Memorial Service

We had a memorial service for my sweet sister-in-law, Kate Willingham Wednesday.  What a beautiful celebration of Kate's life!  Kate's daughter, my beautiful niece Vanessa, danced beautifully with Margaret Wagner and Erica DeCoste.  They danced to a IHOP version of Jesu of Man's Desiring.  It was the song Kate walked down the isle to when she married my brother, Stephen over 25 years ago.

I was honored to speak at the request of Kate herself.  As usual, God was so good.  He gave me the words to say and the strength to say them.  Pastor Kathy Melson offered a hope-filled prophetic message.  At the end we sang Amazing Grace - My Chains Are Gone.  As we were singing Margaret and Erica danced around the church.  As they went by me I literally felt a breeze from heaven!  It gave me such a feeling of peace!

Last Thursday and Friday I kept thinking that if only Mom and Dad were here they would know what to do - what needs to be done.  I hope I was able to do a part of what they would have done if they had been there.

I am so thankful I went to be with my brother and his family when I did.  As soon as my plane landed it began snowing and snowed over a foot in Denver.  Many flights were cancelled that night and the next day.  God is so good!

Thank you to everyone who have been praying for my family and me!  I can feel the prayers and they are so appreciated!  While we are grateful that Kate is no longer suffering, she will be greatly missed!  Please continue to pray for my brother, Stephen, nephew Daniel, and niece Vanessa. 


John 6:35-40 (The Message)

Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don't really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don't let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me.

"This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who he is and what he does and then aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time."

Kate is on her feet dancing on streets of gold - whole and complete!  I love you, Kate!