Just under a year ago my dearest friend from my senior year in high school & college days began a journey…a battle was more like it. I wrote about it in November of last year.
Wednesday, August 23rd, her battle ended.
It is with such great sorrow that I write about this news. It is so very hard to wrap my mind around it. But I also know that I don’t really need to because God is greater.
Stephanie wrote in her journal on August 4th what I believe to be one of the most descriptive paragraphs about how she faced her entire life.
So, Friends, I continue to fight for my life. I fight knowing that I have so much to live for, AND I know that My God is greater than this cancer. While the cancer may end my life before I am ready, cancer will NOT dictate how I live the rest of my days. I AM IN CHARGE OF THAT!!!! Therefore, I will live each day with intentionality. I encourage you all to do the same. Life can change on a dime. Don’t take it for granted.
Her entire journey, and her entire life was one of positivity. Stephanie always saw the good. She always embraced each challenge with hope. She was truly an inspiration.
In her online journal she often signed her entries with “God is good, even if…” or some version of that. She was strong & constant, always looking to her Lord for strength & purpose.
Her very last journal entry ended with a Psalm passage…
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
Psalm 121:1-8
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.
Yes, she knew very well where her help & strength came from.
When her son posted on the night of her passing to share the news, he wrote, “Stephanie was ready to be with Jesus. She ran the race. And while we are at a loss this evening, Stephanie is in paradise. Cancer didn’t win. It was stopped in its tracks. Now she gets to be at peace. God is good, even though…”
Just like his mama…God is good, even though.
Stephanie was a source of inspiration for me back when we first met. We were just 17 & 18 years old. It actually might have been just before we both turned those ages. It was 1988! We met at church but were in the same graduating class at our high school. I didn’t attend classes at the school though but took classes at the college so the times we hung out were youth group & any time we could! We had a blast. We thought about attending Moorhead State University in Moorhead, MN but then we both ended up somewhere different. She attended UofM in Minneapolis & I went out to the west coast for just one year of college. She flew out to see me a couple different times. Sunny beaches & Disneyland is what we enjoyed.
I ended up back in MN after that year. She was busy at college I was busy trying to figure out what I wanted to do. After a little while, Steph, talked me into attending the University of MN with her & I moved in with her & several other girls at a house hosted by Christian Student Fellowship organization on campus. I only stayed there a quarter before falling in love & moving to WA to get married. In 1994, we both married the men we loved. She was the maid of honor at my wedding. I was the matron of honor at hers.
For 29 years we kept in touch across the country.
Stephanie taught me much. She gave so much. She was a beautiful, kind, & vibrant woman. Always full of hope & always with a smile.
Of the 35 years I have known her, she taught me the most over the last 11 months.
“Timing is everything and God’s got my back!! Life may throw me some curve balls but I am here ready to hit them out of the ballpark!!”
“ ‘A strong woman doesn’t give up even though her heart may feel heavy. She courageously takes one more step. Then another. and another.’ ~unknown
This is an accurate description of me, however, it is missing the fact that my faith in Christ’s presence alongside me is what sustains each step forward. I would fail if I had to walk this journey alone. The support of all my friends and family help sustain my steps forward. You all are the hands and feet of Jesus, as you pray, bring meals, send notes, clean my home, and shovel!! Thank you! God is Good, even if…”
Stephanie was a warrior.
She embraced God with all her might.
Stephanie leaned on God when her weakness was overwhelming.
She embraced each day with hope.
Stephanie looked for the beauty every day.
She “embraced the suck”.
Stephanie focused each day on relationships.
She worked very hard to live each day with intentionality.
She is an absolute inspiration to me!!
Stephanie will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
And as I head into this next week & prepare to visit with all her family, I will sing with joy the Paschal Canon…the Paschal Troparia. For that is where all our hope lies! That is what our focus should be on & the joy of life comes from!
Just today we sang this amazing hymn reminding us of our powerful Lord. He has trampled down death by death! He has delivered us from the depths of hell!
Kindler of Joy! 
Memory eternal to your sweet friend stephanie! What a beautiful tribute you wrote to her life. Hugs friend.
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Thank you, Rachael. ❤
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