For Better or For Worse

It is so hard to say goodbye to someone you love. So. Hard.

The last two weeks, during BLT, we asked you to pray for Chonda Pierce and her husband, David, because he was taken to the hospital for back pain and ended up having a heart attack and multiple strokes. Two days ago, he received the Ultimate Healing in Heaven. And Chonda is here to mourn his absence...felt all the more deeply since she's loved David from the age of sixteen. So. Hard.

This past week, I learned that a gentleman I went to church with when I was very young, lost his wife and son in a horrific car accident. They were on their way to an extended family camping trip when the son, who was learning to drive, somehow collided with a milk tanker. The son was 15 and the wife was 52, and in a second, they were gone. So. Hard.

And last November, a loving family and a sisterhood of writer friends said goodbye to fiction writer Diann Hunt, after her courageous battle with ovarian cancer.

You might remember that on this month's Spots and Spotlight show, Lynne interviewed Colleen Coble and Denise Hunter about their friend Diann...and a very special party they were planning.

You see, one of Diann's novels, For Better or For Worse, was picked up by the Hallmark Channel and turned into a movie!

Ryan and I went to the premiere...because at what other time in life will we ever get to go to a movie premiere complete with a red carpet?

I have to give great kudos to my husband, who was willing to put on a dress shirt and tie on a weekend and go to a Hallmark movie with his wife!! {And he DID enjoy it...so don't let him tell you otherwise!}

I was so touched by the kindness and love put into the event by Denise, Colleen and everyone else who made the evening happen. The attention to detail, the celebration of Diann's life and talent...I had tears in my eyes! The 450 or so people gathered at Grace Point Church erupted into applause when the movie began and then fell silent until Diann's name flashed across the screen as the writer of the novel...and then more applause.

Writers and editors had traveled a distance to be there in person with Diann's family and close friends. A publishing house that never even published one of her books sent a box of books for door prizes, because that's how much love and respect they had for a writer not even on their own roster.

Was it a fun night? Absolutely. Photos below attest to that. But was it a touching night? OH. YES. To see the love and the care...made me realize what a blessed, blessed lady Diann Hunt was...and how hard it was for these who loved her to say goodbye again...even as they celebrated.

If you were there, I hope you loved it as much as we did. If you weren't there, I hope you can catch the movie on the Hallmark channel. Darling movie.

And here's a peek into the night:

Ryan and I all dressed up in the Starbucks parking lot on our way to the premiere. {Of course. Starbucks! Where else???}

 Waiting in line at the red carpet. Oh yes. A real red carpet.

 All Diann's friends and family arrived in a gorgeous limo and walked the red carpet first...and then everyone else followed.

 Our moment on the red carpet. And yes. I did get ribbed for taking a selfie. but I did not care one bit! I wasn't missing the capturing of that!

I won a door prize...a copy of a book co-written by Diann. Someone really enjoyed that prize!

 The evening was complete with a reception that featured fabulous wedding cake and punch.

 Watching the movie together. What a lovely night and tribute.

Saying goodbye is hard...celebrate the lives of those you love. Make sure they know how dearly you cherish them!