Your Light Will Shine

I lost my dear friend Barbara Ankney yesterday. Since 2000 this antique Charleston lamp has lit up the desk in my home office. It was a gift for me from Barb and she purchased it on one of several trips we took to Lake Arrowhead. I loved it and at the time I couldn't afford it. She surprised me with it when we got home that day. That was Barb, one of the most generous people I have every come across. There aren't very many people that you know would do ANYTHING for you. Barb was one of the few. She was so special......

Nobody could do cliches like Barb, she used a cliche in almost every sentence . Her favorite was "If you pay with peanuts you get monkeys". I remember hearing "Yank your chain" alot too.  Barb taught me how to antique shop, we had fun with trips to antique shops in Orange and Arrowhead. She taught me so much about the different types of depression glass, Shawnee pottery and antique furniture. She showed me how to look for value and what was worthless-it was fun. I loved the dining room table she had at the cabin, her and Dale found it at an antique shop in New Orleans. It was beautiful.  She also introduced me to Thomas Kinkaid (her collection was beautiful), I'll never look for the "N's" in his paintings without thinking of her. 

I helped her start her first website, "Where's Kay's Spleen" and I remember laughing online with her for hours in the evenings. She would throw things up there just to make me laugh and I would laugh hysterically. She really knew how to make me laugh until I was in pain. My stomach would even hurt the day after-I have never laughed with anyone like I laughed with Barb. 

I can remember her going to visit her mother in Ohio (and that is quite a complicated story) and after her mom passed away I remember the day she met all her extended family members. It made her so happy to build those connections and become part of her extended family. Her Ohio family meant so much to her.

Barb was never quite the same after Dale passed away. She wouldn't want me to write and not mention Dale, it's been seven years since he died and I am sure she is enjoying the reunion. 

Barb was fiercely loyal and I think that's why we hit it off. It's a long lost quality and one of the most important ones to me-we share it. She was also an excellent nurse, her staff adored her and her friends loved her for who she was. Since Sydney and Brooke came along my time with Barb was limited but I always missed her and loved her. She barely knew my children but she loved them. If you look up the photos on her Facebook page there are pictures of her animals (which she loved more than life) and a picture of Sydney. She loved Jesus and she is now home with her Lord. Barbara Ankney I love you and I will miss you forever. Thank you for being the unique and special woman that you were. Your light will continue to shine in my house......The Thomas Family loves you.