Sometimes it’s so difficult to understand how life unfolds. Why we have to sometimes lose the very best people. The ones who are the shining stars. And when we do, it makes us reevaluate life.
Are we living it right?
Are we mixing up what’s most important?
My friend Sarah passed away and I am mourning her loss. I call her my “friend” even though I’ve never actually met her in person. Because that’s just how she was. She was a no-nonsense, “let me cherish you” kind of a person, and even though emails you could feel her love. I never knew her, but I knew her, you know?
We were both in the throes of motherhood at the same time. For years I felt like we raised our kids together through our blogs and through emails.
Hers is Memories on Clover Lane.
It is chock-full of no-nonsense, old-fashioned, remember-what’s-most-important wisdom.
For years I have carried around things she has taught me.
She was so many things I am not. She lived life as simply as she could. She kept lists and dinner menus.
But we both cherished being mothers more than anything else in the whole wide world. And we both loved chocolate chip cookies:)
There are probably so many moms out there who feel the same as I do. Sarah was a friend to all.
My heart is breaking for her six kids she has left behind, lining up similarly to mine but with an eleven-year-old caboose and I just want to hug them all. I want to tell them how much I loved their mother. I want to tell them how much she loved them. But you know what? They know. Not only did Sarah show them in word and in deed, but she wrote about them on her blog.
What a treasure that will be for them always.
Over the last few years I have lost touch with Sarah. It’s strange how life seems to speed up when your kids start to leave. Every now and again we would email back and forth just to catch up.
She got cancer. And she fought it with all her might and went into remission. For years she was ok, and I lost contact. But this week I found out it came back and took her.
And I didn’t even get to say goodbye.
So I’m sending a virtual hug to her children. Abbey, your tribute to her was so beautifully written.
I hope Sarah can watch the ripple effects of her goodness spreading out from above. And that her family can her her whispering to them from the trees and the spring blossoms she loved so much.
Sarah is such a good reminder that what we put out in the world can do so much good. Sending so much love up to the Heavens with her loss.
May we mothers who “knew” her try to carry on her goodness in any way we can. And if you didn’t know her, go read all that wisdom on her blog!
XOXO
I was coming here to see if you had heard, and of course you had. I found Sarah when I googled “clover shaped bread sticks” hoping to help my 3 yo have a St. Patrick’s day baking adventure…but as a new mother who had lost her own mom in an accident and felt so lonely in motherhood…I always felt like God sent me to her on purpose. I learned so much practical wisdom from her over the last 17 years. Her death is such a sadness.
I agree. She was so full of wisdom and purpose and goodness.
xoxo
Oh, did I cry when I read about her passing. I share your sadness, Shawni. Sarah certainly was a shining star in millions of reader’s lives, just as you are! What a loss. She will be missed.
So very missed. Makes my heart ache. Especially for her children.
I feel her loss as a “virtual” friend as well! What a loss! Isn’t it funny how the internet can expose us to people that bring us joy and make us better? I am so thankful for Sarah taking the time to blog (you too, Shawni) I am a better human for being your virtual friend! Sending love this Easter!
I found Sarah’s blog after you shared about her years ago. Truly, she made a big impact on how I parent and run our home. She was so wise and lived such an exemplary life. Hugs to you, and prayers for her sweet family.
XOXO
Yes, mourning her loss. Oh how I wish I could click on her blog just one more time and hear what she would have to say.
Me too!
I was so very saddened to learn that the world lost such a beautiful soul. I’m so so sad for all of her children. I pray her blog posts will bring them comfort in the years to come. She was wise, funny, smart, and kind. I just adored her blog and learned so much from her even though I’m older than her ;))! She will be dearly missed. Xxoo
Yes she will. I too am so grateful for those blog posts. And grateful she moved back to blogger so we can all benefit from those beautiful words of wisdom.
xoxo
What a tremendous loss! I know you previously working on printing your blog. Do you think you could help her children print Memories on Clover Lane as a gift to them?
Oh I wish I had that figured out, because that would be such a gift for them! I am hoping Sarah, being as organized as she was, had it figured out better than I do and perhaps has much of it printed. Such a good thing to look into, thank you. XOXO
I think I found your blog through Sarah’s and have been so thankful for both over the past 10ish years. I’m heartbroken.
💔🙏🏻
I have 3 blogs I check daily – and have since at least 2010 – and yours and hers are two of the three. I am 40 now with four children and both of you have shaped and formed my motherhood journey. Truly the mentors I have not had in person. I am heartbroken that she is gone. My own 16 year old son just finished treatment for leukemia, and her loss cuts deep. I am so thankful her wisdom lives on through her children and her blog. She was the best of the best.
Oh Jamie I join you in that heartbreak. I’m so sorry you and your son are going through the turmoil of leukemia. That is such a journey and I am praying the treatment holds and works. Sending so much love and prayers for healing your way.
xoxo
I found Sarah’s blog a few months ago while reading through the archives of your own blog, and I was quickly drawn in by her love of motherhood, wise advice and beautiful writing. I even printed out one of her entries to hang on my bathroom mirror.
I was so heartbroken to read of her passing, and I am praying for her children.
Me too. She was wonderful. My heart is missing a piece and I’m so sad I wasn’t in touch enough to know she was going to be leaving us.
Thank you for sharing this.
I found your blog through Sarah’s.
There are about 5 bloggers that I have kept following over the years, as they moved to Instagram and Substack and she was one of them. I hoped she was just taking a sensible break from social media, but selfishly also hoped she would come back.
Sometimes the sums just don’t add up in life. In a sensible story with a proper ending she and her family had already gone through enough.
Will be furiously decluttering this weekend, thinking about her.
I want to join you on the decluttering! She was so inspirational that way.
xoxo
Thank you for sharing this. I loved Sarah’s blog. I found it right around the same time I found your blog. She seemed like an amazing woman. So heartbreaking.
Me too, Jill. I love to think about this web of connection through blogs, and so glad we got Sarah for as long as we did. Hoping her children feel all the love we are sending their way. Sending love to all you readers who loved her as well. May we try to live our lives more intentionally and simply in her honor.
xoxo
Oh I have been following both your blogs for the last 15 years and I was truly devastated to hear the news. Both of you have inspired me to do and be a better mother x
I just happened to check her blog today when I thought about her. My heart is so broken. I have cried all morning. I found your blog through her blog and I too feel like I know you both!! She taught me so much about simplicity in my life and my house. I will continue to pray for all the kids.
I too loved Sarah and learned so much from her over the years. I just found out about her passing yesterday. I am so sad for her children losing such a wonderful mother way too soon. I will miss her wisdom, book recommendations and recipes amongst other things on her blog. I was just thinking that there are not a lot of blogs that celebrate motherhood like she did and happened to find you though her link to your chocolate chip cookies! I’m so happy to find your blog. I feel like Sarah led me here so you could take over where she left off. Looking forward to reading your posts and finding another motherhood centered community!