Life has been crazy lately. This coming Tuesday, September 26th, I’ll be starting a job at Mayo Clinic Rochester. I will be working on one of the pediatric units. While this will be a big change, I’m grateful for a new opportunity. I’m anxiously-excited. 

Carly, my sister, started school at Bethel University this fall. For those of you who don’t already know, this is where our grandma (Marlene) attended as well. I believe that Carly is leading a positive legacy! 

My parents moved into their new house on Lake Fannie, at the end of May. Last year, the cabin was torn due because the foundation was crumbling. They always had the dream to build their “forever home” on the lake, so they did just that! 

I’ve been battling various mental health and physical health problems lately. This past July and August, I spent 33 days at Mayo, part of the time being in the ICU. When I woke up in the ICU on the 3rd day, I was filled with a peace that surpassed all understanding. I was intubated before this, and had literally been to Heaven and back! I got to encounter Christ in a way I never had before. When visiting Heaven, I actually got to see my grandma, Jesus, and a couple friends who had gone before me. Often times when sharing this story, people ask how long I was in Heaven and what the experience was like. It’s hard for me to say how long I had this encounter, it could have just been a few seconds, a couple minutes, or maybe even hours. It’s been an experience that I’ve felt the spirit lead to me to share with so many people, including nurses and doctors who were a part of my care team… during my stay at Mayo. It’s even lead some people back to Christ. It’s truly a testament of how my story of transformation with brokenness, sorrow, and sickness to rejuvenation… (and yours too!!), can point literally anyone to Christ! 

At Mayo, I’ll actually be working alongside nurses and PCA’s who once cared for me! This is another testament - to the truth that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD. When we lean on our own strength we will fail, but with God’s help we will soar. 


This leads me to the truth of the matter that there is beauty that comes from our pain. There haven’t been many days where I haven’t reminisced on memories of my grandma, and simply missed being with her, but I am encouraged by the fact that SO many people who love her still live out her legacy. 

Oct 6th, 2019 was a hard day. That was the day that my grandma passed. 4 years ago. However, I’m starting to recognize more and more that I should rejoice that she is home with Jesus. I try to reframe my thoughts when I think about the day she passed and the days leading up to it. I don’t think of her passing as her “losing her battle with Ovarian Cancer”, because she didn’t lose, she gained eternity with Christ. As Christians, it’s important to remember that we are not home yet, but that our mission as followers of Christ is to spread the gospel, with those who haven’t already accepted the gift of a relationship with Him… and my grandma (Marlene) did just that. 

As Oct. 6th quickly approaches, I’d encourage you to approach that date with gratitude of the memories you got to share with grandma (Marlene), because she would want just that. It’s normal to fluctuate through the stages of grief, however I know grandma (Marlene) wouldn’t want us to simply sit in our sorrow, because like I reminded us before, she’s home with our Heavenly Father. 

Try to spend some extra time in the word of the Lord this week, and if you need a place to start, open up your Bible to Isaiah 41:10. Isaiah 41:10 was my grandma’s (Marlene’s) life verse, that she encompassed through her walk with the Lord. 

Also, if you have a chance to visit a Baker’s Square, order some Oreo pie in remembrance of her, or drop some flowers off at the cemetery. Let us always remember her for who she was.

With love, 

her granddaughter, Camryn.