As I alluded to yesterday, Naomi Maxheimer died last Saturday. She was another 'one-of-a-kind' as was Bob Stephenson, who died part of month ago. Both were staunch members of our church. We could count on them for anything. Both were in the early 80s, but young!

Naomi was a do-er, a go-er; someone we could count on; not only in the church, but in the community. And her family; oh, her family! She was active in the M & Ms (Marys & Marthas, an ecumenical group of gals); helped with home communion for shut-ins; and as her funeral brochure said a 'Martha Stewart'. Decorating her home and inviting people in for teas and lunches were high on her 'to do' list.

And what a sparkle for life. Two thoughts came to mind. A good number of years when Irish Riverdance was especially popular, she organized the older ladies (older than she was at the time) to 'dance! Using cardboard boxes she (some else helped her?) painted and colored various legs and dancing shoes. The 'dancers' came out at a Mother and Daughter banquet, holding the waist-high boxes and moving them up and down as they 'danced' to the music. It was fun! Funny!!

Thought #2 was Naomi's 'bright idea' for a handful of us girls to dress up like Christmas gifts using large cardboard boxes which we could put our heads/arms through; wrap them up with Christmas wrap and plunk bows on our heads. She supplied the striped elf-looking socks. We were pretty well set until we found out we didn't fit in the church bus, wearing them. No problem. Take them off and ride them through the wheelchair lift. And we were on our way to Christmas carol people in our lives. Naomi leading the way with her infectious smile and laugh!

At her funeral service on Wednesday, our minister Warren Curry captured these three thoughts from her 'stash':

"Prayers go up....blessings come down!"

"Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves, for they will never cease to be amused."

"If you want to be rich, count all the things you have that money cannot buy."

Rest in peace, Naomi!

Thank You, God, for sharing Naomi with us. We have been, and will continue to be, blessed, by her!