Posted on 08/01/2007 5:11:17 PM PDT by silent_jonny
As most of us already know, she passed away suddenly this week. She had been sick for quite some time, but I don’t think any of us knew exactly how sick she really was.
We’re all in shock … stunned by this …
Gretchen suffered through so much pain in her life that we can’t help but rejoice and thank God she’s now being held in the arms of her friend Jesus--her tears wiped away forever. But then we remember the friend we’ve lost and our tears still flow.
It’s fitting that we have a tribute for G here on the Dose. She was the backbone of this thread, its heart and its spirit. She posted it (often without help) for many years until recently when her health forced her to stop completely. But she never left us. She was always as close as a ping or private message, ready with a kind and reassuring word. Or just a “LOL!”
It was her hope that, once she felt better, she would resume her posting duties … That’s how dedicated she was to the Dose. That’s how much she loved her friends here.
I hope she knew how much we loved her.
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Many people find it awkard if they are given things and cannot give back whether for financial reasons or simply they do not want to give. Gretchen had that ability to enjoy and appreciate what was given her however large or small and make the giver feel that they had enriched her life in some small way.
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Certainly such a gentle, good soul as Gretchen will be so rewarded …
I’ve thought about it a lot and decided that if you could put links on tonight’s thread to the Elvis version of ‘Amazing Grace’ and Brooks & Dunn’s ‘I Believe’ that would represent my feelings perfectly.
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As we gather here tonight to remember our friend, please take a moment to pray for her son Mark. May God comfort and strengthen him at this difficult time.Click here to read Marks beautiful message about his mom. You can see Gretchen’s faith and character reflected in his words.
Please say a prayer for Gretchen’s cousin Carrie and ask that we may continue to receive updates on her progress. Lord, bless this family.
And please remember Gretchen's young friend Sabrina as well.
Quote of the Day:
GretchenM (May 18, 2007): All of life is full of crazies. FR, when I came upon it in 1998, had a craziness to it because of everything Clinton was doing to put it to the American people. FR had wild arguments, stupid accusations, massive anger, and thousands of truly ignorant people who were also belligerent, just as there are today. I come here for the news and to enjoy interacting with people whose posts stand out to me. I don't have the constitution for the rough and tumble, so I have avoided it.The craziness created by Clinton passed as the course of time allowed us to clean the excrement from the Oval Office and the things Clinton did to soil the presidency, and the American culture.
I am counting on the same result here. In the interim, conservatives need a place where they can get information and post their thoughts. Just as every unit of society has its crazies and its injustices, so does FR. Wise visitors will be able to sort the wheat and chaff. This forum is widely read by people in every strata of political life and party. I don't understand much about what is going on here, except for this: The place is under attack and I will not abandon ship in this storm. I fully expect that this, too, shall pass, and until then, the conservative cause needs little old me to keep rowing with my one little oar. I believe I must know our enemy and stand to the ranks or risk being run over by those whose ideologies are repugnant to me, and, I believe, detrimental to this nation I love.
Photo of the Day:
President Bush walks from the White House to Blair House for a going away party for budget director Rob Portman in Washington, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007.
Sad.
Good evening. Pray for those in Minneapolis.
What a perfect thing to do, jonny.
(borrowing Gretchen's congratulations gif)
Good evening! Sad day here on the dose. We lost one of our best
Thanks for this thread, silent_jonny. I only knew GretchenM briefly, but found her to be a person of great kindness. We will all miss her dearly.
Mrs. Laura Bush and Mrs. Náda P. Simonyi, wife of Hungarian Ambassador András Simonyi, talk to members of the media after they viewed photographs Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007, at the National Gallery of Art exhibit, FOTO: Modernity in Central Europe, 1918-1945.
Yes, sad. I cannot believe how this has affected my emotions. I have never met GEM, but I KNEW her and I miss her. I loved her. As I would miss many of you. My heart is broken for her family, and our loss. She is in a far better place, where tears are wiped away, sorrows banished, and love rules, bodies healed. I know we can rejoice for her, but for us, it is deep loss. We need the Comforter. Thank you for this dose honoring her.
Thanks, jonny .. still can’t believe it.
Rack the photos
I never met Gretchen one thing for sure I always look for her post on Daily dose or Canteen
RIP Gretchen
Thank you for this special Dose.
i knew she had some health issues, but what did she have??? Prayers to her family!!!!
Vice President Dick Cheney leaves a Republican Senatorial luncheon, Tuesday, July 31, 2007, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
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