Thursday, January 17, 2013

An Amazing Woman

I'm still thinking a lot about birds...watching them through my window, remembering quotes about them, sketching them...perhaps because little birds remind me of my younger sister, Jill.


Jill loved birds and daisies and simple, lovely things.  I say "loved" because my beloved little sister went to heaven the day after Christmas.  It's hard to believe she's really gone.

I don't remember this world without my little sister in it.

Some of you will remember reading about her in recent posts.  I alluded to her health struggles although I didn't go into a lot of detail.  Jill was a very private person.  She was also a very brave girl and she fought hard to hold on to life.  Her last battle was too much for her body but her spirit remained strong to the end.

The journal page I shared  in  this post last October.

I think a lot of us question how much personal information we should share on our blogs or on other social media.  I wondered if and when I should share the news of Jill's passing.  This is a time of deep personal sadness for my family and with all my heart I want to honor Jill's memory and everyone's privacy.

Finally I decided that I simply had to share this with you.  My relationship with Jill was and always will be a big part of my story and a huge influence on my art.  In recent months many of you sent well wishes and promised to pray for my sister.  I want you to know this blessed her (and our family) immensely.  Prayer was Jill's life preserver.  It sustained her and kept her afloat through many storms.

Jill, on the playground of the day school where she taught for many years.  She was a phenomenal teacher.

My sister had a scripture that helped her keep calm and carry on.  The last night I spent with her in the hospital I wrote it in my journal.

Philippians 4:8

Jill knew that joy depends not on our circumstances but on our focus and our attitude.  She had an amazing wit.  She loved art and inspiring quotes.  She was grateful for little things.  She enjoyed bright colors and dreamy spaces.  Lovely, excellent and praiseworthy things brought her joy and peace, even in difficult times. She didn't allow room in her life for self pity, bitterness, or ill will.  The joy of the Lord was her strength.

My little sister was a force to be reckoned with.  Loving her during her illness taught me many things and my life and my art will never, ever be the same.  She was an amazing woman.

Thank you for checking in with me today and helping me pay tribute to someone I love and miss very much.  Jill's life was shorter than we all wanted but her light was bright and her heart was filled with much love and joy while she was with us.  I pray today that you would experience such love and joy in your own heart.

Until next time...


24 comments:

  1. What a beautiful tribute to your sister.Losing someone that young is very difficult.We lost a nephew at age 29 a few years ago. Sending you love and prayers.Be gentle with yourself as you grieve. Nancy ( from Flying blogging circle.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Nancy. I'm taking it slow...working my way back into a normal routine a little at a time. (Whatever "normal" is.) I'm glad you stopped by. I hope you enjoyed the blog circle today.

      Delete
  2. O Janice, So sorry to hear of your sister's passing, but from your words I know she lives through you each and every day. I have had many losses but none as close as a sister since I am an only. I cannot imagine your loss I can only send you light and love and prayers to help you through. xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Corrine. I am so grateful for the way my friends (blogging friends included!) have lifted us up during this time. Your love and prayers are very much appreciated.

      Delete
  3. So sorry to hear of your sister's passing. My oldest sister died a few years ago and it was difficult to process. I also sometimes struggle with how much to share on my blog. Mind is focused on a specific topic, writing, so I'm wary of putting too much personal stuff on there. And yet, it's the personal that makes people empathetic, so I end up sharing bits and pieces. Thanks for a beautiful post (I came here from Patty Bechtold's blog).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Charlotte. Yes, I end up sharing more here than I ever thought I would. As an artist, I feel like these life events are such an important part of my art (or at least where I hope I'm headed as an artist). I've never really been able to separate my life and art, so it makes sense to me to share here. I'm very glad you stopped by. Hope to see you again some time.

      Delete
  4. I'm so sorry for your loss Janice. It sounds like Jill lived her life to the fullest and to the very best of her abilities and in such a positive way. I saw her Light shining as I read your tribute to her. May your heart be filled with all the wonderful memories you have of her, forever. You are indeed a very Special sister yourself. Much love. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Suzanne. Jill really did live a very full life and was very much loved by all of us. She and I were very, very close and our happy memories are so very precious to me. I hope you are doing well.

      Delete
  5. Janice, you are a precious friend and although we haven't spent a lot of time together in recent months, I want you to know that my heart goes out to you and I know how you feel. It's been almost 25 years, but my little sister died too and there's always going to be a part of me that wonders every single day what she is experiencing in heaven with the Father. I love you! LuAnn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, LuAnn. I believe you do understand a lot of what I feel. I was thinking just today about how I was a few years older than Jill so I always went first and kind-of paved the way in school, or wherever. This time she went first and I would just love to know what she's experiencing right now!

      Delete
  6. Janice this is such an inspiring and beautiful post... you sister inspires me and everything about this post right down to your beautiful journal and sketch. Thank you so much for sharing this!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Karrlin. Jill inspired me, too. I learned a lot from her and I really want to honor her memory in some way through my art.

      Delete
  7. Janice, what a lovely remembrance of your sister, my heart goes out to you and your family. Keep all of those wonderful memories alive in your artwork. Thanks for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sue. My artwork truly is a sanctuary right now..very healing.

      Delete
  8. Janice, I'm so sorry to hear of your sister's passing. Sending much love and prayers for peace and comfort to you and your family. Your art is a very special tribute to her, she definitely lives on through you! Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Dawn. Your love and prayers are so very much appreciated.

      Delete
  9. Oh, Janice.

    I have been thinking of you so much recently + missing you online. I remember reading you needed to go see her unexpectedly. I worried that this had happened and was the reason for the quietness...but didn't want to intrude.

    I am sending you a lot of love. I am so sorry; but I am very grateful to hear that you were with her. That you had this special time together in the hospital before she passed.

    I wish there was something all of us could do. To gather around you, wrap all our collective arms around you + hug. I just am so sorry.

    Lots of love.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Becky...if only we weren't thousands of miles apart! A group hug would be nice right about now :-)

      Delete
  10. Dearest Janice

    So sorry for your loss...this post brought me to tears. What a wonderful tribute with beautiful art and photos! If you can handle it you should find a permanent place on your side bar with your sisters photo linking to this post. It's a beautiful post, others will get to know who her and who you are because of her! It will help her spirit to live on! So glad you shared your beautiful sister...I am new here but it makes me want to know you better....prayers to you and your family!!

    Hugs Giggles

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hadn't thought of putting something in the side bar. I'm definitely going to give that some thought. Thank you for taking the time to read about Jill. I am so grateful to have a place to share these things. Thank you for taking the time to leave such sweet words of encouragement.

      Delete
  11. Wow, Janice. Thank you for sharing. Your sister's spirit is amazing. I love this blog post. I want to give you a hug.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Amy. I'd take that hug in a heartbeat :-)

      Delete
  12. Janice - I was just catching up on some of my blog reading I wanted to tell you how sorry I am to hear of your sisters passing. There is something so special about the bond between sisters + I cannot imagine the pain + loss you must be feeling. Big hugs. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Kirstin. This has been quite a journey for all of us. Each day it seems we move a little closer to a "new normal"...just taking things slow. Thanks for the hugs :-)

      Delete

Your lovely comments make my day!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...