I said I wouldn't cry!

I was so sure that I would not cry at Sandra's funeral on Friday, yet I sat there with tears streaming down my face.

Lisa gave a beautiful talk on what a lovely lady Sandra was, how she never spoke ill of anyone and how much the children in nursery loved her and will miss her. I'm so glad to have known Sandra. She taught me such a lot. I wouldn't say that she never had a bad word to say for anyone. She could be quite stubborn at times and certainly enjoyed a good natured grumble at the nurses in the hospital. She endured a great deal of suffering and she did so with dignity. For her sake I should be happy that she has made it through the trial of this life and retained her testimony if the Gospel until the end. I'm really going to miss her though and feel like I took her friendship for granted whilst she was here.

The church was packed again, this time with so many non-members whose lives she had touched. Phil from the dance class was there. Such a small world. When I spoke to her on Saturday she explained that she knew Sandra through the school where she had been involved as Brian was a governor.

The boys looked devastated. They will miss her so much. I know there were times they used to torment the life out of her but their love and grief is undeniable.

Sister Frohock had arranged that the Relief Society sisters would stand as a guard of honour as the coffin was brought in, and the Relief Society Presidency each held a yellow tulip as yellow roses were Sandra's favourite flower but she couldn't get any roses so got tulips in the same colour instead.

It's been such an emotional couple of weeks and I still find myself in tears for different reasons. I don't know if I can be as strong as Jenny and Sandra and stay immovable in my faith when things come along which knock me sideways. They were and are two lovely sisters. Not perfect, no-one ever is apart from the Saviour, but as close as it gets and an example to me of something I can try to live up to.