I really want to write a loving tribute, but I can't seem to find the words. Instead I will share information about the memorial that her daughter, Jenny Lynn prepared for her.
Jenny dedicated a wall in my parents home with pictures of Julie. In between the photos were decorations of butterflies. Jenny also ordered live butterflies for all our family and friends to release during the memorial. Then, Jenny shared with me something I never knew; she told me that Julie loved butterflies.
I couldn't help but smile at the thought of Julie loving butterflies because when I was a teenager I would call her things like brat, or crybaby, something that I wasn't supposed to say. One night my father heard me teasing her. He reprimanded me and told me if I didn't say something nice, I wasn't to say anything at all. From then on whenever Julie and I fought I'd call her BUTT-er-fly.
How I miss you, Julie Boo! I miss texting you good morning every morning, especially because my morning starts at 5 am, which is 3 am California time. But she was always up--mostly because she spent each night trying to get comfortable as she dealt with her crippling edema--and would text me back.
I promise I will write more another time. There is soooo much to say, but right now I can only say, "I love you Julie!"
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| Julie Ellen Bowman September 26, 1970 - August 23, 2016 |
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| My son, John, my beautiful sister Julie, and my daughter Lucy July 2016 |
