 " The Lord God is a sun and shield, no good thing will HE withhold from me if I walk uprightly"...that is my desire to walk uprightly. Amen.
