This last week was a blur of joyful times and sorrowful.
Brian and I arrived in Vegas Saturday evening for WPPI. We were relieved when all EIGHT of our product boxes had arrived successfully (being shipped from three different places in the country–:)). Just as we were getting dressed to head to our first dinner, my parents called.
Jennifer had passed away earlier in the day.
All I could think was ‘I don’t understand.’
Jennifer’s bone marrow transplant had successfully taken weeks prior. She was at my parent’s house only days before. And then she started slipping, she was fighting so hard, and then her heart stopped.
Brian and I canceled our dinner plans, and I spent the rest of the night in prayer and tears. I have to thank all of you for praying for me and Brian and our commitments at WPPI because the next day, we had to start our speaking sessions. There is no way this could have happened and gone as well as it did without people praying.
Today is Jennifer’s Gravesite Service at 2pm. The family has invited everyone who knew Jennifer. For details, look to Jennifer’s website. Tomorrow is a Celebration Service at Jennifer’s church–friends are welcome to this as well. They request that everyone wear bright colors because this is what Jennifer would have wanted.
In the meantime, please hold her family in your thoughts and prayers. Below is a picture of Jennifer (she has the pink scarf), her older sister Judy is in the middle, and Jennifer’s twin sister Francis. I can’t fathom what the family is going through.
If you’d like to send a card to the family, below is an address.
To those of you we met in Vegas this week, thanks for visiting the blog. We met the most wonderful and kind photographers. What an honor to be part of such an incredible industry.
On Monday, the blog will be back with much to share but for now, thanks for all your love.
Me Ra
Cards for the family
Please send all cards and letters for the family to this address:
Judy Cuellar
PO Box 44786
Tacoma, WA 98448
Oh no- I was dreading this post since hearing about her situation last week – I am so sorry that you lost a friend and that her family lost their girl.
I am so sad. I don’t understand, either. I will keep Jennifer and her family in my prayers.
Prayers for your guys and for her family! 🙁 God knows!
Much love,
Kris
This is just so very sad. Reading about Jennifer, her illness, and its effect on the family written by her family is just heartbreaking.
My prayers are with Jennifer and her family, you and Brian.
my prayers are with you! i am so sorry…
Hi Me Ra,
It is so difficult to understand. I know I felt the same when I got the news Saturday morning. This is one of those times when I totally have to put my trust in God and know that he knows. The picture that Judy painted on her myspace about Jennifer being with Jesus is amazing if you get a chance to read it. Jennifer impacted so many of our lives and left such an amazing legacy at her young age of 28! When I was visiting with Katie the other day, she told me a cute story about Jenn. When Jenn would go under general anethesia for a procedure, the nurses said she would talk about cupcakes and the frosting on the cupcakes! Now doesn’t that sound like our Jennifer! 🙂
Love you guys! See you this weekend
Sue
I’m so sorry for your loss; my prayers are with you and with Jennifer’s family and friends.
When I lost my friend Jennifer to Cystic Fibrosis a few years back, I went through many of the same emotions I know you must be feeling now.
It’s so hard to meet individuals like our Jennifers- so vibrant, intelligent, beautiful, and young- and understand why God would take them from us so soon.
As many years as it’s been, I still can’t fully wrap my head around it all. I think why and break down and cry. I’m sad, I’m angry, and I just plain don’t understand.
And then, I remember how she lived her life. I remember all the good times we had together. I remember the way she smiled, laughed, and joked even when she was in the hospital. I remember the example she set for us all, and I do my best to pick myself up and honor her by embracing life with the same kind of humor, curiosity, and love that she did.
I know I’ll always miss Jennifer and that I’ll never fully understand why we had to lose her so soon, but I’ve learned to take comfort in celebrating her life and sharing her memory with friends both new and old.
I hope that in the coming days and months you’ll give yourselves the time you need to grieve and mourn, and that one day when your ready…your grief will be replaced with warm memories and celebration of a woman you were truely blessed to know.
Much love and many hugs to you all as you mourn your lose and celebrate Jennifer’s life and spirit. My prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Sending you peace and strength during this very sad and difficult time. Words are going up for you and Jennifer’s family.
Caron
I’m so sorry to hear that. I will be praying for you and for Jennifer’s family.
our prayers are with you. i know it is hard.
So sorry to hear about jennifer! I will continue to pray for you and all who loved her!
Me Rah,
I am sooo sorry. I had no idea when I met you that you were carrying such sad news in your heart. I looked at the slideshow and read all the above comments and just feel that we are blessed when we have friends whom we love and who love us. You and Brian have that as well as Jennifer.
I pray you all will find comfort in having known her and that you will always carry her with you when you meet up with those that need strength, and comfort.
Bless you guys,
Kerri Lydell
It is so difficult to understand, even more difficult to trust God during times like these. Our prayers are still with you guys and with Jennifer’s family as well. Despite all that was going on, we had a blast with you guys in Vegas–talk to you soon.
Our love and prayers are with you and all of Jennifer’s friends and family. We are so sorry for her loss. May Jennifer’s life and faith be celebrated with bright colors, joy and the fragrance of spring and may we all have Grace and Mercy in our limited understanding of WHY? It’s times like these we are all reminded that life is precious, not to be taken for granted and to be lived to the fullest. A reminder, a GIFT given by the one who is now at peace and has moved into greater GLORY with her KING.
I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. I will continue to pray for her family and friends.
I cried today and was stricken with sadness when I read the news. I’m so sorry to learn of Jennifer’s passing and despite never having met her, through your words I felt like I knew her. You are blessed to have had her in your life!
It’s hard for me to understand as well why God takes such beautiful, caring and loving people when clearly, they had so much more to give. She is now an Angel and I’m sure she’s rejoicing in the arms of God.
My prayers go out to Jennifer’s family and friends. May you have peace knowing Jennifer has ‘gone home’.
p.s. I’ve been an active participant for 4 years raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (Team in Training). Hearing of another life lost makes me just want to work that much harder to help find a cure. You too can help by going to (www.teamintraining.org).
I am so sorry to hear about your lose. I hope you find the memories you had with her will make her live on forever.
Me Ra,
I am so sorry for your loss and for Jennifer’s family. I will definitely keep you all in my prayers.
Steph