Remembering Jill

I lost a dear friend.
It was a bit unexpected.
She was only 48.  Really, 47.  She died the day before her birthday.

Jill and her family lived around the corner and down the street from us for 15 years.  It took me a little while to get to know her well, but once I did, I considered her a good friend. 
She was amazingly talented at everything she did - baking, knitting, beading, parenting, playing the piano and organ.  She had a great sense of humor, a great love of Nauvoo, and a drive to do things as best she could. 
She just seemed to have a sense of her place in the world.  It might have been a small corner in Lehi, Utah, but it was her corner and she took care of it well.
My fondest memories and time with Jill was when we were both on the Enrichment board.  We were doing a humanitarian project sewing baby gowns.  Somehow, Jill had gotten a hold of a huge roll (massive carpet size roll) of navy knit.  We spent hours in the foyer of the church, spreading out that knit, laying down patterns and cutting out baby gowns that we would then stuff five to a ziploc bag and beg people on Sunday to take and sew up.  What a blessing to spend that time with Jill.
I remember her trying to teach me how to knit and I was hopeless!  She was so patient and I still just couldn't wrap my head around it.
I remember that she would always drive her car to my house even though we lived 3 minutes apart.  I would always laugh at her and she would shrug her shoulders and impishly smile.
I remember seeing her play the organ in the temple.
I remember how happy she was at her daughter's wedding reception.  She was smiling, laughing and dragging whoever would go with her into the photo booth to get their pictures taken.
I remember saying goodbye to her in May when her and Craig moved out of the neighborhood.  I knew she was struggling with her health, but she looked so pretty, so well and so happy.  It was a hard goodbye.  I just didn't realize how long that goodbye would be.
Greg and I went to Jill's funeral today.  It was obvious how well she was loved.  She deserved all the love given to her and if your were lucky enough to be loved by her - you were blessed.
In memory of Jill, I made bread today to honor all the many loaves she gave away.  I don't think I will every make bread again without thinking of Jill - and that is a wonderful blessing.