Remembering a Best Friend

One year ago November 16th one of my closest friends from Onekama passed away from complications of Multiple Sclerosis. Although Toni and I didn't get together much over the years after our high school days....we always cherished our friendship and love as best friends.

Several months before Toni died we struck up our "old days" by talking on the phone every week...and sometimes every other day. Those conversations were sweet....and bittersweet:( Sweet in the sense that we laughed and joked about our young days....the goofy things we did and said...the songs we sang..the places we went.

We shared our experiences of having children and being able to watch them grow and mature. Toni had a tremendous pride in her sons and daughters and grandchildren. She cherished the time she spent with them..and wanted more than anything to be here for them as the years went on.

We talked about our parents and the upbringing we both had. Toni deeply loved her Mom and Dad, brothers and sister and we talked about them often. Especially the times involving music...it was our bond. To this day...I still have a wonderful friendship with Toni's parents and Nikki, Dana, and Darryl.

The bittersweet part is all of the suffering Toni experienced. She was diagnosed with MS early in life and endured the struggles associated with it. Life was not easy for Toni....but she lived it gracefully...not complaining....but rather quietly suffering. Her children were her life! They helped care for her.....took her places....and stayed in her home. Toni talked to me about them alot...and said if it wasn't for them...she didn't know how she could go on. She would also share with me that she felt like a burden at times....and to that I always responded...."They are your children...they love you...let them help you.. And help her they did....right up to the time that God called her to heaven.

We also discussed the private matter of life...our marriages...our joys...our fears. this is where my heart was saddened the most. Toni often went it alone in life in many ways....which sorrowed her...but as she would say.....these were my choices. She would tell me that my husband Ken is a good man...that I was very lucky to have someone like him to take care of me when I became ill with scleroderma.

Toni was beautiful....inside and out!!! Her beauty, spirit, and determination lives on in her children, grandchildren, and her family. She is in eternity with her heavenly Father...and her Savior Jesus Christ!!! She is free from her sorrows and troubles...and is waiting for the sweet homecoming day that those who have trusted Jesus as THEIR Saviour will see her again.