H!

This morning around 10AM I was suddenly hit with some very difficult news.  I always marvel at the term "difficult news" . . . how is news difficult? Was it presented in a difficult manner? Was receiving it difficult? In this case, dealing with the information and how it makes me feel is difficult in that, I feel incredible torn. . .

On January 12, 2011 my friend Heather Lynn Parman was killed.  She was driving home from work and was hit by a driver who had reportedly closed his eyes (police speculate that he was asleep at the wheel.) . . .

Heather was joy incarnate; she was rarely without a smile, she was loud, she danced, I can still hear her yelling, "Christiaaaaaaaaaaaaaana Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinkelmeyer!" She lived life so big and it was infectious - when you were around Heather you felt alive, like right here, in this moment, whatever you were doing was exactly what you were supposed to be doing.  She truly spread Jesus' unconditional love and His unbelievable joy to everyone she came in contact with.  "H!" as she was affectionately called was just that, an exclamation point in life.

I feel like this world just lost something massive. . . and I can't even begin to process how this void will effect all of those that loved her, which were many.

It's difficult news because on the other side of the coin, H! is with her Jesus, He called her home and now she can dance around wildly with Him aaaaand I'm sure that's the first thing she did.  Entered His gates, saw His face for the first time, and screamed, "HOLY COW! IT'S YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" and as she ran into His arms, she would say with certainty in her voice and honesty in her eyes, "I stinkin LOVE you!"  I know this because H! spoke with her soul and that is what she got to take with her to heaven, her soul, her beautiful, incredible, awe-inspiring soul.

My life has been so inspired by H.  We first met while I did my internship with YWAM in NY and she was one of the first to befriend me.  I knew I liked her right away and instantly wanted to become her friend; she just oooooooozed all things wonderful (mostly Jesus.)  Last year, she began to train for a race that she was sponsored for because of a friend who had become ill; she ran for that friend and faithfully trained.  This is who Heather was.


H! was silly HUGE button earings, bright colors, dancing, MxPx rocking, a runner, a humanitarian, a servant, a YWAMer, she loved dresses, a model, amazing with children, she had swag, loving, an intercessor, played dress-up, a make-up queen, and my hero.

Heather's last facebook status said: don't just pretend to love others...really love them

Love you H! . . . I miss you already with my heart.