I Miss Jill

Blog Everyday in May Challenge, Day 12: Who do you miss?

A little over a year ago I lost a dear friend to Cancer.  She bravely fought the battle for nearly a decade, never losing faith in God.  I truly have never seen faith and love in anyone also the way I saw it in Jill and her husband, Ryan.  I've done my fair share of whining and complaining about foolish things, but I've never really had true tragedy happen in my life, not like this.  Jill and Ryan make me want to be a better person, someone who is more loving, and full of faith regardless of the circumstances.  It's easy to praise God when times are good, but our truth faith and character shines the brightest when we're in the middle of pain.  So, here's a small look into who Jill was.

Jill was an amazing friend.  It can be so easy to make situations about us, especially when we're having hard times.  Jill never made it about her.  She was always there to lend an ear, quick to make delicious treats, and always with a smile.  Jill started with being diagnosed with breast cancer, went into remission, then got ovarian cancer and went into remission.  Then she got bone cancer, which eventually spread to her major organs and brain.  The chronic pain associated with this and the tole that Chemo takes on the body is indescribable, but she didn't complain. Ever.  I can't even begin to comprehend this.

Jill was gracious.  The year before Jill passed away her husband Ryan threw her an amazing surprise party.  I'm talking amazing.  He sent letters to different celebraties and asked them to send a birthday message to Jill, and the did!  Richard Simons sent a video, for real and she even got a special birthday message from Mathew Mcconaughey, for real.  The list of celebrities was pretty huge, that along with about 200 family and friends and messages from family and friends across the country made this celebration amazing!  Little did we know this would be her last birthday as she'd pass away a few days shy of her next birthday.

Jill and Ryan had an amazing marriage.  Ryan ran in many cancer walk/runs in support of Jill with her at the finish line waiting for him.  They seriously make me want to be a better wife.

Jill has an amazing family.  This photo was taken recently in memory of Jill.  Her husband Ryan asked us to take a picture of our family holding Dr. Peppers (her favorite drink) in memory of her.  The outpouring of photos could be found all over Facebook.

At Jill's final birthday celebration she came in to the song Firework by Katy Perry, this will forever be her anthem  to me, and that's what I'll leave you with today.  

I miss you Jill!