My Best Friend Marcia

I have to share with you all how so incredibly blessed I am, to have been blessed with the love my life...my sister, Marcia Paige. She was the person I looked up to, my best friend, my boo, homie, the person I could always count on. She was one of the most creative people in the world. Whether she was helping to decorate a room, help with a science project, pick out an outfit...if Marcia was a part of it, it was FAB! There isn't a person who met her that she didn't touch in a great way!
 

My Big Sister reading to me when I was four!

 I am so heart broken because I really can't imagine my life with out her. I honestly never imagined waking up and not being able to call her in the morning or late at night to just debrief on my day.

However, despite this outcome, I know how truly blessed I am to have had her in my life as my personal big sister, no matter how long it was for. She was the best of the best...and still is.

I think its also important to say, that even when she was diagnosed in 2009...she NEVER EVER once complained about it. People didn't even know she was sick because she still wore a smile, threw on some 4-inch heels and WORKED IT! She still made sure that everyone around her was taken care of, as if she wasn't going through something herself.

Marcia (in her heels) getting a CAT scan!

 I am glad that she is now with the heavenly Father, with a glorified body that is free from cancer! I'm sure she is coordinating some things up there, decorating her mansion with gold glitter (lol) and adding her special "Marcia" touch. She is with my Dad and Grandmothers having a blast. I was sad because I was thinking that my future kids would never meet their awesome aunt, we would talk about how she would spoil them. Then I was reminded, she will probably met them before me in heaven...and I'll see "Marcia-ism" in them when they are here... and that makes me smile. Though I don't know the "why's" and "how comes" I am grateful for her.

The questions shouldn't ever be, "why do bad things happen to good people?", we should say, "what do good people do when bad things happen to them?" Marcia is a beautiful example of this. You carry yourself high and never complain because each moment is so precious, and you miss the great moments when you dwell on the negative ones. Since Marcia never complained, we were able to enjoy each precious moment with her!

Marcia enjoyed her life here to the fullest!

Marcia, I love you...I always have, and always will. I'm so thankful that God chose you to be my Big sister. I'm so thankful that I got to have you personally for all these years. Though it hurts now...I know this isn't goodbye, but a see you later. I am a better person because of you. I can't wait to carry on your AMAZING LEGACY. - your little sister Allison.

***NOTE*** Please go read my previous blog JUST DO IT! (<--click this link which is the title) Just four months ago my father transitioned to Heaven as well. If there is a take away from both of their lives, it is this:

1. Please accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior! It is then and only then that you will never have a "loss" of a loved one, but just a "time apart", because you will see them again in Heaven! You can REJOICE in that!

2. Please celebrate people while they are here! Life is so precious. Arguments, grudges and 'hate' are so pointless. I am so glad I didn't have any regrets towards my Dad or Sister. I told them, "I love you" often (almost to the point of nausea), and I still tell that to my family and friends every day!

3. Live your life on purpose! Travel, have family time, start traditions, be curious and learn, LOVE HARD, apologize no matter whose fault, laugh at little things, send cards, be a little crazy...all these things matter and make a difference!

Just Do It!!!

Being the marketing person that I am, I always pay attention to brands, logo’s and tag-lines.  After all, these are the defining attributes that make a company/business successful. One of my favorites is Nike’s ‘Just Do It’.  Three words that make a lot of sense. These words are essentially saying…stop wasting time on thought, process and what people have to say, and Just Do It.

The past several months have been life changing for me. Anyone who has ever lost a parent can possibly relate. When losing a parent, it is like a part of you is gone…no matter what the relationship is with them is.  After my Dad passed, I gained a courage that I didn’t know I had.  I used to think, “I want to tell that person that I love them, but it may seem weird”, now I just say it because time is too valuable. I used to think, “I need to visit so and so…but maybe next year”, now I just set a date and time and go. I used to think, “This would be a perfect time to talk about Jesus to that person, but I don’t know if I should go that deep with them,” and can I tell you how HAPPY I was that I had those ‘sometimes uncomfortable’ conversations with my Dad. Now I know that he is in Heaven because I took those five minutes to confirm with him his salvation.

Over the holiday’s my ninety-one year old Grandfather shared with us a very powerful token of wisdom. He said, “When your friend is in need, ill, or needs your help, don’t say I’ll go see/help them tomorrow…stop what you are doing at that moment and go to them.”  He told us he did the same thing for a friend when they were in the hospital, and they passed away the next day.  He was so glad he could be a friend when they needed him the most, while they were still alive.  That really made me think how important it is to be unselfish in general.  We get so caught up in living for ourselves that we miss the blessing of being a blessing to others.  Sometimes we subconsciously think that we can’t be of help to anyone until we have our lives together. Not so.  I have a relative who’s mentality, although not often popular, taught me a valuable lesson through her heart actions. I learned that you don’t need much to be a blessing.  If someone is in need, you can always be used by God to meet that need.  For example, if they are cold, you may have the ability to go purchase them a brand new jacket, however, if you aren’t in a position to buy them a new one…you can give them the one you have or share with them. Even if you don’t have your own jacket, you can give them hug…then you both will be warm. You see, you are always in a position to make a difference; you just have to DO IT!

I think it’s key to remember that regrets only exist because of a time we didn’t act on the principle of “Just Do It”.  I think today is a perfect day to activate that phrase. If someone has been on your mind, stop and give them a call. If you said you were going to visit someone, call and set a date. If you know a friend or family member in need – think of how you can help meet that need (remember, you don’t need to be a millionaire or have your ‘life together’ to do it).  It’s important to remember that you mean so much to someone, even if they don’t tell you all the time…so your five minutes of reaching out to them could mean the WORLD to that person.

I don’t like saying life is short or long, however, I will say that life is precious - so very precious…and so are the people in it! So when given an opportunity to help change someone’s life….JUST DO IT!