Anne

This post is a tribute to my friend Anne that passed away on Saturday.

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I met Anne about 10 years ago when we moved to Cleveland. Her husband attended dental school with Ganon. We were in the same church branch for four years. I feel like the four years I spent in Cleveland were a gift from my Heavenly Father, because it was there that I met some of the best people I have ever known...people that I think about often and try to emulate. Anne was one of those people. She was the kindest, humblest, strongest, best sort of person. She was close to my age, we both have 3 girls, we were both school teachers, we both loved to read. But Anne got cancer. I know now that she is not suffering any more, and for that I am glad. But she will be so missed. She was a good friend to so many people and an example to all who knew her. I will not forget Anne, and hope to be more like her throughout my life. I will really miss reading her blog, she had a lot of inspiration to give.

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Here are a few of my favorite quotes from her:

"There are so many good things and good people in this world. There’s so much to be grateful for and so many opportunities to step outside ourselves to lift somebody else. I’m grateful for friends and strangers and a loving Father in Heaven who has let me experience these acts of goodness. It makes everything okay . . . and worth it."

"We know that we have been blessed beyond measure to have the time we’ve had this last year. We know more than anything that we are in God’s hands, and he knows much more about this that we do. How grateful I am to have a testimony of the atonement of Jesus Christ, that he knows how I feel, and that because of His sacrifice, and the promises I made in God’s holy temple that I will live again and that I will be with my family for eternity."

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I know that most of you didn't know Anne. But I just wanted to acknowledge her passing because she meant something to me. I feel like my perspective is renewed. When I see someone else's time cut short like this, I feel like I need to make better use of my own. I am grateful that Anne's family knows what I know---that the gospel is true and families are forever. I take comfort knowing her children are learning the same theme as we are this year in Primary, "My Eternal Family." I am truly, truly grateful to have that knowledge. I am so grateful for friends like Anne that lift me up and help me become someone better.