CHRISTMAS WITHOUT YOU...

My dearest darling, I love you so much

. 
It's Christmas Eve.  My second Christmas without you.

I'm sitting here alone. Thinking of you. Missing you. Wishing with all my heart that you were here.
I miss the twinkle in your eyes as you handed me one of my gifts. I know shopping wasn't your favorite thing to do, but even if it was 5:30 Christmas Eve, you always managed to shop for your angel. And I always loved it...no matter what it was because it was from you. Every year I knew I would be getting Clinique Happy or Happy Heart. My favorite was Happy Heart, but sometimes you would forget and get me Happy.  It didn't matter. What mattered was that you cared enough to shop for me. What mattered and really counted was that we were together.
Happy.
And so much in love.
I miss the joy of shopping for you, my sweet, amazing husband. I even miss hearing you say, 'Honey, you did too much!'  
Didn't you know, honey, I could never do too much for you? 
Never.

Last night we had our family Christmas at Christy and Don's. It was really nice just being with everyone. Eating together.
Laughing.
Opening our gifts.
Watching our grandchildren's faces light up when they opened something they really were wishing for. 
It was lovely. It just wasn't complete.
Not without you.  
Memories of eleven family Christmases together flood my heart this evening. 
How I wish we could go back to our first Christmas before we were married.  December 25, 1999.  
If only we were given the gift of starting over...

I wonder, Baby, what Christmas is like for you in Heaven?
It has to be beautiful beyond words!
JESUS IS CHRISTMAS.
I can only try to imagine how awesome that must be! At the same time, the selfish part of me wants you here with me.  I just know it will be that way always...until we are together again someday.

Our children and grandchildren miss you!
Friends miss you!

If I could sing a song for you now, it would be All I Want for Christmas Is You.

Honey, if I'm not with you next Christmas, I will do a really nice Christmas Tribute for you. Complete with pictures and music, to share with all our friends and family. I so wish it were possible to do today.  Unfortunately, my laptop was stolen from my apartment a couple of weeks ago, and I just recently found a temporary replacement. 
That must sound strange to you...stealing...when there is no sin where you are. Wow!

I just love you so very  much, my darling Odell.
When I think of you...which is everyday..., I smile.
I laugh.
And I cry.
And now tears are blurring my vision. Yet I don't want you to feel sad for me, honey. Missing you so much is only temporary.
It won't be forever.

Someday we'll spend our Christmases together again. And tears will be a thing of the past.

 MERRY CHRISTMAS, DARLING.

I  LOVE YOU!!!

'IF YOU HAD KNOWN...'

Hmmm....it would appear this story is leaning a bit heavily on being too much about me. While I don't want to continue drawing attention to myself...because I much prefer to talk about the love of my life...it would seem I'm always right in the middle of it all!  I'm determined not to wonder if this wonderful man would have had second thoughts about me had he known how accident prone I am...and how many physical problems came with the 'complete package' he claimed to dearly love. Oh, well, I shall be content with knowing I'm so loved by him, and just not go there with silly doubts...And, after all, our story somehow sort of just includes me, too! (smile)

One might think that a wreck and six weeks in rehab should be enough attention for one person.
And it should have been. I was beginning to wonder if living on Happy Camp Road would indeed be as happy as we thought.  Correction.  Happy, yes. Without trials and tribulations? No.

I don't know when this pain started in my extreme lower back, or when it got to the point it was excruciating. I just know that it continued to get worse and quickly. My doctor ordered an MRI after examining me. My daughter, Christy, said she could take me for the test.This portion would be much better told by her. It is my understanding that this story, along with others in which I am the main character, has been told to several of her friends. I have been told that her friends laugh so hard, they are actually in tears, and begging for 'more mom stories.'  You see, Christy has quite a talent for telling funny events, and she does embellish them somewhat. You know...just to make them really interesting!


When we arrived at the medical facility for the MRI, my daughter had me wait in the car while she went inside to get a wheelchair for me.  Slowly and painfully, I got out of the car and into the wheelchair. The journey began. This was not a fun or happy journey. She had brought out a wheelchair, unbeknownst to her, that had a broken wheel. This little wheel didn't manifest itself until we started up a slight incline. Bump...bump...bumpity bump! Christy had to keep starting over because she was laughing so hard.  The bumpy attempts were doing nothing to ease my pain!  During these rough and repeated attempts, a car drove up and parked close by.

Christy glanced over and noticed a professionally dressed lady getting out and carrying a chart. Assuming she worked in the MRI office, possibly returning from lunch, my daughter turned to her, ''Here!  You take her. I've had it!'  The lady looked a bit confused but smiled and said, 'oh, okay, sure...'  Upon arriving inside, Christy turned to thank her. The lady was approaching the check in window. She was carring her exray films. She was there for an MRI herself.
Can you imagine our embarrassment...especially Christy's...asking a lady who was most likely in pain herself, to push a patient up an incline in a wheel chair with a broken wheel...Oh, my goodness! I couldn't look up at that point.

Before my doctor received results from the tests, I continued to get worse.  I should have gone to the Emergency Room, but I hated those places!  I thought if I just gave it time, I would get better.

It was a Sunday morning. We were invited to attend the church which Christy and her family attended.  There was a very special reason for this.  Two of my grandsons were going to be baptized that morning during the worship service.  I remember Odell being really concerned about whether or not I should attempt to go. 'Honey, are you sure you can do this? I think you're in way too much pain.'  He further tried to convince me that Christy would understand if I couldn't make it. Of course, I agreed with him. I knew she would understand, but I wanted to be there for their Baptism. I figured with his strong arms to help me, I could do it.  He finally agreed to give it a try. When we got to Tulsa, we went by to pick up Mamaw Sanders. It was when I got out of the car to let her ride in the front with Odell, that I  realized maybe this hadn't been such a good idea, after all.  I could barely move. Every movement was jerky and twisted.  Aaagh!

I was determined to do it! When we finally arrived at the church, my sweet Odell went inside to ask if there was a wheel chair we could borrow.  By that time, I was feeling a bit self conscious. Oh, dear God! The pain had become unbearable! But I was stubborn enough not to admit how badly I was hurting. I remember actually smiling and saying 'hello' to the curious onlookers, as I was wheeled into the sanctuary. I made it through the service. It was such a sweet baptism of Austin and Kagen. I can't believe what happened next.  I don't think my family realized the extent of my pain when they all decided we should go out and eat. Okay. I admit it was stupid of me not to tell them then and there a big 'I CAN'T DO IT', but did I? Of course not. We dined at El Chico's. I was in increasing El Pain-O!  After we arrived home, Odell helped me into bed. I got up a little later to take a very shaky shower. I knew I had to go to the ER...no other option. When we got there, I was admitted. More tests were run. I had several small fractures in the sacral. (I know. I had never heard that word before either. It's the very lowest portion of the spine).  Prior to one of the tests, I was given a pill to swallow. It was the last thing I knew until I opened my eyes, looking much like a startled deer in the headlights...a roomful of people surrounded my bed..and there were paddles on my heart to shock me back to life.  For some unknown reason, I had stopped breathing. I was in the hospital for several days and finally released to go home. The total bed rest had allowed the fractures to heal. Bed rest and prayers.  Especially the prayers.  I was so thankful to be getting out of there!

Ahhh...home at last.  In our bed. With my adorable husband beside me.  I turned toward him. I just had to ask him. 'Baby, if you had known all this before we had married, would you...' He stopped me mid sentence, 'Honey, shame on you! Don't even go there. Yes, I would have married you!' I smiled. I already knew it.  In my heart, I knew how loved I was by my guy!  I just wanted to hear him say the words.
I hoped and prayed that this would be the last scary situation I would put us in. More than that, I hoped he would never put me there, either.  Yet, there was one thing I knew for sure and that is that we never know for sure. It's all in God's hands. And we would just have to be content to put our trust in Him for our future. I sighed contentedly as I snuggled closer in his arms.  It was so sweet to be kissed by him, to play footsies with my guy, and so sweet to be home sweet home.

HONORING ODELL EDWARDS TODAY 11/11/11

DAIRY QUEEN AND A GARDEN, TOO!

I know. DQ and a garden? What does one have to do with the other?
Okay. It doesn't. Except in one way. They both made us very happy!
We hadn't been settled in long before we discovered a delightful surprise.
Just down the street about 15 miles in the city of Okmulgee. True, it wasn't a leisurely stroll down Happy Camp Road. Then again, it was much closer than Eureka Springs...the place we were last treated to these yummy dipped cones.  It was always chocolate for my guy and either butterscotch or cherry for his girl. Remember, decision making isn't one of my better attributes. (smile). I think my husband found it charming or cute. Which is why he sometimes affectionately called me 'Lucy' as previously mentioned.

Since we couldn't exist on dipped cones alone, Odell successfully put in an amazing garden our second
summer there.  The tomatoes were absolutely divine!  There's just no comparison to the flavor from tomatoes ripened in the sunlight on 'de vine!  And the okra...oh, my goodness! It was everywhere!

We harvested so much of it that we were giving it away by the five pound bags full.  I just have to brag on my gardener. Not only did he give it away, he washed it, cut it, and bagged it.  All it lacked was a ribbon and bow. Oh, and did I  mention he
delivered it?  Along with those delicious tomatoes and cucumbers.

I had heard so
much about 'Odell's garden'.  It was even better than all the
boasting from some of his family.  I felt so proud of him!

This would be the first of many gardens to come. There would be an even bigger one in the future. I would be
almost as busy as my husband...making salsa, rotating tomatoes from the huge crop, and giving, giving, and then...did I mention giving?


No matter how weary I would get, I knew without a doubt it would be worth all the hard work...just seeing the smile on the face of my guy.

You remember...
                             the one I completely adored?


                             the one who stole the heart of


                                         this girl?

                           

\

RAIN, PAIN, AND TEARS...

I'm reminded of the song, 'I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.'  Remember some of the words?

'I beg your pardon. I never promised you a rose garden. 

Along with the sunshine, there's gotta be a little rain sometime...'

Oh, my goodness!  We both loved the rain...even the storms. Just not a storm of events that began happening and turning our little happy world upside down.  We weren't ready for that storm, but really, is anyone ever?

Things had been going well for us.  Odell's business was growing at a slow but steady pace. We were enjoying being out in the country...well, all but the long drive down Highway 75.  It  quickly became monotonous.  All in all, though, we were definitely happy on Happy Camp Road.

Odell and I were in the mood to look at new cars.  Trading our nice Mazda in became a priority when the transmission went out on us. It didn't take long to settle on a 2002 Chrysler Concorde.  We both loved it...all silver, shiny, and new...for one weekend.

That's all.  I drove our new car home on a Friday. My Odell was 

home sick in bed that day. In fact, he was sick all weekend. He never even sat in this new car. I was driving home on the boring Highway 75 on Monday evening. I had just called my hubby. 'Hey, sweetie! I'm on my way home. Should be there in about half an hour.' We talked a couple of minutes before I laid my phone back on the seat beside me. I was smiling. I always smiled when I was on my way home to my Odell. That's the last thing I remember until I was slammed into by a drunk driver, who had exited onto the highway at a high rate of speed. Although I never lost consciousness, I felt in a state of shock. Everything around me seemed very surreal. I was aware of my car door opening and a lady asking me if I was all right.  Did I look all right?
My head was hurting so badly. My right knee was burning and throbbing.  This nice lady told me she was a nurse and she wanted to hold my head still in case of a neck injury.  I later learned that a coroner, on his way to a fatality, saw my car, and pulled over...thinking the worse.  Thankfully, I wasn't another fatality. I would say I wasn't in too bad of shape...considering the sad shape of my new car.  My new, shiny, silver car sure didn't look the way it did when I drove it off the lot only three days earlier.

Actually, neither did my face.
Look quite the same, I mean.

The wailing of sirens...police,
firetrucks, and EMSA, were heard
and soon I was being carefully loaded
onto a carrier and placed in the care of the Paramedics.  I'm not sure when my husband was called.
I believe one of my attendants made the call for me. The crazy
thing was that at first he thought I was pulling a joke on him. I wonder why? (smile).  As if we ever played jokes on each other! He was called just a little later than I should have been arriving home.  I was so happy to see his face when he got to the ER. And even happier to go home with him after being thoroughly poked, prodded, and determined not to be seriously injured.

I left there on crutches with instructions to rest and see my personal physician early the next week. Sounds
fairly simple. You would think.  Not for this girl. You see, I have always had this bad habit of trying to do
three or four things at a time with two hands. Add crutches into the mix and for me, it spelled disaster. It was a couple of days later I stood up with my crutches with a load of our folded laundry to put away.  Suddenly, with no warning, the crutches were flying away from me. The laundry was thrown here and there.

 Me? Well, I was right in the middle of it.  On the floor. Thankful, while at the same time embarrassed, I looked up to see
my guy standing over me.  All concerned. Almost laughing. I know I must have looked hilarious! He helped me up from the floor and proceeded to pick up the crutches and the scattered unfolded clothes. I remember him saying something like, 'Honey, WHAT were you thinking, anyway?' Should it have ended there?
Yes. Did it? No. Mostly my pride had suffered. At least that's what I thought. By the next day cellulitis had set in...both legs. It wasn't good. My legs swelled terribly. Out of control. I could barely walk. I ended up in the hospital.  That in itself wouldn't have been so bad had it ended there.  It was a drizzly, cold day, with a sleet/snow mixture when I was transported to Meadow Brook Rehabilitation Center. For the next six weeks, I was learning again how to walk.  To add to the misery, Gout set in. Unfortunately, my doctor prescribed the wrong medication for a patient in the midst of a full blown attack. This made it unbelievable.  My sweet, adorable, and patient Odell stood by my side while I was given pushes of Demoral through my IV...every twenty minutes to relieve the excruciating pain this 'wrong medication' brought on.

I know I must sound like a big baby. Actually, I'm pretty strong and have always had a high pain tolerance. This was ridiculous!
However, I never felt alone or abandoned. My sweet children came when they could. And my amazing Odell was there through these weeks of stress and chaos.  Everyday.  I would look up and sometimes see his face peeking around my door. And always that big grin I loved!  It didn't matter how exhausted he was from a hard day's work, he was there with those strong arms to hold me.
Just to make me feel so loved.


It was a lovely Spring day when I was finally 'sprung' from the

Rehab Center. It felt incredible to walk out on my two feet. No wheel chair or crutches. Just my guy holding my arm and opening my door for me. After I was comfortably seated and he was behind the wheel, he turned to me, 'Ready to go home, honey?'  I was very ready. Just not quite yet.  I wanted to make a stop first. 'Baby, do you mind if we stop at Sears?' I asked.  Hey! You gotta understand. I hadn't been shopping in ever so long!  Of course he didn't mind. As long as it didn't take too long.  I think he was anxious to get his girl back home where she belonged!

My sleepy guy...I knew I could wake  him up!

SETTLING IN WITH A BANG!

Remember the tomatoes our mouths were watering for?  Sadly, it was not to be...not this year. We would have to wait until next summer to satisfy those cravings.  By the time we had moved into our new mobile home, it was too late to work up the ground and plant in time to harvest a good crop...but we would be looking so forward to reaping a wonderful harvest the next summer. And it would be so rewarding to share with our friends and family. We resigned ourselves to the sad fact that Walmart's produce aisle would have to
suffice until next summer.  But only until we were knee deep in my hubby's happy little garden. (sigh).

Oh, well...life wasn't all about gardens put on hold. July Fourth was coming up.  While not all of our kids would be able to come over to celebrate, there would be several who could make it.  Living out in the country and away from close neighbors, would be great for a party.  We could make noise and who would complain? Possibly cows and a dog or two.

 AND...not all the noise would be from animals, kids, and fireworks.  Some would come from a tiny new addition to our family...our darling baby Josie Renee Russell.  Born the day before Valentine's Day, 2002,  she would be there to celebrate the Fourth with us.  Her very first. Along with her proud parents... Lori, my youngest daughter, and Kyle.
And, held safely in the strong arms of her Pa-Pa Dell, with Nanny close by. Just to make sure he didn't drop this little angel. (smile).

Okay.  I'll admit to being just a bit over protective when it comes to all our grandchildren.  Josie was our fourteenth. I know. You must be wondering how such a young couple could possibly be blessed with so many beautiful grandchildren? Well, surprise, surprise! There would be others arriving...just a little later. And each one would wrap their sweet little selves around our big hearts. Isn't it amazing how God designed our hearts to go on expanding...making room for all the love needed for future blessings yet to come!

It turned out to be an awesome evening. Of course, there can't be a Fourth celebration without grilled burgers and hot dogs.  Accompanied by all the fixings. Including home made ice cream. And lots of fireworks!

While we all headed outside to set out lawn chairs, Mamaw Sanders offered to stay inside and rock Josie.

'All that noise will scare mamaw's baby thing,' she claimed adamantly. Mamaw had always called the babies that. Fondly, of course. So she and Josie settled back in the rocker and enjoyed some special one on one. Cuddling and bonding.

Outside wasn't nearly so calm.  My guy and my oldest son, Donnie,
were in charge of putting on a big show for the others.  They did a bang up job, I might add.  We all oohed and ahhed and clapped.

There was just the slightest breeze after the big show was over. Which was delightfully refreshing and welcome after a hot summer day.  And no one seemed in a hurry to break up our little party. It was so nice...just sitting around talking. Laughing. And watching the little ones playing around us. I wondered if life could get much better than this.  Sharing quality fun time with the ones you love so much. And being loved back.


Finally, things slowly began breaking up.  Mamaw had loved rocking the baby. Now she was tired and anxious to get home to her bed. You know how it is.  Older folk are so lovingly set in their own way...their own little routines they've established over all the many years. (smile).

And, if I'm to be completely honest here, I will have to admit that I was beginning to feel a bit tired myself. Not to mention (though I am mentioning), I was looking forward to some alone time with my guy...remember that sweet, handsome, amazingly wonderful guy I was so blessed to be married to...yeah, him!

If the cute little grin on his face was anything to judge by, I would say that he and I were on the same wave length.  Could it be the fireworks weren't quite finished yet? (smile).

So...our vegetable garden was not to be this year...just our own beautiful garden of love. And that would suffice for now...for both of us. Very, very well, I might add.

 

MY FRIEND...MARGARET

Occasionally in 'our story' you will notice I go back a little...to a memory of a different place, a different time. There are just so many of them. Occasionally, something will trigger one of these memories, and I feel the urge to share it with you, my readers.  This is one of those times...

It was during our first year of married bliss.  Back to the cute little one bedroom apartment. Where we made some interesting memories. Remember when Odell hid from me and had me thinking something terrible had happened to him...that he had possibly met with foul play?  Or the time I paid him back when I came home from work early and hid in the shower?

 Meet Margaret.

My dear friend of many years. Now Odell's friend, as well. We were comfortable offering her the couch to crash on when she was too tired to drive the fifty plus miles back to her home.  Which didn't happen often. Once in awhile.

This was one of those 'once in awhile' times.  Odell and I were lying in bed.  Just snuggling together.
And talking.

He turned toward me and asked, 'Hey, honey, I was just thinking...why don't we pull a joke on Margaret?'  I was all for it and asked what he had in mind.  His idea involved a cute stuffed monkey someone had given me just for fun.  This little creature was motion activated, so that when someone passed in front of him, he would give a wolf whistle, and say, 'I looove you!'  We were both giggling like a couple of kids when he crawled back under the covers after getting it all set up.

We waited. And waited. Finally, we heard the front door quietly opening.  Then she was in the kitchen.  She enjoyed rummaging in the fridge for a late night snack.  And it was definitely late. We waited.  The bathroom light came on and the door was quickly closed.  Most likely she was trying not to awaken us.  So far we were hearing nothing.  I whispered to my husband, asking him if he was sure he put the monkey on the bathtub edge where she would pass in front of it?  He said he did. Then it happened!  The screaming...

Just as we were about to give up and drift off to sleep...

It didn't take long to learn what had transpired.  Evidently, Margaret wasn't directly in front of our little monkey friend, until she began pulling her shirt off over her head! 

The wolf whistle and the 'I looove you' sent her running into the hall in a panic.  She told us that she just knew that Odell wouldn't have been hiding behind the shower curtain, but then he was the only man in the house!

After Margaret's nerves were calmed, we all got such a laugh. At her expense, of course.  We figured that was all right, though. This was one lady who had more than her share of jokes up her sleeve...
and we could rest assured she would devise a plan of revenge.  Someday.
And when we least suspected it.

I put my arms around my crazy hubby and told him how much I loved him!  He grinned that cute little grin, and sleepily responded, 'yeahhh?'  There may be so many things we had yet to learn about each other, but there was one thing we both knew from the beginning...that is, without a doubt...

Our life together would never be boring!  And we were confidently assured that
                                        whatever surprises may lie ahead...

There would always be smiles. And laughter.  And love. Always love...

It just fits! We loved monkeying around!

HAPPY CAMP ROAD...

This was it...Happy Camp Road.

Just the sound of it made me smile. Maybe because I just knew we would be happy there.  As if it were named years ago just for us...Mr. and Mrs. Odell Edwards.  I know. I get a little sentimental at times.  Well,  guess what? His girl will take sentimental and happy over discontented and sad any ole day.

Odell and I were feeling pretty excited about this new venture together.  While neither of us had ever lived in a double wide...or any size mobile home, we decided it might be fun.  I knew my hubby could hardly wait to put out a nice, big garden.

Getting all moved in was much easier with the help we could always count on from my son, Donnie, and his family. Sometimes all the kids were available to pitch in, as well.
And such friendly neighbors, too! In case you're now wondering if I ever exaggerate just a little...
I confess to doing that...but not when it comes to more serious parts of  'our story'.

I know! Can you believe it? Six weeks at the Ramada and it still wasn't enough time for the mobile home dealership to properly set up our new home!

It was a blessing to have such four amazing grown children and their families. I was beginning to understand God's reason for creating these special little creatures we affectionately call 'kids'.  (smile).

Not long after settling in our nice new place, (funny how this house is even smaller than the first little one we moved from because it was too small), my guy was totally into preparing a portion of the land for our garden.  I had heard comments from family about the amazing tomatoes he and God together always managed to produce!  I so thoroughly loved seeing my husband so passionate and excited about something he so completely enjoyed.

There would be memories to share from our little spot on Happy Camp Road.

I look forward to sharing some of those with you, my faithful readers.  Next time.

At this very moment...I just want to share what is left of this evening with my sweet, lovable, distinguished, handsome guy.  So, if you will indulge his girl, I promise to get back with all of you just a little later...

MOVE, MOVE, MOVE...

Living in an apartment wasn't my husband's idea of a real home. Or mine.  His dream was to have a home in the country. To plant fields and reap a wonderful harvest.  To raise black angus cattle.  And so his dream became my dream.  Sharing ideas and looking foward to having everything we wanted...someday.  But it would be awhile. And it was okay. Some things you really want are really worth waiting for.

In June of 2000 the lease was up on our apartment. We found a little house we thought might be good to rent.  At least for awhile.  We just didn't realize just how little this little house actually was. Well, not quite this little!

After six months, we both were ready to move on.  While it was somewhat bigger than the one bedroom apartment, it just wasn't what we were looking for long term.

Odell had done plumbing for a contractor who owned a house in Bixby...out in the country.  While the owner wasn't wanting to sell the house, he was willing to rent it to us. The owner put in new carpet.  We painted.  And painted.  Three bedrooms and the living room.  It was all coming together to be a pretty nice house.  Oh, and did I mention it was on five acres?  With a propane tank. Something we weren't too excited about.

We moved in the weekend before Thanksgiving 2000.  Guess who hosted Thanksgiving dinner! It was fun having everyone out to our new place.

We could see ourselves settling in this place for awhile.  Possibly eventually buying it in the future.  And I could see the look in my guy's eyes as he sized up the property. Building a barn here. A big garden there. Maybe a couple pigs to raise. I was so happy that this just might be where we would settle for the foreseeable future.

It turned out the 'foreseeable future' was pretty short!  The owners decided they might let other family members move into the house and possibly sell it later.  Okay.  We were flexible.  We did something we never thought we would do.  We looked at double wides. Not exactly what we wanted for forever.
Just a place to start on a small acerage.  Our own little piece of land. (sigh).

It was May 2001 when we left the Bixby house. With the new carpet. The new paint.  And the five acres. Land that was waiting for the cattle. The pigs. And the big vegetable garden. Yes. We left. And settled in at ...The Ramada Inn.

  I know. Sounds crazy. It would be temporary, just a couple of weeks while we waited for land improvements and the double wide to be delivered and set up in Beggs. 

Did I say two weeks?  We were the guests at this lovely hotel for six weeks.

  Looking back, I can't imagine why we were so anxious.  Especially me.  I couldn't cook this whole time. And didn't even have to feel a twinge of guilt.  I had a perfectly good excuse for us to eat out. Which we did. And which did get old before our vacation was up. We would leave our room and come back to a wonderfully cleaned room every day.  Again, no guilt for not making our bed in the mornings.  Maid service was so enjoyed! I loved gettng pampered.  'Look out, honey, I could get used to this!'  Oh, and how could I fail to mention the big indoor pool and hot tub?

Unfortunately, our six week vacation at the Ramada wasn't all fun.  It was during this time that we learned Odell's next to youngest sister was diagnosed with cancer.  She would need a bone marrow donor. Of all the brothers and sisters who were tested,  my guy was the only perfect match.  He was so happy and honored to be able to donate his bone marrow for his sister, Jean.  But it never happened. Because, you see, God had other plans for his baby sister...He took her to Heaven to be with Him.  She was 39 years young when she left this world. She would be dearly missed. But it would be our loss. Not her's.

Soon everything would be all set up and we would be leaving all this pampering we were paying dearly for.   And we were excited for this new start.  Hopefully, it wouldn't turn out to be a third six month stint. That was getting just a little tiresome...

So, off we went. Into the sunset.  Off to Beggs. Wherever in the world that was.  We would soon grow weary of the long drive down Highway 75 every day.  But, hey, we felt an excitement about it all. There was joy in sharing a dream...

And, the main thing...the most important thing of all...we were together!

And things just couldn't get any better than this.

We were so in love. So happy. So counting on each other... and God... to help make our dreams
a reality.

CHRISTY'S MIRACLE

Remember Christy? My oldest daughter.  Best known to her friends as Christa.

We called this little five pound girl Christy when she was born.  Somehow Christa sounded a bit big for this tiny baby girl. To her mama, siblings, and grandparents, she will always be Christy.  To refresh your memories, this girl played a significant part in the eventual meeting of my guy.  


I got so caught up in the thrill and excitement of telling our story. . .the wedding and the honeymoon, that I left out a most significant detail.  About Christy.  About her miracle.

It was during our wedding rehearsal that my daughter noticed having shortness of breath.  It was significant enough that she made an appointment to be seen by her doctor a few days after our wedding.  She may have thought the shortness of breath was brought about from her pregnancy with her fourth baby.

 Odell and I were enjoying our honeymoon when we got a call from her.  She gave us the alarming report from the tests the doctor had ordered.  She had been diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy, a serious heart disease.  Her doctor was concerned that she may not be able to carry her baby to term. That she could die. Also her baby.  She found out a day later that she was carrying their baby girl.  The little sister they had dreamed about.  She would be the sister to three older brothers.  And, according to her doctor, she may be their 'miracle' baby.

After Odell and I hung up from the call from Christy, I was crying. He held me close. I knew he was really
concerned about her, too.  'Honey, I can't imagine my world without my Christy in it.' 

She was always so full of life. So vibrant. So happy. A great mommy. And my twenty-five year old little girl still.  I just wasn't going to believe that she wouldn't be okay.  She had to be.  There would be countless prayers said on her behalf.  In addition to ours.  I  knew we had to trust God to take care of her.  He loved her even more than any of us could  That had to be an awful lot.  And I reminded God that we all loved and needed her. And that she had a husband and children who needed her desperately.


Since I so obviously have told this part of our story a bit out of sequence, I may as well conclude it with
the miracle birth of a perfectly healthy and beautiful baby girl on September 1, 1999. . .Heidi Michelle Newberry. 


Never mind the dark prognosis of the doctors. It is quite apparent that God's prognosis is what counted.

It has been twelve years since we heard those dark, heavy words from my daughter regarding her heart.
Today, she is doing much better than at that time.  She may always be on medication.  But we thank God she is here with us all.  And her miracle baby is no longer a baby. . .twelve years going on sixteen!  And a most lovely granddaughter!  Pictured here with her Grandpa Dell about two years ago.

'Thank you, God, for this double miracle. . .
                Christy and Heidi.

TO KNOW HIM IS TO LOVE HIM

You've heard me say 'little things mean a lot.'  While that is so true, I must also confess that big things mean a lot, too.'  It was only a couple of months from the time we said those two most meaningful words, 'I do,' that we were thrown a huge curve.  More like sinking into a dark, deep valley. One that seemed to come out of nowhere. We were in it. And it wouldn't be going away anytime soon.  It would, in fact, affect our lives together for several years to come. I assure you that this valley was not of our own making or choosing.  That it was not about us personally. But it was one that would test our strengths.  Possibly test our faith at times. Mostly, it would show me the true character of this wonderful and honorable man who had vowed to stand by me. To love me. To protect me. To selflessly give of himself. Whatever the cost.

My purpose is not to actually share what this dark valley was.  There are some things in this life that we must face and go through together with God.  Only those closest to us would be affected, as well. My purpose is to allow my readers a more personal glimpse of this wonderful man. . .my husband, Odell.

I didn't think it was possible to love him more than I did already.  He held my heart completely. And yet through these dark waters, he was amazingly strong.  The love and respect I had for him grew and knew no limits.  I witnessed such a deep love resonating from this 'gentle giant.'  In a purely physical sense, he didn't have the stature of a giant. He stood tall and slender at six feet.. But if one could measure the heart and strength of character of this amazing man, he was indeed a giant among men.  And he loved me.  I felt blessed every day.  Just to be with him. To feel his warmth.  To rest in those strong arms and know it was okay to cry. Which I did.

Although I'm not at liberty to share this part of our story with you, I am in hopes that you will have an even better picture of the love of my life.  Not only did I gain a greater appreciation for him, we both knew that God had faithfully sustained us through it all.  It was through the darkest hours that we could see a light at the end of the tunnel.  God's light. For which we were so thankful.


And we were more deeply in love than before. If that were even possible. . .

            What a beautiful, beautiful love.