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.
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