“It’s Your breath, in our lungs, and we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise…”  Song by All Your Sons and Daughters

It all began when we moved to the house I grew up in.  Sandy and I found each other because her family lived about half a mile from us and we went to the same school.  We became fast friends and had a blast.  Riding bikes, playing outside, dolls, you name it.  Together more than not, we navigated through elementary school, jr high, and then finally high school until my family moved away.  Then when my sister and I moved back two years later, we reconnected by working at the same job.  She was at my wedding, I at hers.  And then we both moved and lost touch.

Fast forward many years and we found each other again on our high school’s 30th reunion website..what a blast we had catching up!  And then came our 50th birthday year.  Mine was in January, hers in June.  I was having very mixed emotions about the whole 50 thing, and was not particularly excited.

And then came the news.  January 6th I found out that Sandy had gone to the hospital on the 1st of December, they found a brain anuerysm, operated, and Sandy died on Dec 15th.  No watning, no clue, nothing.  She had a headache one day and was gone 2 weeks later.

I was devastated.  I was not happy about turning 50, and Sandy had died at 49.  What a perspective changer.  I vowed frim that moment on to never complain about my age, and I haven’t. I still miss her, especially at Christmas when I pull out my ornaments and see hers..she gave me my very first one as a married lady.

I say all this to say remember.  When you are having a tough time, remember that it IS His breath in our lungs, and that while we have that gift, we need to say thank you..and pour out His praise to this world!

Sandy knew Jesus and was a child of His.  I will see her again.  But until then, i continue to live my life in her honor, and for His praise!