A 2 Z Challenge - B = BRENDA & BLESSING

B is definitely for BRENDA and her B.E. Creative Co. and the BLESSING that we received from her.

Our history: Mickey & I meet Brenda, her husband Sunny and her youngest daughter Grace, back in October 2008 when we went to Flagstaff to celebrate our 50th Anniversay.  At the time our blog connection had not been very long and since then Brenda, and family, has moved to Colorado.  Over these past 4 years of blogging Brenda has become one of those I have developed a very close relationship with.   Shortly after our beloved Suzette went to Heaven Brenda contacted me and said she wanted to gift Mickey & I with one of her precious Memory Books she makes and asked me to send her pictures, personal information and various items pertaining to Suzette and her life.

Last Thursday this precious BLESSING arrived at our house.  Isn't it just so like God that it "happened" to arrive on August 2nd, the birthday of our youngest son, Marc.  An honor to our oldest child, Suzette, arriving on the BD of our youngest child.  God never ceases to amaze me in all the minute details HE does for us.

I, nor my camera, are very good and my pictures do not do this treasure justice but I have tried my best to capture it all here.

In Memory of Jeri Suzette Joyce Stevens - !2-13-54/5-19-11

The front of the book depicts the beautiful sterling silver heart I wear around my neck in honor of Suzette.  It was my birthday gift from son Marc on December 25, 2011.  The locket has a tear on it and came with this poem. 

 Since Heaven has become your home

I sometimes feel I’m so alone;
And though we now are far apart
You hold a big piece of my heart.

I never knew how much I’d grieve
When it was time for you to leave,
Or just how much my heart would ache
From that one fragment you would take.

God let’s this tender hole remain
Reminding me we’ll meet again,
And one day all the pain will cease
When He restores this missing piece.
He’ll turn to joy my every tear,
And when I wear this necklace near
It will become my simple way
To treasure our Reunion Day.

Page 1:  Me holding her "In Mommy's arms December 13, 1954.  Around the picture "Our mother is the safe place we run to.  Her love and faith in us defines who we are.  How can we help but love her?"

Suzette sticking her finger in her 1 year birthday cake - reads "A daughter is one of the most bautiful gifts the world has to give. " 

Page 2:  Depicts family.  A picture of Suzette & Jacque, ages 2 & 3, in front of a picture of their grandmother & grandfather Errett and me.  The picture in the lower part of opposite page is the last picture taken of ALL of us with Grandmother Errett before her death.  Christmas, 1982 - Susan, Marc, Mickey, Grandmother Errett, Suzette, David, Jacque.   Behind that is another picture taken when Marc was a baby - 1970:  Suzette, David, Marc, Jacque.

Page 3:  Early school picture 1962-63 age 7 and high school graduation picture 1971 age 17.

Page 4:  Music of Amazing Grace the one she requested be sung at her memorial services.  The verse from Psalm 112:6-8 Speaking of the righteous...He will have no fear of bad new; his heart is steadfast trusting in the Lord.  His heart is secure he will have no fear, in the end he will triumph on his foes.  This is the verse we gave Suzette on 9-28-10 the day she was first diagnosed with cancer. 

Page 5:  A little packet with a copy of the letter Suzette's nephew Aric wrote to her and was read to her on the evening of May 19, 1911.  

The hand written note:  Dear Suzette, It's me, Aric, this is one of the few letters I've written.  Please take your time to read this.  You see, we all care for you.  You're really a great aunt and we all pray for you.  Treasure this and please remember we're all there for you.  It would take a miracle to survive, so please let this letter go to your heart and treasure it always.  Love you so very much, Your nephew, Aric Joyce (Age's age was 12)
The opposite page is a little sheer fabric envelope with a piece of the yarn from the prayer shawl I had made as a Christmas gift for all my children for Christmas 2010 but pulled off the shelf and took to Suzette, along with the above verse on that May 19th evening. Inside is a picture of the prayer shawl with the 3 verses, Jeremiah 31:16-17 - Psalm 33:11 - Proverbs 22:6.

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Page 6:  SISTERS -Oh no!!!  I failed to post the picture on this one.  It is the young 4 & 3 year old picture of them above, a picture of them taken at Mickey & my 30th Wedding Renewal on October 4, 1988, and the last picture of Jacque & Suzette ever taken together in March of 2011,

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Page 7:  Picture of Dave & Suzette, taken at Aric's birthday party, February 3, 2011 which has a heart reading "Dave & Suzette - February 14, 1994" which was their marriage date.
Top of the page:  Family picture of Dave, Susan, Marc, Mickey & Suzette taken in December, 1996 and the lower picture of  Dave, Aric, Suzette & Marc, also taken February 3, 2011.

Page 8:  Christmas pictures:  2008: Suzette, Oksana, Jessica, Jacque, Susan & 2010 Jacque, Jessica, Susan & Suzette in our "BELIEVE" birthday T-shirts.

Page 9:  A beautiful etching of Suzette's face by Brenda with the words "My Father is the safe place I've run to.  His love and faith in me has defined who I am." and on the opposite side "How can I help but love Him?"

The back cover:  In Daddy's arms May 19, 2011

This beautiful Memory Book came in this lovely wicker box and is a treasure and future family heirloom that is be on our coffee table.

Mickey & I wept as we opened this box and looked at each precious page of memories on August 2nd and I've been weeping as I've written this post.  Such a sweet, precious, priceless gift of love and sacrifice on Brenda's part.

Yes - BRENDA & BLESSING  are my B's.  I love you and I thank you sweet Brenda.  You will never know what this has meant to not only Mickey & I but our family.