Reserved for You: A Woman’S Journey with Grief That Produced Hope

By Carrie Lyons and Dr. Margaret Tempero

One day, my husband called me and said two words, lung cancer. At that moment life changed for my family, and I was in Safeway buying milk.

So began Carrie Lyons most difficult year the death of her father, father in law, and grandmother. She takes us on a life altering journey as she experiences the healing power of love and forgiveness through death and pain, that becomes as much about the reader as the author. We learn not only about her triumph but about ourselves and the relationships we have and how those relationships color who we are as people and who we can become on the other side of our own losses.

It is a privilege to witness Carries confession of faith. By opening her life and inviting us in, Carrie takes us to a journey of anger, grief and redemption. This book is not just a story of an individual woman but it is a story of a family, the bonds that bind them and the resilience that it produces. Rev. Fr. Loreto B. Rojas, Jr.

Carrie Lyons writes with creativity that will move your heart. Her journey takes you from sorrow into joy. If you have ever lost someone close to you, then this book is a must read. Her message is one of raw emotion, tender care and the wrestling we experience from a wounded heart. My life is better from reading this book. Pastor Mike Worley

For anyone who has ever loved and faced overwhelming and tragic loss, this book will help show you the way to resolution, happiness, and a positive path forward in this life. Mike Faust, President MEF Consulting and Kristin Bertolina Faust, Fundraising Consultant

Brave and true Carries courage and honesty sheds light on the darkness that connects us all. Her journey back from the loss of loved ones is both inspirational and enlightening. Dr. Earlyn Noll

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inspiring Voices
• Release date: Dec 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781462410606

Carrie Lyons

Carrie Lyons lives in Dixon, California with her husband, two daughters and many loved pets. It is her faith in God and love of her family that produced her first book; a memoir. She enjoys teaching first grade, gardening and collecting art. Please visit her blog: carrielyonsblog.com.

Book preview

Copyright © 2014, 2015 carrie lyons.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Cover art by Jean Cabral

Inspiring Voices

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.inspiringvoices.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4624-1061-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4624-1060-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014918987

Inspiring Voices rev. date: 01/29/2015

Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Part 1: Miracles of Hope

Part 2: Miracles of Hearts

Part 3: Miracles of an Old Restaurant and a Little Table

Part 4: Miracles of Childhood

Part 5: Miracles of Healing

Part 6: Some Special Last-Minute Thoughts

For my husband, Steve Lyons, and my girls, Mykayla and Emma; you are the main characters in the story of my life, and I am so very blessed and incredibly thankful that God connected our souls. I love you.

It is a privilege to witness Carrie’s confession of faith. By opening her life and inviting us in, Carrie takes us to a journey of anger, grief and redemption. This book is not just a story of an individual woman but it is a story of a family, the bonds that bind them and the resilience that it produces. Rev. Fr. Loreto B. Rojas, Jr.

For anyone who have ever loved and faced overwhelming and tragic loss, this book will help show you the way to resolution, happiness and a positive path forward in this life. Mike Faust, President MEF Consulting and Kristin Bertolina Faust, Fundraising Consultant

Carrie Lyons writes with creativity that will move your heart. Her journey takes you from sorrow into joy. If you have ever lost someone close to you, then this book is a must read. Her message is one of raw emotion, tender care, and the wrestling we experience from a wounded heart. My life is better from reading this book. Pastor Mike Worley

Brave and true… Carrie’s courage and honesty sheds light on the darkness that connects us all. Her journey back from the loss of loved ones is both inspirational and enlightening. Dr. Earlyn Noll

Acknowledgments

First, I would like to thank God, my Creator and my friend. Thank you for believing enough in humans to create a soul like mine and for always holding me in the palm of your hand and for giving us your Son, Jesus, so that we can someday find the place that has been reserved for us.

Next, Steve, my husband, best friend, and true love: I am the most loved woman on Earth to have a husband like you. Thank you for always believing in me, especially when I was unable to believe in myself. Thank you for laughing and crying with me in life, for just loving me, for always having my back, for always dancing with me, and for choosing to walk with me every day for the rest of my life. Saying I love you is an honor and a blessing in my life. I pray that our girls marry someone just like you – their dad!

My girls, Mykayla and Emma: Thank you for being you. May you know in life that in all you do, I will love, cherish and support you. I love you so much and I am so happy I was chosen to be your mom.

Also, thank you to my siblings, Juli Giannini, Paul Cromwell, Justin Cromwell and Melanie Wilson: We survived the worst year of our lives, and it was by the grace of God that we healed. I love that we talk almost every day, and crack up while we group text. Know you are deeply loved!

Elaine Lyons, my mother-in-law: You are a wonderful example of how to love.

Sharron Cromwell, my mom: Thank you for supporting and understanding me like only a mother can and for always being ready to listen.

Special thanks to my aunt, Margaret Tempero, MD, for your example of how to follow your dreams and for just being there when we called, and especially, thank you for the care you gave my father-in-law, Ernie Lyons, and my dad, Roger Cromwell.

To my uncle, Richard Tempero, MD: You are loved. You knew just when to come into the father role at just the right moment in our lives and decided to stay put.

To my uncle and aunt, Dave and Dianne Varnon: You inspire me by how deeply you love one another in your marriage. Thank you for loving and supporting me.

Jeff Lyons, the third musketeer: What a true honor it is to be one of the three together on that day when Ernie died. I believe we were wrapped in the love of the Holy Trinity as we watched Ernie pass to a place filled with peace.

My godson, Cole Cromwell: You’re my son from a heavenly gift of human traditions, and I cherish you.

Thanks to Cole’s parents, Justin and Megan Cromwell, for just allowing me to really love him like my son.

Thanks to Jean Cabral, my neighbor and good friend and the artist who painted this book’s cover. Know that you are loved!

Many heartfelt thanks to Laura Varnon, my cousin, good friend, and personal editor. You made this real for me, and I will never be able to deeply thank you enough for your heart, wisdom, dedication, time, friendship, and love.

To the writers of the endorsements—Mike and Kristin Faust, Dr. Earlyn Noll, Rev. Fr. Loreto B. Rojas, Jr., and Pastor Mike Worley—I am moved beyond words by your kind and heartfelt words. I hope you realize that your belief in me made me feel like I could move mountains during a very weak time in my life.

Last but not least, to the readers of this book: Thank you.

Foreword

DR. MARGARET TEMPERO

Just begin. That’s a quote, actually. Mother Teresa said that when things are overwhelming and you don’t know where to start, you must just begin. It’s a powerful message.

I suspect that Carrie felt overwhelmed when she began this book. She’d experienced a terrible year. We all did, really. Losing people you love is the hardest thing in life. It’s especially difficult when you have mixed emotions, as Carrie acknowledged about her own relationship with her father.

We know that there is a circle of life. We begin and end in darkness, but I believe that we transition to a new light and a new life. I happen to be a cancer specialist, and I work with the dying every day. I’m often asked if that is hard. I can honestly say that it’s just the opposite. In dying, my patients teach me how to live. That’s a gift I get over and over. And I often wonder who gets the best deal. We stay behind here in the world we know and grieve for our loss. The people we love move on, and I like to think that they are happier than we’ve ever known them and that eventually we’ll experience the same thing.

In telling her story, Carrie explores her own strength of purpose and acceptance. She faced some demons and fought them off. I think that readers who are grieving will identify with her. Her words will help them through a difficult time. I offer a similar message. Loss is a part of life. You have to confront it, take the time to feel bad, remember the good things, and then find goodness in those around you.

Just begin.

Part 1

MIRACLES OF HOPE

Often in life we are inspired, and our inspiration comes in many forms: poetry, a movie, lyrics, or simple actions from others. Then on an ordinary day, our life changes for the better, all because we were inspired! One of my favorite poems was found handwritten on the bedroom wall of the Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Republic of India. The prayer was released after Mother Teresa’s death by the Sisters of Charity in 1999. No one knows who composed it; it may very well have been written by Mother Teresa. There are many versions, but this is my favorite. Clearly the prayer was important to her, no matter who wrote it, and the words written in this prayer are an important reminder to me, as well.

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win many false friends and some true enemies. Be successful anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may find you abrasive or cheat you. Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, others may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will forget tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.