Hi friends & family of Diane!

We are amazed at how many of you in our community remembered the one-year anniversary of Diane's passing last week, and reached out to each of us in the family and extended family to say, in your own encouraging way, "It's okay to still miss her, I (we) miss her too."

That was so thoughtful! I know we all agree that the LOVE we've felt in this last year without Di, has been so helpful as we grieve. It's hard to believe a year has come and gone.
Also...what a year it's been!? 

We each remember Diane in small ways, and big ways, I'm sure. For me, it's in flowers, her favorite nature spots, water, sunrises, pastries, her craft cabinets & supplies, books, photographs, her handwriting, and of course stories retold. I would bet you have your own ways, and I'm always open to hearing them if it helps you to share. 

We are so thankful Mom didn't have to endure her illness along with COVID! We are thankful we all celebrated her life together (some 500 of us) at her Memorial last November! And we were able to be together as family over our "first" Thanksgiving & Christmas without Mom there. We are also thankful we were able to move my Grandmother Gloria into Assisted Living just about 2 weeks before the shelter in place order in the early spring, so we know she's being cared for daily. Those are among the many things we will never take for granted in spite of the timing of Mom's passing and into early 2020. God was gracious to us, yes, even in this loss. We see it. We believe it. Our hearts overflow with gratitude. It's true that there have been many other things we wanted to do this year in some "together ways" and couldn't because of COVID, but that's okay. It was a year of learning something new, that's for sure. It made Mom's loss all the more profound. 

In honor of Diane, our friend blessed us with a tree that was planted by the Glenview Park District, right outside Hoffman School, in the back. (Off of Harrison St, behind the volleyball courts/ice rink in winter). It is a lovely flowering tree, and it will be so fun to see it bloom in the years to come! It's a place to stop by and say "hi Di!"   

I'm also excited to share that this dear friend set-up the 1st Annual Diane L. Holm Memorial Fund, and fundraising is underway! From the date of her passing (October 20th) to her birthday (November 24) each year we will have a few weeks in which we collect donations towards things that mattered to Diane, and impact others in a way she would if still here. Silver Birch Ranch is an amazing camp that she loved, and it's a perfect place to start. It's for camper scholarships!

https://www.gofundme.com/f/DearestDiane

Finally, I was reminded last Tuesday morning of Mom's joy in the presence of Jesus. Her year has been glorious. I bet she couldn't have had a better 2020! 😇 
I heard a song I love while driving to see the sunrise last Tuesday morning, and pictured my Mom singing:

"Once I was broken
But You loved my whole heart through
Sin has no hold on me
'Cause Your grace holds me now
Healed and forgiven
Look where my chains are now
Death has no hold on me
'Cause Your grace holds that ground." 

We find great peace in knowing Mom is held in grace, singing a new song! 

Thank you again, everyone, for just being awesome to the Holm Family. We don't deserve it.
But isn't that the picture of grace, after all?

Hugs (virtually or distanced...or whatever)
-Emilie