My Dearest Friend....continued...

Well, the day came, and went. She really did it, and didn't change her mind (like I secretly hoped she would!) Oh well. She picked out the choir special, and we did a special piece with the Orchestra. Her daughter sang 'I Bowed On My Knees' and 'Love Goes On'. My, what a morning! Then in the evening, she and I did a 'mini-concert'. We played 'Tis So Sweet' set to 'Claire de Lune'; 'Seek Ye First' set to 'Canon in D'; Via Dolorosa; His Glory (has 'Majesty & Glory in it...mercy!); and finished with an arrangment of 'Amazing Grace'. There's a story there...My first piano teacher was the church pianist, back in 1972. She and Joy played this same arrangement - the first piano/organ duet she ever played. She wanted it to be her last 'official' piece, so we did it. I just think it's really cool how God throws in very neat things like that at points in our lives. It ran full circle...how often does that happen?

Me and she...ain't we a pair?

We had cake, and lots of it!

Then, just when we thought we were the ones with the surprises, she surprised me...she had been working on this quilt for me. She said, 'The black and white color is for music...the keys; and red is the color of love.' She had traced the outline of my hands a couple of months ago. I thought it was weird, but hey! So she put an applique of my hands, beside an applique of her hands in the center of the quilt. On the back, she put an applique of the outline of her feet. (Organists play with their feet, too, you know!) She gave it to me after going through and remembering the years she had been there, and where the paths had led. It was so sweet, and touching, I was just stunned. (Oh, that's her daughter and her youngest granddaughter on the left.)

...and this is my amazing quilt. I LOVE IT, and will always treasure it. (I'll have to redecorate my back bedroom in these colors so I can hang it on the wall!)

I sure do love her a lot, and will really miss playing with her every week...but she'll still be around for some cameos!