Life trails: Jan Verhoeff

 Jan Verhoeff died the other day.

She was a teacher, a friend, a blogger, a Mom, a wife, a student, a champion of conservative values.  Her honesty, kind and caring heart, her astute and discerning intelligence touched many hearts and souls.  

She will be remembered for her courage of convictions; she had a winning way of explanation and understanding that brought many listeners around to her train of thinking. As a pupil of her writing expertise, I enjoyed her writing classes and learned a great deal about many phases of writing, particularly with online ins and outs.

She wrote several books, worked many, many blogs on a daily basis - actually made her living in part, from them.  I was amazed, years back to understand that she wore through keyboards on an almost monthly basis. Writing was her forte - began at an early age and continued until her passing, a few weeks ago.

She also championed home schooling - was a part of the administrative end of homeschooling in Colorado, as well as a homeschooler of her four children.  Her children all went on to be amazing citizens, Loving, caring parents and kind spouses.  Her immediate family embraced the true Christian Love of family and the values therein. She was a "Mom of Mom's"! I saw a saying that was quoted as a "Sudanese proverb"; in my opinion, it sums up Jan's mothering to a tee: 

 "We desire to bequeath two things to our children; the first is roots, the other is wings." (1)

Her talents were diversified and wide, including riding and caring for horses, running small businesses, a seamstress of quality fare, etc.  She had the ability to remain calm in many types of "storms".  She was a MEMORABLE caregiver to her Mother through her sickness and passing.  She balanced pleasure with business, friendship with reality, intelligence with finances.  Her capacity for strength was innately deep.  She enjoyed cooking and eating; she found fun and creativity in her kitchen as well as in many other areas of her life.

As I write this, it is surreal to re-read my words - a seemingly fictitious story of unimaginable reality.  But it is true, Jan has passed. When I dialed her phone a few minutes ago, I broke into tears as I heard her voice on the answering machine.

Rest well, dear heart.  Know the presence of angels and the Love of your Creator. No more life stress; no more pain.  You are in our hearts and memories forever.

(1) Clive Cussler and Robin Burcell, THE ORACLE