An empty chair..for Karen

I took this picture last month, while we were at the "other half's" oldest sister Karen's, early Birthday party dinner.

We were not sure we were going to be able to have it, as her cancer was progressing and she was slipping from us at a alarming rate, that none of us wanted to admit to.




You see, Karen had fought the good fight for 10 years, against breast cancer. It started when she found a lump, and over the years she had good prognosis, and bad prognosis.

We referred to Karen as "Auntie Camera" as she ALWAYS had her camera, and packages of pictures by the dozens of the family she loved, and who loved her.

When she was a young women, she was "Miss Renton", (a suburb city of Seattle), and was a Seafair Princess as well... which is a big deal around these parts!

She loved everyone she met, and was fun and always had a smile on her face, and a sweet word of kindness for the person she spoke too. Karen really did love people.

Karen loved her family and was absolutely dedicated to them... and her family is a large family, with 8 grand children, most in high school or college at this time.

She always would have a wonderful story about one of the grandkids, and literary tears of joy in her eyes as she told the story of their recent success. This could have been a baseball game they were playing in or a gym meet.. or their success at school...she was so proud of each of them.

Karen lost her battle with cancer this morning at 4:30am...

Because I am a believer, and Karen was as well, I do not look at this with tears of sorrow.. though we already can't imagine life without Karen in it.

I have an all time favorite song, by Mercy Me called "I can Only Imagine". It talks about what it will be like in that day, when we can see Jesus, face to face...will we sing, will we dance, will we fall to our knees in praise?

Karen does not have to imagine any longer!

Karen, honey.. we love you, and will see you again!

(Karen and Ken at our house, a few years ago)