Today Becky Vanluvanee ( Helms) passed away. I can honestly say that during my high school years she was one of my best friends. We had so much fun together. She lived with my family for a few months in my junior year and as I reflect back I can only smile and laugh. So I thought I would share some of my favorite memories of her.
When I had my ankle casted I remember complaining about how much it itched so we got a ruler so I could reach down inside and scratch it, only it got stuck. She went with me to the doctors so they could cut the cast off and low and behold there was the ruler!
We snuck out of the house one night to go gallivanting in the winter. We crossed the cul de sac and pushed her red nova to the stop sign, so as not to wake my parents. We then started the car and left. We drove around aimlessly freezing because the heater was broken. We listened to the kinleys screaming the words, each taking different harmony. We had to stop every so often to scrape off the ice on the window so we could see. A few weeks later her dad showed us that the heater did work... we just didn't know how to turn it on!
One day she pulled up to my school and I left (ditched) so that we could drive a half hour to the Willow Grove mall. We spent just over $200 on clearance item clothing in Wet Seal. It was fun trying to sneak all those bags into the house, and then hide them for the next week so my parents weren't suspicious.
We sang many times together in church, our last song was "If thou had been here". We wrote a harmony part to it and it was so beautiful. We spent lots of our time writing music and playing the guitar. I still have all the poems we wrote and the songs as well. They will mean so much more now than ever.
She was a brides maid at my wedding. I am so glad she was there for me. After all of the pictures were taken she pulled me aside and took some more, placing my hands on my belly.. she was so excited that we were having kids together.. I was too. A few months later I got to see her and Chris get married. It was so beautiful, they are so perfect for each other.
Through out the past 6 years I would see her at our kids birthday parties and play dates here and there. I always looked forward to seeing her, she lit up the room where ever she went. And boy could she tell a story. She could make a leaf on a tree seem hilarious. I miss her laugh.
Her last months on earth were hard for her and I never got to say goodbye before leaving for Alaska. We were due at the same time with girls until she found out she was sick. I figured it would have been too hard to see her... I wish I had. My love for her and her family is endless. I think of her often and her sweet boys.
I love you Becky and will miss you very much, but now you can be with your little girl and be a guardian angel to those you left behind. You are a wonderful mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend.
Till we meet again
(I know the picture is not the best, but it is the only one not in storage)
4 comments:
Mandi...I'm so sorry to hear about your friend--she sounded like a wonderful person.
Hi Mandi,
I am in Becky's ward (church) in PA and we are collecting memories of her for Jakob and Chase. Your post is beautiful. Would you mind emailing it and anything else that you want to say to memoriesofbecky@gmail.com? We are putting together a book for her boys. Also, if you have any friends who may want to write a message for Becky's family, please pass the email on to them as well.
Thank you so much! I found you by googling Becky.
Jana Mathews
www.themeanestmom.blogspot.com
I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm glad you were able to reflect on those precious moments you had with her and document them for her family and friends. Thank you for sharing, she sounds like a truly wondeful best friend.
what happened? Wow, I was shocked to read that she passed away on your blog!
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