"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

For Leontien

Honestly I was not going to do a post to day - because as usual I am behind.  Again! So have patience with me.

However since it is for Leontien - a beautiful young blogger, who just lost her life on the 10th from melanoma I decided heck yah I'd do it - it would have been her 34th birthday today.

Why do we carry on for her - well she was so young.  She married in 2008 and then discovered her cancer the same year.  

She was a fighter.  A lover of people.  Courageous. She didn't get too down from what I can tell and she carried on. She had dreams and lived them in spite of her illness.  I think she was a woman of courage.

  
Today we are supposed to do one Random Act of Kindness in her name.

I'm so behind like I said - but my daughter wants me to go with her, to take grandson to the eye doctor.  I said no because I'm so busy, but I'll go - because she is the same age as Leontien and even when we fight and carry on - I love her dearly.  Grandson is half day today and conferences are this afternoon, dinner with a friend tonight, and the dentist - it'll be a busy day.  Oh yes, grocery shopping too!  Just one day at a time sweet Jesus.  I am going to breathe and enjoy!

I'm also going to bring in Kleenex, Clorex wipes, hand sanitizer, and soap to each of his teachers - they asked for that since everyone was so sick from before Christmas break and their supplies have run out.

So here's to you dear Leontein.  

Do you know for Christmas she sent me a beautiful card and a $2 bill?  I think to pass luck to me.  Wow.


Flowers for Leontien.



REMEMBER:
LEONTIEN HAD PASSION



66 comments:

Cranberry Morning said...

Beautiful post, Sandie.

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

So tragic when young people die.

MadSnapper said...

beautiful post and you are doing a good deed going to the doctor...

betty said...

I read Leontien's obituary; I didn't realize she had come over from the Netherlands and why she did to start her farm. Amazing young lady; I know she touched so many and will be missed by so many.

I'll try to remember to do one act of random kindness today.

You are a very generous lady Sandie to supply what is needed in the classrooms of grandson's teachers.

I hope the appointment goes well today and slow down a bit, enjoy what you have at home, and remember these blogs can always wait and will always be here.

betty

Beansieleigh said...

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend, Sandie, and my heart goes out to all her family and friends... Hope your day runs smoothly. Honestly, it sounded like a day straight out of MY crazy schedule, so I feel like I totally understand! ~tina

Susan said...

Oh, that was such a special post, Sandie. I know Leonthien will look down upon you from heaven and she will be so happy! What a lovely birthday gift you gave her.

I'll try to do a random act of kindness today,in her memory, too! Susan

Kim said...

Such a tragedy for a beautiful young woman. Lovely post Sandie xo

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Absolutely beautiful. I wish I had known her...I really wish I had.

Pat Hatt said...

Wonderful dedication indeed, sounds like she was an amazing person.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

You are so right, Sandie...she was passionate about life and shared that with all of us!...:)JP

Elizabeth Edwards said...

Leontien was amazing! i love the random acts of kindness ... in her honor. better get started.

i hope you get caught up real soon. big hugs. so rainy & cold here. ( :

Debby@Just Breathe said...

So sweet....the teachers will love you act of kindness.

Shelly said...

She lives on in all she touched and inspired, but she is dearly missed.

Ruth Kelly said...

Be grateful that you have such a busy and full life and loved ones there to share it with.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Sandie what a sweet post! She was such a young and brave woman and to do a kindness in her honor on her birthday is very special. Hugs to you my friend, Linda

valerietilsten59.blogspot.com said...

Dear Sandie,
This beautiful post for Leontine brought tears to my eyes. How lovely you have written about here.
I did not know her or blog with her..
How young to die,in the prime of her life.
She is now with the angels in heaven.
val

Unknown said...

Great rememberance!

Simply Debbie said...

Sandie,
what a precious post. MY prayers will be with her family, for the hole her passing left in their hearts will take a very long time to heal.
Did she have a blog?
SOOOOOO very young. Our life is in God's hands.
have a nice time at dinner and it was very kind to go with your daughter to take your grandson to the Dr.
I SOOOO WISH I had that chance but it was not meant to be.
Grace, Healing,and Hope
HUGS AND PRAYERS

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Sandie .. what a lovely person Leontien must have been - thank you for sharing your memories with us ...

Have a peaceful day remembering .. my thoughts to you and to her family ... Hilary

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

After you wrote about Leontine, I read her blog. What a beautiful person she was. Her life was about inspriing others and to make them better. She did well!

Knitty said...

What a wonderful tribute. You are a good friend.

Aloha Acres said...

Beautiful. ((hugs)) Today.

Beth said...

A very lovely tribute for your friend!

Angela said...

It is so hard to read that she passed. It takes me back to my breast cancer and how blessed I am though but still it is hard to believe someone so young could die from skin cancer. Beautiful post and tribute to her Sandie. She must have thought highly of you to send you a card at Christmas when she was going through so much at that time.

Hugs,
Angela

Inger said...

Leontien was so special, she inspired all of us to become stronger and better, I think.

Thank you for this, I will not be going out today, so I will make sure to find a random act of kindness for my dogs or my hubby in Leontien's name.

Melanie said...

I'm so sorry to hear about Leontien's passing. So sad.
What a sweet thing to do for your grandson's teachers. I'm sure they'll really appreciate the thoughtfulness.
Love and hugs to you, my sweet friend!♥

Betsy Banks Adams said...

How wonderful...That is a tremendous tribute to Sweet Leontien, Sandie. She was loved --and she will be missed. God Bless her family.
Hugs,
Betsy

Cheryl @ TFD said...

You are such a sweet grandma!
Lovely tribute for Leontien. She was such a sweet and beautiful young woman and touched all of us with her bravery and spirit.

Unknown said...

Lovely post! :)

Ginny Hartzler said...

Your flower collage is beautiful and this was so awful and so sad! Do not let business keep you from doing things with and for your family. Everything else can wait except them, time is precious.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I didn't know your friend but have heard many mention her death on their blogs. It is very sweet of you to offer that trip to the dentist in the middle of your busy day. . I'm just back in from the grocery store and I'm ready to call it quits. It's a job when you consider all the loading and unloading and putting away. Hope your busy day is a good one!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Special post for a very special child of God.

jack69 said...

Sweet, but such a tragedy. So young yet so alive. I never knew her, but the things you have mentioned, I too wish I had known her thru the blogs.
Such powerful thoughts she has passed on.
Good for you!

Love from Wildwood, Florida.

Suzan said...

So lovely! Leontien was an inspiration to all of us!! To love God and to live her life to the very fullest!! Leontien's life was never half full or half empty - but full to the brim and running over :-}}

TexWisGirl said...

she did, indeed, have so much passion. a lover of life. a darer. a dreamer.

Nonnie said...

A beautiful post and I think you did more than one random act of kindness today. Blessings to you for sharing about this lovely young woman!

Belle said...

Thank you for sharing about this beautiful woman. An act of kindness in honor of someone is a lovely idea.
You do have a busy day! I am praying for you.

Jackie said...

I am so sorry to hear about the death of Leontien.
God bless you as you carried out your acts of kindness(es.) What a wonderful gift of love you share with her family...and with us.
Again, my sincerest condolences to her family and friends.
With love,
Jackie

Ms. A said...

Happy Birthday to our Dear Leontien.

Ann said...

A beautiful post today. So sad when a life ends too soon

The Boston Lady said...

I did not realize she had passed away, Sandie. I've been so sporadic in my reading the last several weeks that I somehow missed this sad news. She was indeed a fighter, a graceful warrior with a generous heart. Ann

Larkrise garden girl said...

Leontien, Was such a brave young woman and wrote with such honesty and courage.I loved when she would write a comment on my blog and such a heart she had, The Lord needed a extra Angel and Leontien is truly one of them. I feel so sad for Bastian and her family,Cheri

Connie said...

Lovely tribute post, Sandie. Bravo for you doing a random act of kindness in her name.

Paula said...

Everyone speaks so highly about Leontien. I didn't know her well but she had commented in my blog first and that was so nice of her. I was just getting to know her as a dear blogger friend.

Tanna said...

Yes, she had passion. She is deeply missed.

Mevely317 said...

Beautiful tribute, Sandie ...
I've a hunch she's smiling down at you right now.

Jackie said...

This is a beautiful tribute Sandie. It's so difficult to lose anyone and even more so when they are so young.

I am sorry I will not get to know here on earth. But, we will meet when the time comes.

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Your tribute is beautiful. So beautiful for dear Leontien.
love
tweedles

Unknown said...

Very touching tribute, Sandie.

Sally Wessely said...

Beautiful. You honored Leontien and all of us with this tribute. You have reminded us how to live. None of us know when our time is up. Choices are so important. Choosing to support your daughter, your grandson, the teachers, and your readers today was a great response to remind us all about what is important. Take care of yourself Sandie. XO

Jim said...

Hi Sandie ~~ I am glad that you are doing a special act of kindness for a couple of nice people.

Deaths like hers are especially hard because people aren't supposed to die young in our way of thinking.
..

Sharon said...

This is unbelievably sad.

You have written a beautiful tribute to her memory, though. And a reminder that our lives are short (even when they're not) - and we should live with passion and purpose.

Betty Manousos said...

what a beautiful tribute to her memory, sandie! very touching!
but i feel she is looking and smiling down on you from the heavens above...

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Lovely post. She touched so many of us. They were requesting people do RAKs yesterday, so I sent off a surprise package to someone.

Betty said...

Was that the lady that lived on a dairy farm? I think I recall reading about her before. I'm sorry she lost her battle to cancer.

Patrycja (photoopassion) said...

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Nice atmosphere guests with you here on the blog. ;]
Yours. Have a nice day. !

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Alexis AKA MOM said...

Beautiful post! I hope the $2 Bill brings you a lot of luck! My prayers are with her family.

Dee said...

Very very touching post. Your act of kindness to the teachers will be much appreciated with the flu bug going around. Leontein will not be forgotten......

Buttercup said...

Sweet and moving post. Leontien was taken much, much too young. I can only think -- as I do of all of my friends taken too young -- that they shine brightly in the sky. Hugs to you!

Grandma Bonnie said...

It is sad to hear that she has passed on. I hope you catch up soon. I am so behind from all the illness in our family. I am just getting back to my old self.

Catherine said...

A beautiful tribute for a beautiful woman!
xo Catherine

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

Like my Pastor said to me, when it seems too much, you are doing too much. What a young woman to loose her life. We never know when we will go...dead is no respecter of age. xxxx

Dar said...

It's a wonderful tribute to your friend and of so many. I did not know her but can tell by the comments that she dared to dream and keep that dream within each of us...thank you Sandie for being such a good friend.
Blessings

Hootin Anni said...

precious sentinment Sandie...the young that die is so tragic to us left behind. But I try and think that they no longer suffer...if she had remained on earth and had to contend with years of pain and hospitals...it's best that she is in the BEST hands now.

Enjoy your time with family.

Unknown said...

hi

Unknown said...

hi