Tuesday, November 09, 2004
SPRING IN 1983....
What to our wondering eye’s should appear as we drove north towards home? We were on I-55 cruising along and we came upon John and Barbara headed up the road ahead of us. Barbara was driving and John was asleep in the front seat….we waved merrily as we passed them and were soon out of sight. Barb drives slower than Warren so we lost them quickly.
They came to Willow Springs the following Tuesday as our church had planned a shower for them after their wedding. The missionary circle I was in had a cute idea at our meeting before the shower. We brought gifts so everyone could see what each other selected. Then we were all given paper and ribbon to wrap them for the event. We ended up down on the floor, tying our packages, and having an altogether good time of it.
Aunt Beulah was visiting mom so we all went to the shower together. The gifts were piled high and the cards held well wishes for the happy couple. John had been a part of our church for quite some time and was well liked by the congregation. He did his first preaching in our church.
I was off work the next day so we drove around town to show Barbara the points of interest and acquaint her with our area. Later the same day John received a call for an opportunity to preach at a church in Toledo, Ohio. He accepted and they planned to go from here which would put them much closer to Toledo. That evening they went to dinner at the Ross’ so Barbara could meet John’s good friends. They left the next day and aunt Beulah became ill and drove home, as well.
A few days later John called and said the church at Toledo was a “no go.” They were on their way home to New Orleans. Not too long after all that, he called to tell us he had to have surgery on his right jaw. He had two extra teeth growing into the jawbone which, if left, would eventually break his jaw. There was also a cist or tumor to deal with and danger of nerve damage.
Barbara had surgery in Vicksburg on March 25th and they stayed at her folks until they had to go back home after the week-end. On April 8th, John had his oral surgery. I called before his scheduled time and he told me they had 12” of rain in 8-hours…that Mississippi and Louisiana were having bad flooding. I called later that evening and talked to Barbara….she said John was sleeping and the surgery had been a painful ordeal. They were hoping there would be no nerve damage to that side of his face, as the doctor said his lip could be numb for up to a year. John called the next day and told us there was no numbness and he was fine. Needless to say, we were very grateful.
Mother’s Day came on May 8th this year. I fixed a nice dinner and had mom over after church. Later, we drove out past the old farm at Tyrone, where we first put our roots down in Missouri. The dogwoods were blooming and made the hills white with their blossoms…..we saw four deer on the drive. It’s a narrow, less traveled road that winds back in the hills where it is quieter and less populated by man. It is a respite from the usual activity of the small surrounding towns…and where nature is at her best. I seek those rural roads to find a connection between me and all those things I love so much.
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
They came to Willow Springs the following Tuesday as our church had planned a shower for them after their wedding. The missionary circle I was in had a cute idea at our meeting before the shower. We brought gifts so everyone could see what each other selected. Then we were all given paper and ribbon to wrap them for the event. We ended up down on the floor, tying our packages, and having an altogether good time of it.
Aunt Beulah was visiting mom so we all went to the shower together. The gifts were piled high and the cards held well wishes for the happy couple. John had been a part of our church for quite some time and was well liked by the congregation. He did his first preaching in our church.
I was off work the next day so we drove around town to show Barbara the points of interest and acquaint her with our area. Later the same day John received a call for an opportunity to preach at a church in Toledo, Ohio. He accepted and they planned to go from here which would put them much closer to Toledo. That evening they went to dinner at the Ross’ so Barbara could meet John’s good friends. They left the next day and aunt Beulah became ill and drove home, as well.
A few days later John called and said the church at Toledo was a “no go.” They were on their way home to New Orleans. Not too long after all that, he called to tell us he had to have surgery on his right jaw. He had two extra teeth growing into the jawbone which, if left, would eventually break his jaw. There was also a cist or tumor to deal with and danger of nerve damage.
Barbara had surgery in Vicksburg on March 25th and they stayed at her folks until they had to go back home after the week-end. On April 8th, John had his oral surgery. I called before his scheduled time and he told me they had 12” of rain in 8-hours…that Mississippi and Louisiana were having bad flooding. I called later that evening and talked to Barbara….she said John was sleeping and the surgery had been a painful ordeal. They were hoping there would be no nerve damage to that side of his face, as the doctor said his lip could be numb for up to a year. John called the next day and told us there was no numbness and he was fine. Needless to say, we were very grateful.
Mother’s Day came on May 8th this year. I fixed a nice dinner and had mom over after church. Later, we drove out past the old farm at Tyrone, where we first put our roots down in Missouri. The dogwoods were blooming and made the hills white with their blossoms…..we saw four deer on the drive. It’s a narrow, less traveled road that winds back in the hills where it is quieter and less populated by man. It is a respite from the usual activity of the small surrounding towns…and where nature is at her best. I seek those rural roads to find a connection between me and all those things I love so much.
Until tomorrow,
Essentially Esther
