The journal that my roomie wrote, Pat, (tomtom) had written was beautifully written ! I remember Barbara speaking about Pat hugging Vonne. It was pricless seeing Barbara's expression on her face when she saw the two of them rocking back and forth. The minute I met Barbara I felt her Love, Compassion and Excitement of us all being together. I love everything about her, she is so fun to be with, as witty as can be. Oh, boy, we had so much laughter, with so many happy emotions. She had tears and deep compassion for everyone of us moms and children. She loved each and every one of us equally, she couldn't express that enough. She appreciated us being at the Gatlinburg retreat. She also mentioned how she thought about the moms who couldn't be with us that weekend. It was my first retreat, and I'll always have a special place in my heart for Barbara. I think of our Barbara and her precious gorgeous son Evan everyday.
I am so Honored to have met her. I believe God puts people in our lives for a reason, He gives us what we need when we need it. I had the pleasure of sitting across from her in the restaurant, at the retreat. We all had the restaurants attention, the waiters were astonished and amazed by our connection with one another, no-one could understand, but us moms who have been in our shoes. We took up most of the restaurant, lol. One of the young gentleman who was waiting on us, ask for a "FMO Pay it Forward Card" to give to his mother who had lost her son/ his brother. He wanted his mom to have what we had, with one another. He said his mom hasn't been the same since her son passed over, and wants to see her full of life, as he saw us, "Live, Love, Laugh", it was really a Godsent to him.
I will always remember walking into Barbara's Chalet, across from the one I was in. When I walked in to her Chalet, I knew instantly some sort of meeting, gathering was going on. I saw Teri's best friend Tammy, sitting behind the couch on a platform, listening to AnnM reading her article about our amazing time we all were having. AnnM was reading it out loud for us to hear, what she had put together. So I sat next to Tammy, sitting behind the coach, whispering to Tammy, asking her questions. So Me, the person who has ADD could not stay quiet,lol. I saw Teri on the floor sitting in front of the fireplace, Barbara, Joanne, and AnnM sitting on the couch, and a few other moms. As I was whispering, while AnnM was reading her finnal script. Barbara turned around and looked at me. Well, I felt like I got caught, not paying attention in school,lol. The look on my face, I felt like I was interfering. Barbara nodded her head, and lip said "come here". I jumped up and ran over to her as she lifted her blanket up for me to sit next to her, even though it was unbelievable hot out, the air condition was alittle cold. I sat under the blanket, gave her a big hug, a kiss on her cheek, and told her I loved her. I had one of my hot spells, the blankets came off and she got up to do something, and AnnM, Teri, Joanne, MJ, Vonne, and the other Kelly, and me, kelly, started joking and laughing with tears rolling down our faces..That night was priceless...I believe we were all in heaven on top of the smokey mountain's, with all the spirits of all our precious Children..It was amazing, all the different coincidence, signs and visits we had from our Children were incredible.
I drove to Gatlingburg with my daugter Erica, we made a 10 day trip out of it. We went further into Tennesse to visit a friend in Nashville. I was glad to see my friend Debbie in Nashville, But I'll tell you, Nashville wasn't close to being as nice as we had on top of the smokey mountains, Gatlinburg TN. Nashville was to much night life, for me,lol. Maybe I'm getting old..., I would most differently go back to Gatlinburg, up in the smokey mountains, which was the heaven we were all feeling that weekend.... Barbara is one of the best Human beings, I have ever met, she will always be remembered, Bless her heart, Love, Kelly