There are times your heart is breaking, and you don't know what to do!

On Monday the 13th, Sherry received a text from one of our favorite families, the text said, "Mom passed away this morning."

(We drove up to Pascagoula to see the damage and deliver some funds to help, Juanita is on the phone back to her family in this picture.)
Mom was Juanita Carter, one of the good guys. A small package of a woman but someone you cannot forget. We met Juanita when we were looking for a church after moving to Florida years ago. We met the fantastic team of Juanita and Wayne Carter.  We hit it off immediately, I did say it is nice to have a pastor who was older than I. LOL

But we came to know and love Juanita. She always had a smile. I remember in one conversation, she said something I will never forget.  She had fought and won the battle over cancer years before.  Our conversation came to folks accepting or denying cancer treatment. Her words were soft but firm, "When the doctor says, 'take the treatment there is the possibility of life', do not take it and it is sure death." She paused for a moment, smiled and said, "When someone says your choice is life or death, you take LIFE!"

(We enjoyed a trip to Mississippi with the Carters in our Overland Motor Home, great traveling companions)
She chose life and was able to continue to be a support and sounding board for her dedicated husband, and a sweet support for many who leaned on her and her husband.

Towards the end, to be honest, we did't know what to do. We wanted to visit, but didn't want to cause her any confusion. You see, that terrible word and mind thief, Alzheimer's had shown up.

(Once we had dinner with one of Juanita's life time friends, they had a ball reminiscing)

She is at rest, in a better place (we say) but as my good friend Sonny said after losing his wife, "I don't care what is said, I want her back!"

I know Debbie, Linda, Diana, Gene and especially Wayne will miss her terribly.  We have reached the age we say goodbye to loved ones we thought would be here forever.

Well, we learn no one will be here forever, but we also learn we will miss them on earth 'forever'. Memories are imprinted, those eyes and that smile hold you captivated.  But we think and sing of a day we will see our loved ones again. My dad once said of Sherry's mom at her funeral, "You miss Susie now, and she loved you, but if you could see her now, you couldn't get her attention, she is seeing things she has only dreamed of."

None of us could get Juanita's attention now, but one day we will. 

A sailor's blessings to our dear friend Juanita:

"Fair winds and following seas as you pass over heaven's waters."

The Wayne Carter Clan is one of the closest knit we have ever known. They will rebound, but talk of 'Gigi' (Juanita to the grands) will remain around for many years to come.

Our love and thoughts go out to a loving family, and mostly to Wayne, the best pastor I ever knew.

Nite Shipslog

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These cars were new when Juanita was born in 1933. Later her husband Wayne would race some of these on dirt tracks, with  Juanita at home praying for his safety. The prayers evidently worked. He lived and turned out pretty good, LOL