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Lynn Newman 
Family photo courtesy Motophoto Plano ~ Leon Finkelstein Photographer.
Journal
Wednesday, February 25, 2009 7:41 AM CST HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET LYNN SUZANNE BERG NEWMAN!!!
Dearest friends,
Today, we celebrate our sweet and precious angel in heaven…Lynn Suzanne Berg Newman. She would have celebrated her 39th birthday today…..forever she will be young. I am sure heaven is having a great shindig in her honor!
As a special remembrance of her, I have been requested to post “one last post” as we close this Caringbridge site. Yes….it is hard to do as for so many of you, this was a connection to a special family member, friend or cyperspace acquaintance whom EVERYONE came to love.
Lynn’s journey was not for naught…SO many people were drawn to her ability to look beyond and plunge forward through challenges, pain and ultimately the reality that her miracle would not occur on this side of heaven. DARN IT! We all were drawn to her words and her perspectives and positive outlook amongst some very tough times. There were those of you who were drawn closer to your famlies, who gained new perspectives, who slowed down long enough to appreciate things they may have earlier taken for granted and yes, even those who came to know Christ as they learned of Lynn’s love for God and her journey.
So, today we remember Lynn.
What do you remember?
My first memory was meeting Lynn on “move-in” day. The family was unpacking on “the cul de sac”. I had picked up some bagels and cream cheese to deliver, say hello and see if there was anything they needed. Now….if it were ME unpacking…I would be in shorts, sweats, tennis shoes…you know CASUAL STUFF that could get messy. There I was at the Newman’s door and as Lynn opened the door I was met with a beautiful smile on a beautiful girl dressed in her beautiful “casual” outfit! HA SHE was wearing a cute pair of red Tommy pants, a short sleeved red and white Tommy top, had her hair and makeup done and had some cute little white sandals to match her outfit. Can you say WHATEVER???! !!! Loved that girl and her fashion sense. After Lynn and I talked for awhile Dave pulled up with Jacob and Taylor in the car (they had made a run for something….probably just to get the 2 and 4 year old out of the house). Guess what? They were dressed to a “tee” as well. Taylor had a cute little skort and shirt on with her hair done beautifully and a cute bow to top it off. Jake was all but 2, had a wonderful pacifier in his mouth and had on cute khaki shorts and a yummy soft yellow Polo shirt. His hair…was combed and parted and he was looking ALL boy. Sorry…I don’t remember exactly what Dave was wearing but I remember meeting all of them and being immediately thankful God allowed this family to move across the street and in the cul de sac. It was instant bond, instant likeness and a whole journey ahead.
Many of you have asked…how is Dave, how are Jacob and Taylor, Gail, Dean, and Lynn’s sister, mom and dad? Well…here is a brief update:
Dave is still at Pepsico and is doing well. He continues to work out and run…..I believe he has a few marathons under his belt with more on the books. We see Dave (usually running!) coming and going to and from the kids events, practices and games.. In a conversation we had not too long ago , we agreed that grief is still with us and while we have moved through various stages and may have come to a place of being able to move forward and remember fondly without the paralyzing pain, grief is now a little piece of who we are now. Dave thinks Lynn would be wildly amused by some of his antics….and I believe he is right.
Taylor is a busy girl these days. She is growing into a bright young lady who is developing her own sense of style. Taylor is now 11 and in 5th grade (her last year of elementary school!). She is in the LEAP (honors) program at her school and has enjoyed playing soccer and basketball. She donned a pair of sparkly gold tennis shoes for basketball and scored 3 baskets during her last game. GO TAYLOR. The culdesac gang still meets regularly on the culdesac for the latest game of make believe (they have evolved so many times), four square, biking, or taking walks to nearby neighborhood parks. The same 9 kids have made for lots and lots and lots of fun over the past years. Taylor is also involved in the church youth group and has been participating reularly in the youth group Sunday dramas. Taylor remains a sweet and sensitive girl and I know her mom would be pleased and oh so very proud of her as is her Dad, grandparents, relatives and other friends. Taylor spends her spare time making things and writing. She is excellent at both – no surprise! She and her friends still enjoy American Girls, making paper fashions and occasionally making silly home videos!
Jacob continues to grow as well….he is a handsome, active boy who still has his “little boy” look….the same one he had in my “first memory”. He is not so little though…he is tall for his age, sports his Mom and Dad’s looks and is enjoying being 9 and in 3rd grade. Jake also participates in the LEAP program at school and is quite the little soccer star. He does not sport gold sparkly shoes but fondly wears his favorite red cletes and excels at both soccer and basketball. Jacob and the other kids have recently taken to a few bicycle adventures that are “away” from the cul de sac. This is such a movement of freedom for them and it is fun to watch their excitement in getting approval to “go somewhere”. My mother lives in the neighborhood and Jake and Jack like to ride their bikes over there for a little extra attention. They have learned to make themselves at home and often go over for lemonade , popcorn and some kind of sweet treat. Mom dotes on them sometimes but sometimes they want to “do it themselves” making lemonade and popcorn and raiding the candy jar. Mom is amused by them and gives them extra freedoms they are not allowed at home! (Gotta love that!)
The grandparents are all doing well. Suzanne and Wayne came in from AZ and everyone was here in November to celebrate Taylor’s birthday. We gathered over at Gail and Dean’s home (the “in-loves”) and Gail did a fabulous job preparing a delicious menu that Taylor helped prepare. It was good to catch up with everyone (especially Suzanne and Wayne since we don’t get to see them as frequently). Gail and Dean are around and about on the cul de sac helping out when they can. Right now they are out of town seeing to Dean’s sister who is having a few health challenges…please keep them in your prayers.
Alessandra, the Newman’s au pair, is in her second year and is enjoying her time with the family. She is a dear and loves those children.
So there you have it….bottom line, how are we all…..really? You know what? We are all okay….I see it as grief being a little of what defines who we are today. No…it isn’t what we would desire but then…this is not our plan we are living out is it? It is God’s plan and somewhere in the middle of the grief and acceptance, knowing our mighty God is still out there taking care of things brings great comfort.
Thank you for following Lynn’s journey, and for loving all of us through this journey. I hope each of you know how precious you are and how much your encouragement has meant to Lynn, to all the Newmans, the Bergs, the relatives, and the friends both in the past and today. The journey would not have been the same without you. We continue to feel and appreciate your prayers. Please keep them coming. We will forever be changed because Lynn touched our lives…maybe it was for a lifetime of knowing her, maybe for years of knowing her, maybe for a brief encounter or learning about her and her journey from the Caringbridge site. She was and is a precious soul and we are so thankful for her life and God’s touch on our lives through her.
Today, Lynn rests in a beautiful mausoleum in Dallas, TX. Gail, Jenny and I visited her on the anniversary of her death this past year. The building is beautiful and the family has put some precious items to remember her and show her memory to others. She rests very close to Mary Kay Ash....I know Lynn is okay with that.
I pray each of you will remember your first memory of Lynn or at least a very special one of her today. If you have a special memory you want to share, please post it on the guestbook…..I know you have them…..she was just THAT SPECIAL! Dave and the kids might enjoy reading them while remembering Lynn on her birthday. I am sure there will be some special cake or dessert to share in her honor!!
Please kiss your loved ones today….tell them exactly what is on your heart and exactly how much you love them. For we will not pass this way again and your every moment is a gift from God.
Much love to all of you ~
Holly
“We become truly personal by loving God and by loving other humans... In its deepest sense, love is the life, the energy, of the Creator in us." Kallistos Ware
P.S. Many of “us” are on Facebook…we’d love to catch up with you there. Too, new photos are up!
Read Journal History
Links: http://www.jerrybeers.com/video/LynnNewman_web.wmv 2007 Race for the Cure
http://216.122.79.232/Race_for_the_Cure.mov Race Day Video memories (takes a few minutes to load)
www.bellabaloo.com Lynn's Belt
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