Jenny, as many of you know, passed away a year ago today from brain cancer. With writing this post, I hope that you may all get to know my sister a little better, or perhaps, just remember her a little more today.
Jenny was always very creative - when we were little she always wanted to be the "robber" when we played cops-and-robbers, because they got to be creative in "getting away". We made "magic potions" with my Dad's shaving creme, toothpaste and cologne - we would mix them in one of the old barns behind the house, to hide them from my Mother. Our bikes could be anything from tractors to space ships to ice cream machines.
We grew up on a farm - definitely the way to grow up, I wish I could raise my kids on a farm. We loved to play in the "off-limits" hay barn and climb the stacks of hay - all the way to the top! (We had no idea how dangerous it was!) We would go and play in the dried corn that was piled up in the Quonset shed. It was like playing in the balls at McDonalds, just with mice & rats! We would climb the corn dryer, talk on the CB radio (tell Dad we needed a "Coy Break" and later in life it was a "Hoagie Break"), play on the jacks in the shop and pretend they were skate boards, and "help" my brother by sweeping out the shop (which I'm sure my Mom loved this as we were sweeping up oil soaked wood shavings from tractor repairs).
As we got into our teenage years we didn't get along as well as I would like to admit. We had our good times... but we definitely had our bad times... my poor parents.
But as we got older - we had fun and we didn't seem to mind each other's differences as we had in our younger teenage years. We went on Girl's Trips with my Mom: Moab, Arches National Park, Lake Powell, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Jackson Hole. Then as we got married (our anniversaries are only a day apart) we, for the most part, have always lived by each other. We both built houses by each other in Syracuse and then later we built houses right next to each other in Farr West. Our kids are growing up together and love each other as siblings (fights & harassment included).
Jenny went on a mission to Germany and went back several times afterwards to visit friends.
She married Ernie Lynch in the Salt Lake Temple.
Later they had two beautiful little girls, just eighteen months apart. Jenny took the title of "Mom" and lived it to the fullest. She was always doing fun things with her girls.
While pregnant with Phoenix, Jenny first learned of her brain tumor. They operated just a couple of days after finding it - Jenny was only 4 months pregnant. They diagnosed her as having a grade 4 tumor, which was as bad as they come. She did radiation while she was pregnant and then once Phoenix was born, she started chemotherapy. I didn't hear her complain to often, although I can't imagine how she must have felt (physically & emotionally). She was very positive about her treatments and probably helped us through as much, or more, as we helped her through the hard times. She did very well until the end of October, 2007, just before Erin's 3rd birthday. She was home for Thanksgiving, but not for Christmas or New Years. It was so strange to not have her there. We were able to bring her home the end of January. Friends and family would stay with her during the day, making sure she got her medication when she needed it and helped her with whatever they could. Just being there with her was probably what she appreciated most. My Mom was the foundation of getting us all through this. She never seemed to crack, even while the rest of us were, she stayed strong. She was a big support to my sister and did things I hope she will never have to do for me (but I know she would if I needed her too)! The beginning of March our hope that she might make a miraculous recovery was fading quickly... The second week in March all of my family came over and said their goodbyes. She passed away on Thursday, March 13th, with my sisters, Lesa & Amy, and my Mom there with her.
I know that Jenny visits us often, but I still miss her dearly.
3 comments:
Mindy, I loved the tribute to your sister. My mom always kept me updated during her fight with cancer, as your parents serve with my mom in Special Needs Mutual. I thought of her often, as I had little girls and was pregnant during the same time, and I couldn't imagine going through something so difficult. The pictures are amazing, as she's always smiling - what an inspiration!
What a great post, it was so beautiful. I really unjoyed reading it! I can't imagine all that your family has been through. My heart breaks for your family and those two girls. You and your whole family are so great to those girls and they are so lucky to have you!
How amazing, I loved all those pictures. I can't even imagine how hard that was for Jenny and your entire family. I am so grateful for the Plan of Salvation. What great memories to have.
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