My Beautiful Sweet Friend: Robin Rozier Groff April 4 1977 -April 11 2008

They had this family picture taken right after she was diagnosed with cancer. Who knew? She looks as beautiful as ever. This was one of the most recent pictures of her spending time with Hailey when she was well enough to be out of bed and out and about. One of their excursions was to Disney (picture below) Most of you know all about my friend Robin. But for the sake of journaling my friendship with this amazing person - I thought I would recount how we met and the following 4 1/2 years I knew her. Ken and I moved from Tustin to Ladera Ranch in October 2003 - and so we started going to Mission Viejo 2nd Ward (our assigned location at the Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ladera Ranch). Well, I was having a hard time meeting people because I was 7 months pregnant and just getting use to my new enviornment. Well, the last week in November - in walked Jason and Robin Groff who had just moved to the area from San Francisco. She was as big and pregnant as I was. Our eyes met across the room with the look of " OH BOY, I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL." So the next Sunday at church - I tracked her down to introduce myself. We found out that we were both having our first babies, two weeks apart. I left that brief meeting thinking she was so cute and fun and I said to Ken; " I just met a new friend....I just know we are going to be good friends." So the next week our Bishop announced over the pulpit that she had her baby (Hailey Groff). So I quickly signed up to bring her dinner. I still remember climbing the flights of stairs to get to her apartment; hoping it was not going to send me into labor during the climb. Anyway, we chatted for a while and I met Hailey - and boy it made me even more nervous to have mine......she was sooooo small!!!!!!! Who knew? Well, 10 days later I had Nathan and she brought me dinner. Our small dinner exchange was a start of a great friendship. We got together weekly after that and shared our thoughts, ideas, problems, and joys of being new Mothers. Robin was always so fun, so kind, and so insightful. I loved spending time with her. We eventually joined a playgroup together and started a dinner group together. However, right after Nathan and Hailey turned 1 years old - they broke the news they were moving back up to Northern California. Her husband was a dentist and had found a practice up there that he wanted to buy. I was so bummed. We stayed in contact -of course, I got busy quick after she left because Cheyenne was born that June. And less than 3 months after that Robin was diagnosed with AML (Leukemia). The most shocking news I have ever recieved in my life. I could not believe it. Being the amazing person that she is - she journaled in detail the next 2 1/2 years of her battle to save her life. I was able to visit her at City of Hope and she came to my house one of the few times she was out of the hospital for a visit. I cherish both of those visits so much and wished there had been more. Some of you - followed her story not ever having met her - some of you fell in love with her just as I did through her writings. She was so fun, so positive, and was just going to give everything she had to beat this cancer so that she could stay here with Jason and Hailey. She did give it her best shot - that is for sure. But last week; April 11th she lost the battle or Heavenly Father won the battle. He wanted her and we wanted her! Well, HIS will always trumps our will. Her funeral was this past Friday (April 18th) in Fresno, CA. Ken took off work and we made the trek up there. I am so glad that we went. It was such a beautiful service. Her husband hugged me for at least a minute, Hailey looked adorable and sooooo big. I got to see the love of her grandmothers and aunts as they interacted with her and left knowing she was in good hands. What a blessing for Robin - I guess that is one of the reasons Heavenly Father knew he could take her away from Hailey. Her sisters told the funniest stories about her that made me laugh and cry. Her father spoke with such strength and understanding. There is so much I love about Robin and can't wait to see her again in Heaven. That is the great thing about Eternity; this life is just a moment in time compared to Eternity where we get to be re-united with our families and friends forever. What a glorious reunion it will be.