Living under the Mercy (Mer-Sea)
In the fall of 1977, when I started as a freshman at Biola, my dad told Mr. Lutke that I played clarinet. Mr. Lutke persistently called me until I would give him an audition and a promise to give the band a try. If I had not joined, I would never have met Jim nor…
Before November 8th, 1955, before the twinkle in Lionel’s eye 9 months prior to that, before any life on planet earth began, Jim was loved and his life was orchestrated by a good God. And this loving God knew all about who Jim would become and who he would influence. He planned for us to…
“For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil. 1:21 It has been 14 years since my Jim stepped into the Gain. It has been only 5100+ days but it feels like an eternity. It is interesting that it is eternity for Jim! God placed eternity in each of our hearts…
When Jim was on hospice several family and friends made their way to our home to spend a last time with him. The “blessing” of cancer (which is tough to call it that), or any lingering illness rather than something more immediate and sudden, is that there is a small window to put one’s affairs…
Not often, but once in awhile after seeing an ad on TV or hearing of another person with the dreaded disease, I wonder what would have happened if Jim had gotten GBM4 today versus 14 years ago. The majority of brain cancers are highly invasive and rarely spreads to other parts of the body beyond…
Today marks my wedding anniversary. 8.23.80. Forty -four years ago I said yes to a lifelong adventure with Jim. We were able to enjoy that adventure for over 30 years.. There has been so much life with loss but also so much joy. I marvel at the life God gave me and the story He…
Holding hands is one thing I miss – A LOT! Holding hands seems like an ordinary thing to do but it is also a very intimate thing. 44 years ago tomorrow I gave my hand (and my heart) to Jim as we promised to have and to hold. Holding hands means so many things and…
I was asked, again, if I ever considered dating and getting remarried. My answer hasn’t changed. I had a good marriage and I really never considered doing it again. But at the same time I miss companionship every day. Jim’s friendship. And even after 14 years without him the aloneness seems stronger every day instead…
Jim and I loved to play games. We both came from game playing families (although I have since learned that 2 of my siblings don’t like games), and on many long cold seasons in Illinois we spent together playing games. One of our first dates was to play Rook with the Wrobbel’s! We have played…
I went to Biola in 1977 after I graduated from Edison High School. It was not my first choice AT ALL! A bit full of myself because of my high academic record and standing in the class I really wanted to go to UCLA and study languages. Biola didn’t have a Spanish or linguistics major…