This first picture is the last picture taken of the whole family me, Christy, Ann, David, and Yuliya at Christmas 2011. We were fortunately altogether one last time. Christy was not well, and the medicines for the pain and for healing (including percoset and prednisone) had put a lot of weight on her. She loved bright colors, but her runaway favorite was purple. She loved all things purple. Here is a shot of Christy, David, and I together at Christmas enjoying ourselves with our Santa hats.
Here is what Christy’s tree, planted next to her burial spot, will look like some day. And below that is what it looks like now.
Purple of course was the color of royalty. In the NT era you had to have a license from the Emperor to use the purple from the murex shell and dye cloth that color. Lydia in Acts was said to be a dyer of purple cloth. It was an industry Christy could have gone into if she had lived back then.
Like the young lilac tree, it’s only appropriate if I show you what Christy looked like before all the surgeries and health travails.
She was very beautiful, so bright, and always fun and a joy to be around. Her brother called her CC (as in sister), and she was my purple girl who always brought a splash of color to my life. We all miss her something fierce.
For all my studying, I really don’t know much about what heaven is like. Do the folks up there really pay attention to what is happening down here? I’m not entirely sure. I would like to think so. So CC, I hope you are doing a happy dance today up there as we planted: 1) a beautiful 10 year old lilac tree by your burial spot; 2) two viburn bushes to frame the tree, which have bright purple berries, and 3) a black gum tree in our backyard near the creek which you loved so much which has yellow, red, and purple leaves in the Fall. I hope you like them. For sure, they will always remind us of you, and how much of a blessing you were to all of us. You royally enriched our lives. Thank you Jesus for the gift of life and for children.
Oh and one more thing CC. That scholarship fund at Asbury we set up in your name has over $8,000 in it, and next week we are giving the first scholarship to a lovely lady much like you who will one day be a NT scholar. I am sure you would be happy about that too.
P.S. I forgot to mention that your little book of poetry will be coming out in time for Christmas. I gave it the title you used for your moniker on email— Untamed Spark. Flame On!
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