Mrs. Regina

A women of passion and abundant love. That is how I would describe one of my self declared second moms. I only knew her for a short time, but in that time she showed me enough love for a lifetime. She was an amazing women with a passion for God and helping people.

The first time I remember seeing Mrs. Regina was when she and her husband brought our class lunch from this wonderful place called artic snow. She reminded me a little of Sharon Osbourne the way her hair was styled. I thought whoa she looks like one tough cookie, but at the same time she had this atmosphere around her of love. I couldn't explain it.

Sometime later I became good friends with her daughter Payden. I would say more than good friends. She became to me a best friend.

I started to help out around Celebrate Recovery a Christ centered 12 step program that was started by Mrs. Regina and family after the sudden and tragic death of her son to a drug overdose. At Celebrate Recovery I got to see Mrs. Regina's passion and love spread and thrive in that place on Friday nights.

This women was a trooper for Christ. Her loss turned into a whole county's gain. Her Passion and love were so awesome.

I had the privilege to spending a good part of my senior year around her. She treated me like a son. She stood up for me and loved me like a mother. She through her actions taught me a great deal about Passion and love.

There are so many good memories, but I wished this story was full of happy memories, but sadly it is not.

Right after we graduated me and Mrs. Regina got into a argument over how I was teaching the children's class at celebrate recovery and after that I slowly started drifting away. I lost contact with them and only spoke to Payden on occasions.

I wanted to go back, but my pride got in the way. Thank God though that I got over it just in time. I got the chance in September to see Mrs. Regina at a wedding I was in. I told her I was sorry for how I left and how I was immature about the whole situation. I told her that I had lost a lot of friends and a best friend to me, payden. She hugged me and told me that she loved me and that it took real guts to tell her all that. We talked for a few minutes. And some of the last words she ever said to me were this and I will carry these to my grave. "My true friends will take me back".

Mrs. Regina died suddenly on November 15, 2006. Heaven has surely gained from earth's loss.

I got to see her a few days before she died at a Pageant that Payden was in. I got to hug her neck before I left.

There is so much I want to say more about this women. I loved her. I may have only known her a short time, but what a wonderful time it was.

I know my tears no matter how many I cry will not bring her back nor will they delete that period of time that I was away from her. Nor my words. In fact my words do not bring this women justice nor will any amount ever will.

My prayers go out to Mr. Donnie and Payden as they go through life without their wife and mother.
My prayer is that one day here on earth I will regain the full friendship with payden that I once had. If it be possible.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as a pathway to peace. Taking as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it, trusting you will make all things right if I surrender to Your will, so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with you forever in the next. - Amen