Lessons Learned from a Friend

 

This week we had the heartbreaking news that our dear friend, Tami (on the left above), unexpectedly passed away. We first met her and her family when we moved to Antioch, California nearly thirty years ago. She made us feel welcome and loved right away, and we missed our regular interactions when we moved to Florida a few years later. Tami is one of my heroes, and the world will be a little less bright without her in it.

Tami was an amazing person, always willing to teach and serve others, to help make their lives easier. For example, after moving to Idaho, and learning that our son was marrying someone from her city there, she offered to help with the wedding activities in any way she could. Because of her, our family luncheon (held at her church building) was a great success. She even had purple fabric, with matching thread, hanging around, and whipped up these lovely table runners for us in just a few minutes! One of the lessons she taught me was the value of being prepared.

Here are more of the things I learned from her:

- That such a thing as a tomato knife exists - a thin, serrated blade cuts through the tomato skin effortlessly.

- How to cut a mango (here's a tutorial), and that the mango pits are a great snack for toddlers to gnaw on and play with in their highchairs.

- That Taste of Home recipes are reliably delicious.

- How to make English Toffee. Well, she tried, I haven't quite learned. However, one of my favorite Christmas memories is receiving some of her delicious candy, particularly when it was sent across the country to us!

- That it's okay to leave your children (we each have six) for a bit to refresh and renew your own spirit. You return better able to cope with the stresses motherhood inevitably brings.

I found one more picture of Tami (bottom left, on the left) while flipping through our photo albums, this one from a Joy School graduation. She was always a gracious hostess no matter the occasion. So many great memories!