The service was the most touching I've ever been to ever. It was held
in a non-demonitional church as my sister had gone from Catholic to just
Christian. What a difference. It was truly a joyful celebration of her
life. I think the best part was the pastor has arranged for cards to be
present for everyone to write their favorite memory of her and tack it
to a decorated board for people to read. I was even able to go on stage
and share a tribute I wrote to her and my favorite memory I could think
of when I wrote it was a kitty litter box cake she made for me for my
40th birthday. It was disgusting looking but as good in taste as any
other cake but being served in a litterbox and a scooper for the cutting
utensil was over the top. When I read this story to the people who came
to celebrate her life, and it was a huge crowd, they laughed
hysterically about the litterbox cake. I was glad to make them laugh.
Janet would have wanted that. Nothing sad, just memories and joyful
praise that she was now whole and out of pain.

The kids will be able to keep all of the cards written by the guests of
their favorite memories of her. They seem to be adjusting well. I
think they already knew she was going to die soon. I'm also glad they
will live with my brother and his wife rather than their father who is
basically missing, but my brother has been in touch with him and he's
not going to contest them getting custody. Getting custody takes a very
long time, so they found out about something called kin-ship that will
at least allow them to change schools so they are closer to here rather
than the school system so far away that it is almost impossible to get
them there unless they continue to stay with the youth pastor. It
really is time for them to get used to a new home and new school. I'll
be taking them both to therapy next friday with the old therapist but
since they are changing counties, she's helping to find someone in our
county to take over therapy for them. We as a family will make sure
they continue to worship in the same church they have for years, and
also a youth group they attended each wednesday night.

Another special moment was when the pastor read a passage from her own
bible. She had little tags all throughout the pages of her favorites
and he felt reading from hers meant more than reading from his own. He
even pointed out all of the sticky tabs she added to her bible showing
how she had been trying to learn from the bible and these were her
favorite parts. People who grew up with her, very good friends, even
came today. It was very special.

--
ღ.¸¸.œ«*¨`*œ¶
Cheryl