Friday, December 14, 2012

In Remembrance of Randi Barrett

Yesterday was one of the saddest days of my life.  Rick and I attended the funeral for our very good friend, Randi Barrett. I have written about Randi several times, requesting your prayers.  I cannot thank you enough for those prayers over the last 2 years.  God allowed Randi to live a long time, over 2 years with her latest battle with cancer.  Two years to enjoy her husband, her 2 grown children, their spouses and her 2 grandchildren.  Randi was able to see her oldest grandchild, Katelyn, get on the bus for her very first day of school! Those are the joys that Randi lived for and she was blessed to experience it!

Randi's battle with cancer actually started 28 years ago.  Her first cancer cost her one eye but she gladly accepted a glass eye and returned to her teaching career, where she taught elementary and middle school for almost 28 years!

Her second cancer took half her tongue, and forced an early retirement from a job she loved!  In between these cancers she also battled Multiple Myloma and endured a stem cell transplant. Randi has had chemotherapy many, many times, along with radiation, and would endure it all with such grace, never complaining! Her doctors were amazed at her and they could not figure out how she was still alive! This latest cancer that took her life started in her lung, spread to her liver, then her back and finally her brain.

I met Randi at a stamp show in 2010 and quickly realized how special she is.  She was just so in love with our scripture stamps and was so bubbly, talkative ad had the BEST sense of humor! Randi began working in our booth at stamp shows and we became such good friends. She missed teaching very much and this helped her to fill that void. Randi also became a member of the ODBD Design Team, where she shared her passion for scripture stamps!!

I learned SO many things from Randi, but I think the most important was her LOVE of GOD! Through all her life, no matter what battles she faced, she put her life in God's hands and let HIS will be done! She knew that God would decide if she was to live and when she was to die,  and she touched SO MANY lives along the way. 

We grew to love Randi's husband of 39 years, Blaine, who so sweetly called her "Lovey"! Blaine took such wonderful care of Randi for so long.  I was in awe of the deep love he had for Randi.

We have several blog posts about Randi that I have linked here:
Pray for Randi HERE
Randi's Time with Post HERE
Randi's Song HERE

The Randi's Song stamp set was named after her because the set contains a stamp with the "How Great is Thy Faithfulness", a favorite of Randi's. When the set was first introduced to the design team, Randi commented "Here I am again....same cancer same song.....there are no mistakes in God's handiwork. I get blessed just thinking about it. Sorry guys but I am claiming these stamps as ones sent from heaven just for me." And so the set was named after her!

I would just like to share some of my favorite photos of Randi these past few years! Even thought I have only known her for 3 years, I feel like I have known her a lifetime! 
 February 2010

July 2010 - with Debi Southard

 July 2010 - at CHA with Becca Feeken


April 2011 - at Cabela's

 May 2011

August 2011

 May 2012


August 2012

November 2012 - Three weeks before Randi passed away, 
and on Hospice care, 
but still has that most beautiful smile!!! 

Thank you for reading this post. I have enjoyed sharing this with you. Take care and God Bless!



28 comments:

Suzanne C said...

What a lovely tribute to a wonderful women!

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful tribute.....and such a special lady. Randi is in a wonderful place now, free from suffering, God bless her husband and children.

Francie G. said...

Beautiful tribute for a beautiful lady! Prayers and hugs!

Laura Love said...

What a beautiful tribute for your friend. I love how in every picture, even the one in the hospice she always had a beautiful smile. Sounds like she was an amazing lady.

Mary Ann said...

Very beautiful tribute,my prayers is with her family,everone she meant so much to,God Blesss...MaryAnn

Grace said...

Oh what a beautiful tribute to Randi, Kelley! She certainly touched all our lives with her sense of humor, outlook on life, and incredible relationship with her Lord and Savior! We all mourn her loss, but will never forget this special lady, and I know that the angels in heaven are rejoicing as this child of God entered heavens gates! So thankful for the assurance that if we know Jesus as our Savior, we will be reunited with her one day, and will praise God together with her... singing of His great faithfulness!!! Thanks for this beautiful post!
hugs,
Grace

Auntie Em said...

Heaven must have needed a special angel in time for Christmas!
My condolences to her family and friends.

Tricia T said...

What a precious, precious post. Can you imagine being Home in Christ's presence? I'm sure that beautiful smile is still there!! Thank you for sharing with us, Kelley. God truly blessed you with a beautiful friendship.

Payne Holler Cards said...

Your tribute is beautiful, Randi was truly one of those rare people that "lived her faith".... She left behind her testimony of faith in our Lord "in all things"....I count her a blessing in my life and will smile thinking of her with our Lord Jesus.

Carol P said...

Kelley, I'm so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful friend with the beautiful smile thru everything. She is truly an inspiration and a blessing to all. Prayers to you and design team and especially her husband and family.

Conniecrafter said...

Kelley you did a wonderful tribute to Randi, she is a wonderful example of putting it all in God's hands and knowing he knows what is best for us, sorry for you loss and that of her family, may God grant them peace

Cindy Coutts @ Cindy B Designs said...

Kelley, your tribute was from the heart. Thank you so much for taking us on this journey and sharing this with us. It definitely made me cry. Randi was also an integral part of Christian Paper Crafts, which you now guide, but of that smile! I have never met a more graceful or spirit-filled woman who in the absolute worst of times never let her faith i God waiver. My stepmom died of pancreatic cancer of February 2012 and it was a completely different scenario. She didn't have the faith or peace of the Lord that Rand had. She trusted in God and his plan with her entire life and the pictures show it. She knew she was going home to be with the Lord! We can only rejoice in that she's happy and healthy, although she will leave a big gap in all of our lives. You are such a beautiful woman yourself Kelley being with with until the last minute showing your heart of gold and love for the Lord. All of you are in my prayers. I love you my dear friend and the entire team at ODBD. I am so sad and will miss her and take great comfort that she is with the Lord and healed!

Unknown said...

What a lovely way to honor your courageous, sweet friend. I am so sorry for your loss, and will be praying for her family (and you) today.

TLady said...

With tears in my eyes, I am typing this! What a TROOPER!!!!!!!! A REAL SAINT of God it sounds like! In this time of grieving, I am praying for all who loved Randi! All who were touched by her! May God's love ease their mourning! As I KNOW, Randi is in heaven with her Father, FREE FROM CANCER!!!!!!!!!! God Bless those who mourn her passing & know, she has passed the job of SHINNING HIS LIGHT on to them!

Marlena M. said...

I'm so sorry for your loss Kelley~Randi was/is amazing! I pray her family is comforted by your warm post. Her light shines bright~

SHARON said...

I lost my mother yesterday so I mourn with you. The good news is that it is not the end but merely a transfer into the presence of our Lord Jesus. But I have to say my heart is quiet today and my thoughts are of my Mom. May the peace of our Lord surround you.

kathi17 said...

This is such a beautiful tribute Kelley. You were truly blessed for having such a wonderful friend.

While I didn't know Randi, I have read so much about her on this blog, and the blogs of the design teams, and have said so many prayers for this wonderful and courageous woman and her family and friends.

My thoughts and prayers are with you, and all who loved her. I know that she is there with the Lord, pain free, and watching over you all.

I truly believe that when people leave this earth, they aren't gone forever. We will see them again in heaven.

Lisa Somerville said...

Such a beautiful tribute to a wonderful woman!

Bridget said...

I'm so sorry for your loss of a beautiful friend, and also her family's loss of their dear Mum and wife....but what a legacy of faith and grace she has left behind, a real testimony of what the love of Jesus can do in and through a life...thanks for the sharing how God touched your life through her, it's an encouragement to us all!

Jonia said...

Beautiful Tribute Kelly. I got to know Randi from Christian Paper Crafts and even though I did not know her face to face, I knew her and it saddened my heart to know she was gone, but gladdened my heart to know she was kneeling at the feet of Jesus completely healed. Thanks for this wonderful tribute.

Mary Marsh said...

such a beautiful tribute Kelly-my prayers to you on the loss of your friend as well as to her family

E. Marie said...

I am so sorry to hear about her passing. I know she was a dear friend. I hope you will be comforted by the knowledge she is sharing her beautiful smile in heaven.

Christine said...

What a precious testimony Randi has. It is a beautiful reminder of God's goodness. I am so glad that you were given such a sweet friend and that you took the time to honor Randi and your friendship here. Your words bring glory to God. I pray that He will bring you peace and comfort in the knowledge that Randi is free from pain and is rejoicing with Jesus.

Chris Olsen, Glowbug said...

Oh what a beautiful tribute to dear Randi!! Randi has always been a testimony and an example of one who lived for Christ in all she did with her bubbling personality, love for others, and sense of humor despite what life threw her way!! While we all mourn her loss, she is now free from pain and is sitting with her Lord and Savior where she longed to be. I rejoice in knowing that God sent his Son Jesus to die for us all so we can all be reunited in heaven someday and we can again see Randi's smile!! Thanks so much for sharing these wonderful words and pictures with us all Kelley! Praying for all who loved her!!
hugs,
Chris

Julie- justwritedesigns said...

A wonderful, touching tribute to a very special lady! Randi will be greatly missed!

Judy McMullen said...

Thank you for sharing your memories of Randi. May you and all who loved Randi experience God's comfort and the peace that passes understanding. I, too, have lost a dear friend this past week but have the joy and comfort that know she is celebrating this Christmas with our Lord and Saviour Jesus in heaven.

ShazInOzCardsCalligraphy said...

Beautiful tribute and shows truly the truth of the verses in Lamentation 3 great is Thy faithfulness morning by morning new mercies I see..
And now Randi is where there is no night so the needs of earth are no longer hers.
May God richly bless those who are passing this first Christmas with her presence had remembered your posts previously and have prayed, God bless,
Shaz in Oz.x

Caryn S said...

His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Matthew 25:21