, and Tree's Funeral today.

[Guest guest]

, and everyone,

What a beautiful tribute , to our dear Tree. All the other posts and

espcially, seeing Tree's posts, has been such a beautiful journey. We are all

blessed to have known her.

I just want to invite everyone, especially any of the children on the list, to

use any media they prefer, whether it is poetry, writing, or drawing. and send

me via email or to mail me their tributes to Tree. I think especially any

personal memories or drawings coming from the JRA kids who met her, would mean

so much to and to Matt.

We attended the visitation for Tree last night. My husband and I were able to

attend, but Rob had to work Friday until 11 and then go back to work this

afternoon. They would not give him time off. Since he is 2 hours away in

Indianapolis, he could not attend. When he comes in town for his chest surgery

in March (outpatient, then at home for the week), we plan to have a dinner that

week for and Matt and present them with a booklet of the list member's

memories and tributes.

Last night, I took one of Alia's KGAT bracelets with me and we laid it on the

pillow near Tree's head. She would have liked that; , her husband, agreed.

I made an 8 x 10 collage with various pictures of Tree at AJAO events along with

a few pictures of the kids from the list that Tree had met. I made 3 copies and

presented one to , to Matt, her son, and to Lois, her mother. The central

picture was of Tree on her scooter at the road block, raising money for the

AJAO. It's my favorite picture of Tree, and since I am so blessed to live near

that intersection, I never (even before she passed away) go thru that

intersection without remembering Tree.

(aka Uncle Rusty) as you know had gone to Tennessee to visit with his

sister. It was a good thing, because his apartment in Louisville has been

without power since Monday night. He still has no power, and so will be

returning to Tennessee with his sister later today. It has been really hard on

Rusty, as he is still recovering from his critical illness this past fall and

winter. But I have to say, he is tough as nails, as always, and he had told his

sister he would be at Tree's funeral no matter what. His sister, Betty, (along

with her husband) drove on her 60th birthday 7 hours in bad traffic and adverse

ice conditions to get Rusty to the funeral. They arrived about 10:30 this

morning. The hardest part of the day for me, was when Rusty and embraced,

and both men were consoling each other over Tree. and Rusty are really

like brothers, especially now. Rusty spent nearly every Saturday with and

Tree since before and after Tree's illness, and they are family.

There was a problem with the newspaper announcement for the funeral. It was

supposed to be at 11, and the paper listed it as 1 pm. This caused a problem

with the schedule for the Catholic priest scheduled to do the funeral Mass. Tree

was Catholic. However, since the mistake was made, and the funeral had to begin

at 11, her funeral was not said by a Catholic priest but by her mother's Baptist

minister. All Tree's brothers and her sister agreed that Tree would have had a

fine laugh out of the matter. The minister said a beautiful service, and you

knew that through Lois, Tree's mother, he did know her. We really did celebrate

Tree's life. The brothers and sisters stood and told funny stories of Tree and

how she had inspired them, encouraged them, and mentored them. Two of her

teenage nieces were in tears as they told of Tree making them learn to fish, and

to put worms on hooks. When the hook became lodged in one of the niece's rears,

Tree informed them to 'suck it up', but not to tell their mother that Tree was

the one who took them fishing! The nieces said Tree wanted them to grow up

knowing that it was ok to have fun and get their hands dirty.

At one point, it was asked if anyone else would like to speak. Knowing how

everyone on this list and around our great nation admired and loved Tree, I

stood and spoke for a minute about the impact Tree had made on my own family's

life, and what an encourager and support she has been to so many, and how her

work with juvenile arthritis had made a true difference in the world. I told

them that there were many praying for the family and with them in spirit and

prayer on this day, in honor of our beloved Tree. They truly appreciated knowing

more about that side of her life, the side of community service and giving. I

also told them that Tree taught me how to be a friend.

Another very touching moment was when a friend of the family stood and told that

she thought one of the other things Tree and taught others was about 'till

death do us part'. When Tree became so gravely ill in 2005, never left her

side. Despite being told to give up on his wife and withdraw life support, he

simply waited for her to get better. And she did. Her mother and sister were

instrumental in keeping vigil at the hospital and making sure that errors were

not made and that everything was tried. Because of their efforts, Tree received

nearly 4 more years with her beloved family. This family member also spoke of

the love and commitment of the marriage vows that Tree and lived by, and

he never gave up or left her side, always the strong support and loving husband.

It was an honor and priviledge to speak for everyone today, and convey your

heartfelt sympathy and love. I know that the family truly appreciates you. I

will look forward to compiling your thoughts and the thoughts and drawings of

your children, and presenting them to the family in March. My personal email

address is snooksmama@....

Thank you for being another branch of Tree's loving family.

With love

and Rob 19 JAS

From ( Remembering Tree)

>

>

> Giving Love & Friendship

> By (Aka Lyssa) N.

>

> ~ I Dedicate This To " Tree " And To Everyone Who Knew Her ~

>

> Love is what makes us who we are,

> It's what holds our friendship together its that one step

> ahead that

> everyone needs to get through life,

>

> I fought so hard just to stay on earth,I never regret what

> I made out of my

> life because I have met

> so many people and made so many friends,I couldn't ask for more.

>

> I dreamed to live and you made me live,you showed me how

> to stand tall to

> show no fear.

> I lived and lived as much as I could until I couldn't live

> anymore,Now I

> will fly with my wings

>

> with no pain,no regrets and with love,I will be missed but

> not forgotten

> Just like I never forgot you and will always be there in sprit.

>

> Our friendship might have started here on earth

> but it will finish here in heaven where it fly's as high

> as on earth.

>

> If you didn't have love for someone you wouldn't miss them

> as much,

> you have to have love in friendship that's what makes it

> work....---------------------------------------------------------

> ---------------------

> ----------------

>

>

> tree showed me something I just couldn't find

> anywhere else,she showed me

> that just because it looked like life was drained from you

> didn't mean life

> wasn't still there.

> She was a person full of love,high sprits and full of

> fight and strength,

> just like a lot of people in our group,

> and when we talked she just had this high sprit about her

> that made you

> always feel happy and loved,

> she always cared about everyone she knew, even if you

> hardly knew her at

> all.she was a friend even felt like family to a lot of

> people.We all have

> something in common in this group and it's what brings us

> together .I thank god all

> the time for giving me a gift because without it I

> wouldn't know so many

> people and I wouldn't have never met tree .Having JRA is

> my gift, and if you

> think about if some people didn't have there gift then we all

> wouldn't know

> each other and we would be just like everyone else .I know a

> lot people

> including myself have said they would give up everything

> just as long as the pain

> goes away,But would you give up your friendship for it?

> tree didn't she fought

> day by day with her pain because she loved her life, she

> loved her friends,we

> all have lost a friend but it feels like a lost of a

> family member,she was

> part of the back bone of our family, our group .I will

> tell everyone something

> when I heard the news about tree I felt as if I had lost a

> close family

> member,I know that she is in heaven smiling down at all of us.

> She was a fighter and She will be remembered as a good person,

> someone that was kind,caring,sweet,funny,loved,and a

> wonderful friend.

>

> You Will Be Missed " Tree " Greatly, But You Will Still

> Live.........

>

> I have Always Liked A Song Called " Wheel Of The World " By

> underwood

> And I Am Not A big Jonas Brothers fan but this song is

> something everyone can

> relate to and I Dedicate Them To " Tree " and to

> everyone .....

>

> God Bless Everyone And You Will Be in My Prayers

> " Tree " , Hugs~Hugs~And A

> lot Of Love ,

>

>

> " Wheel Of The World " By Underwood

>

> Love goes out, out like a light

> Out like a flame, and you can't find it anymore

> Just when you think it's lost in the rain

> It comes back knocking at your door

>

> It's the wheel of the world turning around

> It's the wheel of the world turning around

> And around

>

> God put us here on this carnival ride

> We close our eyes

> Never knowing where it will take us next

> Babies are born and at the same time, someone's taking

> their last breath

>

> It's the wheel of the world

> It's the wheel of the world turning around

>

> In the blink of an eye

> It can change your life

> And it never even slows down

>

> It's the wheel of the world

>

> I don't know what it is

> I'm flying high

> Then I'm wondering why I'm sinking on this ship, going down

> Life keeps on moving anyway

>

> It's the wheel of the world

> It's the wheel of the world turning around

> It's the wheel of the world

> It's the wheel of the world turning around

> It's the wheel of the world turning around

> And around

> And around

> It's the wheel of the world turning around

>

> It can open your heart

> It can break you apart

> And it never even slows down

>

> It's the wheel of the world turning around

> It's the wheel of the world turning around

> It's the wheel of the world turning around

> It's the wheel of the world turning around

> And around

>

>

> Jonas Brothers A Little Bit Longer Lyrics

> Songwriters: Jonas, ;

>

> Got the news today

> Doctor said I had to stay

> A little bit longer

> And I'll be fine

> When I thought it'd all been done

> When I thought it'd all been said

> A little bit longer

> And I'll be fine

>

> But you don't know what you got

> 'Till it's gone

> And you don't know what it's like

> To feel so low

> Every time you smile or laugh you glow

> You don't even know

> No no

> You don't even know

>

> All this time goes by

> Still no reason why

> A little bit longer

> And I'll be fine

> Waitin' on a cure

> But none of them are sure

> A little bit longer

> And I'll be fine

>

> But you don't know what you got

> 'Till it's gone

> And you don't know what it's like

> To feel so low

> And every time you smile or laugh you glow

> You don't even know

> No no

> You don't even know

> No no

> You don't even know

> No no

>

> Two, three, four!

>

> Yeah!

> And you don't know what you got

> 'Till it's gone

> And you don't know what it's like

> To feel so low

> And every time you smile or laugh you glow

> You don't even know

> No

> Yeah

> Woah!

>

> [Oooohhh]

>

> So I wait 'till kingdom come

> All the highs and lows are gone

> A little bit longer

> And I'll be fine

> I'll be

> Fine

>

> [Additional lyrics]

>

> So I'm finally here today

> You've touched me here today

> And I wish that I could stay

> A little bit longer

> And I will be fine

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

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