A Friend's Loss

I learned with great sadness this morning while at church, that my friend Panda's husband unexpectedly died of a heart attack yesterday/last night. My heart breaks for her.

I met my friend, Panda, at church through the Missionary Quilts meetings and over the years, especially the last few, we've grown a lot closer and have enjoyed numerous outings to quilt shows and fabric stores and just spending time together talking over lunch.  She's the one that talked me into the paper-pieced "O Christmas Tree" class that I went to last March.  

Panda's only a couple years older than I, and her husband maybe a couple years older than she, so maybe at most mid-60's.  He had just retired this year, and they recently sold their home to downsize, and have been in escrow on a home about 8 minutes from mine, with their move scheduled for Nov. 5.  I don't know how this will affect that.  It's probably not important, for me, to even think about it, as most needed right now, is prayer for her and for her family.  He was her best friend and life partner and father to their children, grand-father to their grand-kids.  I'm sure she's feeling quite numb, and overwhelmed at present.  She was looking forward to a new path with the move, and that path will now have even more changes.  She loves the Lord, as did her husband, so she knows they will one day be re-united, and her faith will serve her well as the Lord takes her through the days ahead.