Heaven was needing a hero like you

I remember my Junior year in high school when the Schroeder family moved into our ward. It had only been our little group of friends for the last two years, so it was exciting to have two new girls to hang out with who were bundles of fun. But we quickly found out that we didn't just get two new friends, we got a new family! I had the opportunity to be in Rita's Teen Harmony group. I was constantly in awe of her knowledge of music, her perfect pitch, and her ability to make us all feel comfortable and excited each and every week, even the one when we all threw our music on the ground and said we didn't want to sing that particular song (I guess that's only to be expected from a group of 13-17 year old girls, especially when one of them is your daughter). I loved learning from her, and she taught me a lot, not just about music, but about life.
 Because of my circumstances, I've had the opportunity to have a few women in my life that have been mother's to me, Rita was most definitely one of them. I remember sitting often in the living room with Brooke, and watching how she loved to push her mom's buttons, but how Rita reacted with a roll of her eyes, a laugh, and a whole lot of love, and I remember wishing on more than one occasion that I had a mom like her, or that SHE was my mom. In a time when I so needed to feel like I belonged somewhere, she always made me feel welcome in her home, she taught me what it meant to be a wife and a mother, she taught me what it meant to be a strong woman, not just through her words, but she showed me how, and I am and will forever be grateful for that.
She was also a teacher in our Young Women's class. Her testimony of the gospel, was evident in every word she spoke, and every story she told. She knew her Savior, and she helped each and every one of us girls to feel of his spirit, and find in us the desire to know him as she did. I know that my life has been blessed to have known her. I know that she will be forever in my heart, and that I will never be able to forget the lessons that I learned from her, her sweet voice, or the light and love she had for her girls, and her husband, for they are forever ingrained in my heart. She truly was one of my heroes...I guess heaven needed her more than we did.

Oh, it's kept me awake nights, wondering


I lie in the dark, just asking why

I've always been told

You won't be called home

Until it's your time



I guess heaven was needing a hero

Somebody just like you

Brave enough to stand up

For what you believe

And follow it through

When I try to make it make sense in my mind

The only conclusion I come to

Is heaven was needing a hero

Like you



I remember the last time I saw you

Oh, you held your head up proud

I laughed inside

When I saw how you were standing out in the crowd

Your such a part of who I am

Now that part will just be void

No matter how much I need you now

Heaven needed you more



Cause heaven was needing a hero

Somebody just like you

Brave enough to stand up

For what you believe

And follow it through

When I try to make it make sense in my mind

The only conclusion I come to

Is heaven was needing a hero

Like you



Is Heaven was needing a hero

and that's you



<3 I'm sure she'll be directing a chior of angels up there...but we'll sure miss her here. My thoughts and prayers are constantly with her family, I am so grateful for their examples, and grateful that they will have forever with their sweet mom and wife.