Happy birthday, Celia!

This morning I woke up with a headache and sore throat, so I seriously contemplated skipping class and staying home to look at pictures and watch videos of my angel sister, Celia, since today is her birthday. Then I started thinking about the last few days of Celia’s life. Last year I spent the night at her house the night before her birthday, and — as I often do — I read late into the night. The next morning, I woke up groggy and grouchy because I hadn’t had my eight hours of sleep. Celia had stayed up pretty late, too, and she woke up with a headache, an occurrence that had been way too frequent those days. Celia asked if I wanted to go to church with her family, but I decided I’d sleep a little longer and count going to my nephew Josh’s blessing later that day as my church attendance.

With a splitting headache and exhausted by what she later found out was leukemia, Celia went to church with her family and stayed the whole three hours. Then she went to Duane’s ward for Josh’s blessing, adding another hour or so of church. I’ve gone to church with a headache before, and it’s a chore sitting through all of the talks. I can’t imagine the discomfort Celia must have endured to be there that day.

That was Celia. She did what she knew was right, even if it wasn’t convenient for her. I don’t know how long she had leukemia before she found out, but I can imagine that she had been worn down by the disease for at least a few months. Even when she was exhausted, she gave all of her energy to teaching her kindergarten class and taking care of her family. I doubt that anyone felt that she slacked in her duties during those last few months. Celia was never one to give a half-hearted effort in anything.

Even when Celia was in the hospital after she found out she had leukemia, she didn’t just lie in bed and let others wait on her. She made time to visit with her family and plan what she was going to work on when she got out of the hospital. I didn’t see her without a smile on her face until she was drugged up and on a ventilator. I’m sure she would have smiled even then if she could have.

So I went to class today. If Celia could endure all that she did without a word of complaint, surely I could sit through two classes with a minor headache and sore throat — which, by the way, were both gone by noon. Celia, thank you for your example. I wish you were here to celebrate your birthday with your family, but I hope you know that we celebrate your life. My world, at least, is much brighter because you were such a big part of it.

p.s. I’ve watched this video a few times the past couple of days. It makes me cry every time, but it makes me smile, too.