Our 79-year-old 'lil' sister, Brenda Jane Sanders took off a couple of days ago, presumably to go straighten out St. Peter's border crossing process. Thirty years of herding sixth graders left her with sharp instincts in 'sussing out phonies and bullies -- and she has lots of opinions. Good luck, St. Peter, in keeping her in her lane. You know how it is with great teachers. They get things done. Without necessarily stopping for permission.

Born in Paragould, Arkansas, in 1952, 5-year-old Brenda grabbed a flight to Washington, D.C., with her dad, mom, and three siblings whom she bossed and loved through a long adventure through Nepal, India, and Thailand. Our dad was a humble backwater Arkansas assistant county agent who, encouraged by our pioneer-minded mom, landed a spot on an advance team to open the first ever American mission to Nepal. Our ag advisor dad, along with a medical doctor, a civil engineer, and a couple of diplomats, became America's first representatives to King Tribhuvan and the Nepalese people. It was part of America's effort to combat the worldwide spread of communism.

The king provided palaces for the American families to live in. Tall ceilings, long halls, and butterflies painted all over like wallpaper. Brenda was treated to palace living and home schooling and high-ceilings, cold rooms, limited hot water, canned American food and lots of running room which sparked her imagination.  What a ball of energy!  Always into something. Scaling walls. Searching abandoned spaces, snooping.  Once at a picnic she went exploring fell into an abandoned water well and had to be pulled out by her hair.  She could hardly be contained.

But it wasn't all Brenda's exploring.  While she lived there, in 1953, Sir Edmond Hillary came through Kathmandu headed to conquer Mt.  Everest for the first time in human history.  He caused quite a stir as he trekked through, with Brenda watching from the side of the path. Thank goodness he didn't invite her along.

Two follow-up family stints in Simla, India in 1955 and Bangkok, Thailand in 1964 nudged her toward becoming a professional educator and attending Mary Hardin Baylor.  Her resulting B.A. and M.S. began to prepare her for several decades of teaching kids. Education was our dad's passion and a became a family goal. Brenda followed suit, rising every school day for 30 years to prepare her little charges to learn how to be good citizens and make their way in life. Teaching was her life.

And did she love travel!  She was able to see the pyramids in Cairo, the Taj Mahal in India, and Ankor Watt in Cambodia as a kid. It was a love of travel that took flight in various ways, including Mexico and Europe, and included flying to Tokyo to watch over her flight attendant sister's recovery from a burst appendix.  Seeing so much of the world all opened her heart for those who struggled to find the basics in life. Super good-hearted, she'd help anyone.  And if she thought they needed it, would put a hand on her hip and give advice, especially to her brothers and sister. Other than giving advice, she appreciated unique art objects and peanut butter cookies and Thai curry and a good laugh.

She leaves behind her nieces and nephew, Arden Sanders of Sherman, Rebecca Sanders Carlton and Alexis Kennedy of Portland, Craig Sanders of New York, and Chelsea Sanders of Nashville, Brenda's Lewisville red hat ladies club, retired teacher friends everywhere, including a favorite teacher, Janis Thompson of Sherman with whom she taught Killeen, her beloved sister, Angela sanders in Lewisville, who moved from Florida to be with Brenda for her last years, her deeply admired brother, Craig Sanders of Boston, and her lawyer brother Roger Sanders of Sherman and Portland, and a recipe for banana bread which, when shared lovingly, healed estranged hearts.

Somewhere in heaven's home room, just imagine a bustling little teacher, clipboard in hand, making sure everybody is accounted for and headed where she thinks they need to be.

And if want to do something in her memory, just hug a teacher.