It has been Christmas Eve since I have sent out a distribution email. I decided to send one today in recognition & in honor of Diane’s birthday.
It is now a little over three months since Diane has died and I am still taken aback when I hear a new “story” about Diane. Or I hear of how her life has been so influential and yes, how her death has deeply moved even distant friends.
Dereje is a missionary in Kazakhstan who ministers with orphans such as Anya and Masha when they were in Kaz. Because of Kazakh law, he is not able to preach Jesus to the children, but he shows them Jesus in his loving ministry. Diane met him after I left Kaz when we adopted Anya. Through the years he and Diane became great friends and mutual admirers during two visits to our home, the email world and through countless late night phone calls. Just recently in two of his emails, I once again was hit hard with the message of Diane’s goodness by what he wrote about a few people who met Diane in such a limited amount of time. He wrote about one of Masha and Anya’s “mamas” whom Diane met – he wrote about how this mama said she would miss “Diane’s smiles & her kindness.” Please remember, Diane may have met this woman twice! He wrote about Layna who had a special place in Diane’s heart and obviously Layna had a special place for Diane (Layna, Masha and Anya were friends in Kaz). I think that Diane and Layna only met once. He also wrote about Sabina. Sabina is now a teenager who has a warm, welcoming smile and a loving personality – just like Diane! We met and spent time with Sabina during our two trips to Kaz and we have kept in contact with her through Dereje. It was only a couple of weeks ago that Dereje told Sabina about Diane’s death, and I would like to share his email concerning those moments.
Greetings
Today choice a good timing as taking Roma and Sabina for they need warm winter shoe ,jeans and cloths.on the way back after buying them having a Lunch told sabina that Daine passed away and I hold her as she burst in to tears so profusely crying ( told in advance to Roma about the news I was going to break .)afterward took over 20 minute walk . after a silent walk she started to ask how is Masha and anya and thier papa doing? . asked if she will talk to them some time ? . she said she will miss all that calls and the kindness sent on her way from the Schmitt family and said Daine is her (amerikanka mama) that brought tears to me. indeed we all miss Daine and Sabina said she will write a big letter to Masha and anya with Her picture indeed today was one of the hardest day in my life as conveying this message as very careful as i could be knowing it could made such a great hole and damage to Her and your continues prayer greatly appreciated
in christ love
Dereje
As I read his note over and over again I am so taken by Sabina and by Dereje himself – the great love they have for Diane and really how well placed that love is. She is a remarkable woman who is missed by so many of us so very deeply – even those half way around the world who knew her for short bursts of time.
The following is a link to the Guest Book that is being hosted by Newsday. http://www.legacy.com/Newsday/GB/GuestbookView.aspx?PersonId=119709141 In the past I have asked you to read through and add a reflection if you are so inclined. Please do. It means so much to me now and will mean so much to Anya and Masha as they grow older. I know they will soak up the “stories” of their mom. If you have a favorite photo, please add that also.
I would like you to know how we are recognizing Diane’s birthday this year. Some of you know some or all of this, but I want to share this with all on the distribution lists. Typical of Diane, the recognition of her birthday has to be more than one day. She used to call it her birthday month and in true Diane fashion, somehow it would span 3 months!
Saturday, knowing the girls were going to be very busy on Sunday, we went to Diane’s cemetery and went to the grave-sides of Diane and her aunt and uncle whose site is close by & whom we visited so very often. It was a very quiet time together and the girls and myself pushed the snow off of her grave with our feet. Diane hated the cold and the snow. I remembered with the girls how we left in the coffin one of her prayer shawls, not just as a prayer tool, but also to help keep her warm.
After a visit with Diane’s cousin Ann and an afternoon nap, Saturday evening rolled along. Mike and Liz (Diane’s brother & sister-in-law/friend) gave us a dinner at TGIFs to be used over Diane’s birthday weekend. Friends of mine (Bill and Ellen Moran) who have been very good to the girls joined us and we really had a wonderful evening. Though a toast was made in recognition of Diane’s birthday, it was not all that much reminiscing and telling Diane stories as it was just the five of us having a good evening together.
Now for Sunday, day two of recognition. At first we connected Masha and Anya getting their ears pierced with Valentine’s day. It was planned to have their Godmothers’ take them as a Valentine’s gift, but somehow it became part of Diane’s birthday trilogy. Masha went with her Aunt / Godmother (my sister Mary) late Sunday morning. Though she was nervous (Masha, not her aunt Mary) she got through it and loves everything about it. After ear piercing, Mary then spent hours with them teaching them how to cook meatloaf, baked ziti and chicken soup. We did have lunch together, but I took a good deal of the afternoon to be by myself. Naturally I went to Pinelawn cemetery, but then found myself giving Diane a very special (in her mind and heart, definitely not mine) birthday gift, I went to Mishna’s cemetery. Mishna was her not-so-very-friendly dog that died 15 years or so ago. I often say about Mishna, the only good thing I can say about Mishna is that her breathing difficulty got Diane to buy an air conditioner for the bedroom. Yes, I really did go Mishna’s grave-side, now if that’s not love...!!!!
And that brings us to today. For part two of the ear piercing, Anya’s Aunt / Godmother Catherine will be bringing her to this rite of passage. Masha seems to be having a hard time with Diane’s birthday. She told me that on Friday night she cried in bed (at her cousins’ house) while thinking of “my mom” and her birthday. Than when leaving the cemetery on Saturday she asked if she could come back on Monday. That is NOT the Masha I know. Anya yes, but not Masha. Of course I will bring her there before closing at 5:00 this evening. When we get back together again, Shawn and Catherine will be coming over and Catherine will be cooking something or other carbonara. Spoke to the girls last night and they want to do a birthday cake, it is not my cup of tea, but…It probably will end up being a difficult night, but I know that Diane is pleased that we are recognizing her birthday and won’t be speaking a word about her age.
And by the way, a few people have written to me to let me know that they are now praying to Diane, adding intentions to her “ever-growing prayer list”. They are doing this because in our faith we know she belongs to the Communion of Saints and has a special voice into God’s ears. Don’t hesitate in asking Diane to pray to God for your intentions.
As you well know, I could go on and on, but lunch hour is now over so I need to get back to work.
Many thanks for your loving consideration of Masha, Anya and myself during this difficult time in our lives.
Love,
George
