This chapter had to be the beginning. I say that for having read a truly familiar account of what seems to lead up to all lasting relationships! The recognition of a person’s unique grace. A statement which is meant to ask you to see the imperfect within us all, followed by an act which forces the the truth of our own feelings upon us! Phew…sure glad to get that out of the way, now we can explore everything about us, honestly!
I’m unable to explain why I enjoy the way you write. Except to say as a former boyfriend, I appreciate every moment you question or are pleased by the feelings you experienced! It’s a valuable insight to share the workings of the mind from the girlfriends perspective! Especially before becoming one to the other! Of my late grandma Manning, I’d inquire why she never dated or spent time in other men’s company after my grandpa and her husband had passed. She’d say, ” Once you’ve had true love Denny…there’s really no point in questioning it!” Your story, Nancy…might very well be the access which will help so many to look for the elementals of true love, they may already have. Nice work!
Thank you so much. I can not tell you how much your comment means to me. My youngest grandson said your exact words, “I like the way you write”. I will bare my heart and soul to you in this book then he will also bare his through the letters he wrote to me. Frank and I became one so quickly that it made my head swim. I have always thought from the moment we met that God had planned our union before we were born. Even now, my heart grows with love for Frank. He lives and experiences life through me now as one heart and soul. Please keep reading and sharing. It only gets more humorous and better through the years.
God Bless You,
Nancy
A fun story, Nancy. I remember cutting down Chinese elm trees in the yard behind my small apartment. I only had a hand saw. I asked my landlady’s permission before I did it. But those branches were quite thin compared with yours. Not sure I would trust myself with a chain saw. That might just be a recipe for disaster. A jig saw is more my style. Though I am not a widow, I have had to do many things on my own as I have always been single. I laid carpet once. That was a story in itself, too. Maybe I’ll tell you some day.
Thank you, Diane, for your comment. I was not very skilled with that electric chainsaw but I learned as I went along which seems to be the way I learn things. Thank goodness, it had a trigger that you had to hold down to keep it running. I really enjoyed our talk last night and I learned a lot from you. I can’t wait to hear your story of laying carpet, it has to be awesome.
Thinking as a single woman, you have some awesome do it yourself stories.
God Bless,
Nancy
I’m actually becoming almost clairevoyant! I knew before I even hit your link this was a caladryl story! Over the years, it was a staple in our home! Mostly because my mom could attract a mosquito from 2 miles away! But also because of what was indigenous to our neck o’ the woods. Poison Sumac. As well as a little poison oak here and there! Great stuff that Caladryl !! Accidentally fed our Bitsy the dachsund mix(she came with our first house in Green Valley) some red licorice and she had some pretty nasty lookin red bumps on her nose the next mornin…a little Caladryl and the bumps were gone by the next day! I look forward to your Chigger story, a friend Ray and his wife settled in Arkansas and had a lot to say about them lil varmints! Til then…keep on keepin on!
Thinking maybe that clairvoyance had to do with the picture. Lol! I keep that Caladryl as a staple around here too.
They actually make a clear stuff like Caladryl but it doesn’t work as well. Pink is the best.
When we moved to the Gulf Coast not only was there a creepy fog hanging on the ground in the giant trees but things like butterflies were huge along with biggest chiggers I have ever seen.
Thank you for your comment and sharing your memories of Caladryl.
God Bless you,
Nancy
So….you never drank again? What about gettin back up onto the horse that threw ya? Lol. I’m glad you survived! Never did get blasted before I was in the service, and I think I kept it to a minimum even then! I will share one excerpt of a story that goes hand and hand to the part yours regarding drive home. My gf at the time and I had been to an afterparty and I was the designated driver. She on the other hand had too much to drink! On the way home, I had just enough time to get the window down before she began to upchuck…and this was the first time I’d be a witness to this kind of event! Now, I’d been in the medical field for many years and had seen thousands of people upchuck, always with an attendant noise that in many cases could make you experience nausea as well !!
Well…the window was down and I, of course was expecting the worst! And that’s where I got the shock of my medically oriented life! She laid her head on the sill of the door and I watched he silently release her fluids from one side of her mouth! Not a peep! No gagging, no talkin to Ralph on the big white telephone, nada! The next mornin, I finally got around to mentioning what I observed and I guess that was probably one of the bigger laughs I ever got from her when I said, “You really surprised me ya know!” She asked, “How so?” “Well, let me put it this way…I’ve seen a few people upchuck in my time but you are absolutely the first I wouldn’t stand back from while they were in the middle of it!” “What do you mean, omg..you saw me throwin up?” “Yep..I sure did! But I have to tell you something about that.” “Oh please gawd was it bad?” I looked at her and smiled, “….no, let’s just say that when it comes to that sort of thing…you don’t puke ugly!” 😀
Lol, now I didn’t say I never drank again. I would also recommend no one ever mix Gin and grape juice, a definite toilet hugger mix but that’s another story.
Thank you so much for reading, commenting and sharing your stories.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Yes, all is going well. I am learning new things but enjoying it.
Thank you again.
God Bless you,
Nancy
John ConwayMay 4, 2018
You are always good for a laugh out loud laugh Nancy loo. My voice recognition always wants to spell your middle name as l o o instead of l o u. I think that’s kind of cute so I we’ll just leave it that way. BTW, loo is the colloquial for bathroom in England and Australia. Just thought you might want to know 🙂
John thank you for your comment. I will definitely answer to Nancy Loo. That spell check thangy gets me into lots of editing. Lol! Figures that spell check thangy wants me to be Nancy Potty. I love it! It fits with the way I talk to it.
Chuck BartokMay 4, 2018
Gotta love it “NANCY LOO”.
Thanks for sharing. This password ‘thangy’ as you call is a big pain in the @$$.
Oh wait a minute, did I just give away one of my passwords?
Thank you Chuck. Grammarly has decided that ‘thangy’ is an unknown word now! Thinking it has purposely told spell check and John’s voice recognition to call me Nancy Loo.
Nancy HendersonMay 4, 2018
Chuck, I checked and I don’t think that was one of your passwords. Lol
Carmen BacaMay 8, 2018
Your honey’s letters are so touching, I’m sure the memories of those times come back fresh and emotionally strong as when you received them the first time so long ago. I am enjoying your installments greatly, and I’m honored you’re sharing them with us readers.
Thank you so much, Carmen. I am honored that you are enjoying our love story. Your opinion of means so much to me.
Yes, each letter I read and post puts me back in the moment I first read. Writing this book is like entering a time capsule. As, I see, hear, and feel, I become that young woman from so long ago standing beside my young husband, Frank.
M.RMay 8, 2018
Good Lord, what have I fallen into. I love the Southern drawl and all who share it. Thangy perfectly describes anything you want it to. Such as, as I whisper to my husband when we first got home to Michigan….Where is the bathroom ? That would be the thangy out back. Oh Lord help me.
Thanking the Good Lord for sending you my way. You betcha, you will definitely get some southern drawl here and a whole lotta humor! Thank you for coming to my website, reading, and commenting.
I really enjoyed talking with you yesterday. We are kindred sisters for sure.
God bless you,
Nancy Lou
marion rowertMay 9, 2018
It happens. At our local casino, there are two separate restrooms.
One in non-smoking and one in the smoking area.
In a hurry, didn’t pay attention to where the ladies restroom was.
Always turned left in the smoking area. Not so in the non-smoking area.
In I march in and there was this man right there doing his thing.
A quick retreat and I hoped he never saw me. No doors but there was a sign on the wall.
So, it does happen and found that I was a quick learner. Never again.
Marion just writing this, could not quit laughing. Life is so unpredictable and so much fun. Thank you for sharing,now I don’t feel all alone in my escapade. I will definitely try to read the signs, especially on bathroom doors. Of course, I can not promise that I won’t do it again but pretty certain it will never leave my mind.
God Bless you,
Nancy Lou
You are correct, Marion
At Rolling Hills, the Men’s bathroom is on right in the smoking section and on the left in non-smoking.
Very confusing for some of us who have short-term memories…
~~smile
John ConwayMay 9, 2018
Life’s funny moments are funnier in the rearview mirror. I had a similar experience myself as a very green freshman at Iowa State University in 1964. I’m still embarrassed even in recollection. I think you missed a real opportunity not titling this episode “Nancy Lou in the Loo”.
I wanted to title that but I am limited on title size. All I could think about was Nancy Loo. I really fit that name. No doubt that I knew you would love this blog. I even wanted to tell about your voice recognition thinking you said Nancy Loo. I guess you had a premonition.
God Bless
Nancy
Interesting how the distinguishing feature for the person in the wheelchair is ??? …I guess being disabled means your over any embarrassment for being… something other than male or female? I don’t know how to laugh at this…clearly, being disabled means either never having to worry which bathroom you wheel into, or maybe gender related signs are designed to make us all feel a bit disabled for our momentary state of being!
Ha….ut oh, sorry… that was for a completely unrelated sign of dysfunction! 😀
Dennis, you are too funny. Thinking they need to put a dress or pants on that wheelchair but I guess they assumed everyone would connect to the stick guy and girl. one thing for sure, it didn’t matter to me because I was just using my sense of hearing. LOL
God Bless,
Nancy
Thank you, Marion. I love that it makes you laugh. Lots of thangys and dumafaches. In this one. I could not find some pictures I took when I actually refurbished the porcelain throne but I tried hard to find them.
Thank you for your comments, they mean the world to me, just like you mean the world to me.
God Bless you,
Nancy Lou
marion rowertMay 14, 2018
So sweet. I wish my letters hadn’t got lost. Only 7 in two years but read them over and over so many times that I should have them memorized.
Marion, I am sorry your letters got lost but I know you have them in your memories. I found these letters from Frank only three years ago after he led me to them in a dream. That will all be explained in the book. God works in such mysterious beautiful ways.
God Bless you and thank you for your comment
Nancy
marion rowertMay 17, 2018
Makes me miss my husband. Nancy, did they really have BC pills back then ?
Marion, yes there were birth control pills in 1968. I think my Mom was insisting because we were so young but we never ever used birth control our entire married life. God had a His own birth control plan for us.
These letters really bring back memories and of course, like when you have read them, they make me miss Frank being here physically again. The grief and loss of a true love never go away, it just simmers in the background of our minds until something brings it to the surface. Letter number 11 really affected me in ways nobody but me will understand because it had the answer to a question Doctors asked me when Frank was so sick before he died. Had I remembered or found Frank’s letters before he died, I would have had the Doctors answer but we all have a chosen time when God calls us home and I have found peace in God’s decision.
God Bless you and love to you, my sweet friend,
Nancy Lou
Chuck BartokMay 17, 2018
The thrill of learning new skills as an “experienced citizen” can be a lot of FUN!
Remember there are many tutorials on YouTube. ~~smile
Yes, Sir! Google is not getting the job done for this “experienced citizen”. I need duct tape to keep the knowledge from seeping out my ears. Lol! For some reason, I was googling trying to Google, Ask Chuck? Is he on Youtube?
John ConwayMay 17, 2018
You two had something very special. I think it is obvious as Time passed that the depth of your love for one another deepened and matured. The freshness and excitement of new love is something that stays with us for all of our lives. Thank you for sharing these obviously special and tender memories with all of us.
John, thank you for understanding how special our love was for each other. So many people still have this same love and commitment. Sharing these letters, our soulmate love, and our life together, I pray reminds others of their memories of falling in love then makes them look across the room at each other, seeing themselves as young Newlyweds but with the knowledge of knowing they are now one heart and soul forever.
Thank you for your comment.
God bless you,
Nancy
HuMay 18, 2018
Twenty years ago I had some of the finest computer and network certification in the world. After a retirement I didn’t even try to keep up with changes. Now I know what I should be able to do with a computer or network without a clue how to actually do it!
Hu, I am with you. I remember when computers filled a room and at that time, I wanted to be a computer programmer. Now, I think they program themselves. Lol! Do they see what we type? Do they deliberately mess with us? I am trying to be kind to mine now and not take harsh action on it. Thank you for reading my blog and commenting.
God Bless you,
Nancy Lou
Although it’s difficult to appreciate, I will say I’ve begun to gain a better understanding for the interplay between two people who’ve found their desire to begin a life together put at the feet of a decision they had no ability to influence! While some would point to a thing called chance, I’ve begun to see how this story really goes to faith! You’ve done well to recognize the moments when and where one’s faith… in love, in family, or in your God might be tested and I look forward to how you and Frank chose to deal with each other in the moments both together and apart. By the way, I have always always been that line in the song by the band, America…Sister Golden Hair Surprise, ” …I’m one poor correspondent…and I’m way too hard to find, but it doesn’t mean you ain’t been on my mind!” I’m glad that you and your husband were Nancy, it makes for a great story! Carry on…
Thank you so much Dennis. God was so important to Frank and I. I really believe that God had a plan before we were born for us to find each other no matter what. Even then God had a purpose for the two of us. Finding these letters has truly reenforced that belief in my heart for that purpose.
True love, true commitment, true struggles, real separation by war, struggling to have a child and eventually heartbreaking grief at losing a soulmate who shared my heart and soul. You will read about all those things as I type about our lives in this book uninhibited while bearing our life together with you.
God has a purpose.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Mary Rae, you bet they are! You would think they would be easier to clean than a regular toilet but seems it is not true. I really pray I don’t do it again ever. Thinking, I should use my eyes and not just my ears.
Thank you so much for your comment.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Walt McKinleyMay 23, 2018
Nancy Lou, mail fun knew no boundaries for my brother and I. While I was a Radio Teletype operator in S. Korea my brother was a teletype operator for the FBI in DC. We would send letters back and forth and occasionally add a handful of the ticker tape punch outs we both had an abundant supply of. It really made my houseboy mad so I let him help me prepare an entire package for John.
Walter, I know that was so much fun. How big was the box? I love that you wrote back and forth with your brother. Do you still have any of your letters?
Thank you for your comment
God Bless you,
Nancy Lou
Jimmy BlakleyMay 23, 2018
Thanks, sis, I was in Viet Nam from 1968 till 1969 then back in 1969 and home 1970. I was home 30 days in 1970.
Frank will always be my best friend, my brother in law and my brother in arms. We share a brotherhood that only those who served America in war can ever know. God Bless and Love you.
I am so proud of you, Jimmy. Thank you for your service to this country and most of all thank you for being one of the most loving and most kind people I have ever known. I know that God is very proud of you and Frank is proud of you too. I love you with all of my heart. You and Connie are always in my prayers. I am so thankful that you are my Big Bro.
God Bless you,
Your Sis
Well…give me just a moment while compose myself. Fair warning Nancy it will not be an English moment…no, that ninety-seconds wouldn’t afford me the time I’d need to acknowledge everything this post of yours has caused me to feel. About the worry we keep within us as though no one would believe we’d ever care for anyone else, or the camraderie shared between brothers, sisters, and family for knowing the what honoring love within family means against any titles as that would somehow make it subject to the law over our own hearts. No…it’d probaly take me a little more time than a minute and half to sort out why at this stage of my life the acts undertaken by a true friend for no other reason but to let them know how important it will always be for any veteran to feel and know that the service they willingly provided on behalf of their love for the life they’d been blessed to live prior to serving in wartime… should never, not for one moment, EVER be confused as an act of self-service against the horrors most veterans choose not to share out of concern for the same love they chose as their duty to protect. I think instead Nancy, I’m gonna stick with an “American Moment” since it is not defined by an exact period of time which allows me the time to catch up to the wonderful pace you set with this story, if only to match your stride long enough to tip my hat and smile as the well deserved compliment you Ms. Nancy Lou Henderson, so rightly have comin!! My hat’s off to you <3 Well done!
Thank you so much Dennis. This was an emotional chapter for me to write. I wrote it then came back to add more because there was so much more to say and it all needed to be said. Vietnam Veterans did not receive the gratitude and thank you they deserved to help them readjust to coming home. As with so many others, my Brother, Jimmy does not talk about his time in Vietnam but lives with it in that hidden place that all veterans have locked it away in but he has not let it affected the Beautiful, Caring, Loving Man that he always was. Welcoming Jimmy home after 42 years too late, in no way takes away his horrors or pain but it let him know, (and others who were there who didn’t have a clue about Vietnam) that we loved him, are here for him, we are proud of him, and we will always listen, without talking but true compassion, to him if he should ever want to talk.
Writing this book has opened up many conversations between Jimmy and I about Vietnam. Jimmy talks and I listen.
I have a deep love and respect for all four of my brothers and I thank God that the younger three did not have to go to war.
God Bless you,
Nancy Lou
Yes, it absolutely helps to connect you with me on that level, the way you speak to what was shared with you as by your brother, and also your husband is the compliment to everyone’s ability to get how important it is to our ability to remain ourselves! Especially, for the combat vets whom James cares for, and even for the vets who didn’t see combat but had a brother who did, and loved us too.
Nancy HendersonMay 24, 2018
Dennis, James’ God-given gift of writing with a purpose for Vietnam Vets is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Even those of us who were not there read his chapters and feel like we are in some small way in that valley of hell with him hiding in that jungle but never actually seeing the horror he is seeing.
Thank you for your comments Dennis. I really appreciate it.
God Bless you.
Nancy
Nancy, I enjoyed this post so much. I love your comments underneath the letters. That adds the depth of meaning in it for me. What a lovely thing to share with the world.
Thank you so much Mary Rae. I am glad you like my comments between the letters. Frank speaks to us all in his letters so you will truly get to know him. He also reminds me of what I have written him.
Praying you keep coming back and reading because soon you will get to watch this amazing person named Frank, my husband, write letters from Vietnam and he will grow into a stronger, wiser, beautiful man. I’m just his narrator.
God Bless you,
Nancy
A hectic time but seems you handled it very well. Amazing the maturity shown. I wonder how many today could handle the responsibilities so well.
Thanks, for sharing these parts of your life.
Chuck, Thank you. Back in 1968 weddings were not as complicated as they are now. I thought about this as I wrote of these days leading upto our wedding.As an owner of a Florist, I realized how uncomplicated Frank and my wedding was compared to now
Today the pressure to out do others weddings and the high expense of it all is astounding. Weddings only take a short time and they are really about the devotion and love to one another. As a Florist, I always tried to calm my soon to be brides down and reminded them of what really was important.
Thank you for reminding me and your Beautiful Support.
God Bless,
Nancy
Nancy, this is beautiful. You are obviously doing the work of your soul. Thank you for blessing us with your stories. I loved hearing the backstory, which instills the depths of your gift. Much love, Mary Rae
Thank you so much, Mary Rae. I have always been fascinated with letters from the past. To actually read a letter written by someone who passed long before my time on earth is just amazing but to actually hold that letter in your hand and see the writing on the page opens up a window to the soul and emotions of the writer through the beauty of the grace of their handwriting.
I see the emotions in Frank’s writing as I have read then typed into these chapters. My plan is to share copied pages of these letters in the book.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Agree with you Nancy, seems ridiculous to take on debt to create a social spectacle when the money spent could be used to start the couple off on a firm financial foundation.
Expensive weddings are no guarantee for successful, happy marriages, in fact there may well be an inverse correlation.
Thank you Peter. I think that the main purpose of it all is the Beautiful vows said to each other of commitment, devotion, and love. Marriage is not an easy thing but one of the most Beautiful gifts and total sacrifices a couple makes to one another. It is much to easy now a days to give up.
God Bless you and thank you again for your comment.
Nancy
It was “a necessity” for us to be frugal regarding Wedding Costs. Had all the money tied up in new 300 acres of Wheat and harvest was a couple months off.
Pit-roasted a couple of our 100# pigs, Shirley, sisters and her mother made 100# Potato and Macaroni salad and a close friend “donated” his Country Western Band.
109 degrees in the shade and everyone had Fun.
Sidenote:
We lived off a major highway and people (strangers) just stopped by to see what was going on. One fellow was dancing with Shirley and asked “who got married”
Our children followed suit and had beautiful wedding focused on the promise and went down a frugal path.
Thanks for sharing this post and I hope younger people will take to heart
Thank you, Chuck. I love your share about your and Shirley’s Wedding. What a Beautiful Wedding in an Amazing Setting! Your description of your Wedding Day, lets me see it all in my mind. A lot of hard work went into your wedding which you all shared lovingly with others. The use of the resources you had and your hard work not only kept the cost down but also made your memories of your Wedding Day so Special.
Your children have such great examples instilled in them by you and Shirley. I am so glad they chose to follow your examples.
My prayer is for all generations to know that the vows of matrimony and commitment should be the focus of their Wedding Day which should be shared with friends and family at a reasonable cost.
God Bless you,
Nanc
It took me longer than I’d hoped to check out this post from the others that’ll follow as I spend at least a few minutes more for every visit I make. I was instantly curious when I saw the title as part of my feed and decided I’d just send it on over to my wall until I’d had the chance to read it for whatever it spoke to, you know? That my friends might enjoy taking a look at…yet, surprisingly it didn’t work out that way!
The first thing was I’d be startled for realizing exactly what I needed to say! Whoa….wait, that ain’t how it’s supposed to work Den…but it was too late! I’d already shared to my wall with the five words that’d be absolutely ….appropriate! There I go getting ahead of myself! So, as I’d soon notice I couldn’t just leave it there. So I went to my wall and clicked the link. OMG! All I’d done was want to read this one little story from your DIY series! But nooooooo….! Instead I must’ve entered the proper sequence that intantly sent me hurtling around the rings of Saturn, or wherever it is that things you’d just put the finishing touches on end up!! Never to be seen or heard from again. But then , I must’ve clicked another sequence to throw me back only…it wasn’t your blog! This page I’d see just long enough to know , ” Yeah!….No!” A white page that had only a couple of black fonts followed by about as many red ones saying, ” you’ve entered a page which cannot be trusted…it’s been determined that this pages purpose is to mine your data….”Danger Will Robinson! Danger! Now, I knew what X marks the spot really signifies…”don’t bury your treasure here!!” I x-ed out and pretty much I wouldn’t risk it anymore til I ran it by the admin of your blog page. Now…I’m way beyond curiosity!
” You May Have the Answer…” were the words I wrote as an introduction to sharing one title of many, andthen only as a spontaneous reflection on whatever you’d written before I’d even have the chance to read it! Made me think that maybe the notes I make to myself sometimes are not necessarily (spooky snare drum roll begins to be heard, quickly rising, increasing in volume only to suddenly end as the report of a perfect rim shot fires!) …my own!!!
Well, as was predicted by your team, I’d find my way back to your page…phew!! I loved this Nancy…and for good reason!
I was instantly transported to another time of my life with a man who hired me to take care of his animals while he was out of town. As soon as I read your the name of your husband’s ancestor I instantly heard the most unforgettable sound of one of the animals I’d take care of for a weekend…a gorgeous speciman with all the feathers replete with every color that was part of the majesty of the irridescent blue peacock owned by mr. Stockwell! Steve Stockwell to be exact! taght my brothers and myself a thing or two about how to get along with fowl, as it were, foul as some birds are prone to be! He didn’t give them names that were like your or mine he said, because they were educational birds! The chicken he’d teach us to hypnotize…he called…” Chapter One”!, The Blue Peacock it was best just to keep an eye on because if he did get out of the enclosure it could be weeks of hearing ” Ah AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, Ah AHHHHHHHHHH al over our little valley , day and night, 24/7! He was “Chapter II”. Finally, the foulest fowl of the lot , the meanest bird ever if you paid any attention to him directly…the 47 pound White Tom Turkey he’d call “Chapter III”, but all us boys knew as ” Run for your freakin’ Life!!”
I just wanted to let you know Nancy, between the time I couldn’t read the story and this morning I finally did, I’d also repost a memory I’d post for the first time last year about my daughters’ great grandmother on my father’s side of the family. She was the first DDH, my father, a combat marine gunny in Korea, the second DDH and then of course…yours truly trying to find his way through with the help of all the history of her family that has come from Grandma Lulu (Dorise Parkes) always in threes…which is pretty significant I think for the number of stories behind the three generations that made the man you married, and for the love that apparently finds three ways into the hearts of people like you and me! What do you think, Nancy? Ware the words I’d introduce your story with…inspired? You may have the answer…
Wow, Dennis, you are quite a writer. You have a mystical quality to your writing which has me rereading every word not wanting to misunderstand what you are saying. Thank you for reading this post. We are inspired by so many people, things, and places in our lives.
I have really enjoyed reading about the three DDHs in your family.
I am so sorry if you had problems entering this website. I assure you that it is a safe website and up to date on security.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Didn’t realize how much clean up I’d leave undone…If you’d like me to edit it a bit I’m ok with that just to save yours a little more trouble than they bargained for.
I don’t edit comments on here. As you probably can tell I am not a great editor. Your comment was awesome and I did not notice the need for edits.
God Bless you,
Nancy
For readers, A Disclaimer: All edits, notwithstanding…feel free to employ the rule of thumb for my errors within… “..the First Shall Be Last and the Last Shall Be First..” – Holy Bible, King James Version
Or,
” Strike That!…Reverse That! ” – Gene Wilder, in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory
Nancy HendersonJune 3, 2018
You do not need a Disclaimer, you do not make errors on here. I am the one who needs the disclaimer my typing actually is awful.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Hey Nancy,
It took me just a bit longer than I’d hoped, to check out this post from among the others in your DIY Blog. Wanted you to know as for me catching them all, that’ll follow as I notice I spend a few minutes more on your page, for every visit I make!
I was instantly curious when I saw your title as part of my feed. Decided I’d just send it on over to my wall until I’d had the chance and the time to read it at my own pace for whatever it spoke to, you know? In hopes that however it is or comes about, the words I’d use to introduce your story would do it service. For you and my friends who might enjoy taking a look see…yet, surprisingly…as I’m here to share with you, it didn’t work out in exactly that way!
The first thing was I’d be startled! Realizing within seconds exactly what I needed to write to say! “Whoa…wait a sec, that ain’t how it’s supposed to work Den…”, I remember thinking but for the time that took, it was already too late! I’d written the intro already and then shared it to my friends and my wall. So were the five words I’d write absolutely ….appropriate? Well, there I go getting ahead of myself! You see, as soon I shared it, I realized there was no way it was an appropriate share! I just knew I couldn’t leave it hanging there. So I quickly went to my wall and clicked the link.
OMG! All I’d wanted to do was to read this one little story from your DIY series! But nooooooo….!! Instead, I must’ve accidentally entered the proper number and sequence of cookie acknowledgement as I’d instantly be sent hurtling through a virtual blackhole which would have cruising while trying to catch my breath around the rings of Saturn!! Wherever it is that things you’d just put the finishing touches to make right go… once only to end up in the virtual oblivion we all know!! Never to be seen or heard from again. But then I gues I got lucky. I must’ve clicked another equally random number of cookie boxes for the sequence to throw me back! Only…it wasn’t your blog nor was it my page! Nope…the next page I’d see would only be for a fraction of a second more than just long enough to know , ” Yeah!…. , ….No!” I’d warped onto a white page that’d only use a few Bold black fonts, followed by about the same number of even Bolder, red fonts saying ” Warning…you’ve entered a page which cannot be trusted…it’s been determined that this pages purpose is to mine your data :O ”Danger Will Robinson! Danger!
Now, I know what X marks the spot might really signify…”Don’t bury your treasure here, let us do it for you!” I immediately x-ed out and pretty much, out of sheer relief decided I’d had enough and wouldn’t risk it anymore until at least, I could run it by the admin of your blog page. Only then to find…Now…I’m way beyond an average level of curiosity!
Were the words I wrote as an introduction to sharing one title of many, and then only as a spontaneous reflection of whatever you’d written before I’d even have the chance to read it!?
Made me think that maybe the notes I make to myself, might sometimes… not necessarily be… (spooky snare drum roll quietly begins, quickly rising, increasing in volume, almost too loud before suddenly ending… as the sharp report of a perfect rim shot, fired!) …my own!!!
Well, as was correctly predicted by your team, I’d find my way back to “your page”
…phew!! I loved this one Nancy…and for every good reason you’d share! of your history as would be set upon you to learn about. A rea gift, if anyone were to ask how things happen as they often do!
For as you’ve done before…I’d soon be instantly transported to another time of my own life…this time recalling the man who hired me at twelve, to take care of his animals while he was out of town. I read the name of your late husband’s ancestor, his grandfather Lester Stockwell Henderson.
I heard the most unforgettable sound in that moment! Of one of the Birds I’d take care of for a weekend…all gorgeous specimans with all their feathers replete with every color that was part of the majesty of their genus All owned by Mr. Stockwell!… Steve Stockwell, to be exact! He would teach my brothers and I a thing or two about how to get along with certain types of fowl as it were, foul as also, some birds are prone to be! He didn’t give them names like yours or mine he’d say because, They were Educational ! The bid beige chicken a Hen… he’d teach us was friendly enough to hypnotize…he called her…” Chapter One”, The Stunning Irridescent Blue-Green Peacock, he’d say we best keep an eye on because, if he did manage to get out of the enclosure… it could result in weeks of hearing ” Ah AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, Ah AHHHHHHHHHH Ah AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! all over our little valley , day and night, 24/7
He was “Chapter II ”. Finally, the foulest fowl of the lot , the meanest Bird of ’em all…Especially, if you paid him any any attention at all…or dared to look to him directly in the eye…A robust, 47 pound, White Tom Turkey he’d call “Chapter III”, but also the one all us boys had come to know as ” Run for your freakin’ Life….!!”
I just wanted to let you know Nancy, between the time “I couldn’t read” your story and this morning when I finally did, I’d also repost a memory from my life. I’d posted for the first time only last year as remembrance to my late Aunt. It was about about my daughters’ great grandmother on my father’s side of the family. She was the first DDH, my father, a combat Marine Gunny SGT in Korea, the second DDH and then of course…yours truly the last born Third which is kind of funny…for there never having been a Junior my Dad would name as a son, as the reason why I got his initials! Trying to find his way through his own family history with the help of all history of of her husband’s family, my grandfather Mazel Dean and who’d marry the girl who’d hithiked her way across the country from New York, and who my late Aunt’s children called Grandma Lulu (Dorise Parkes)! Always in threes…my Dad would say, which is pretty significant I’d say for the number of stories behind any one of the three generations that’d made the man you married. Mostly though, I believe… for the love that apparently has the power to find three ways into the hearts of people who think they’d like to write… like you Nancy, and maybe like me! I’m dying to hear what you think, Nancy? And about the words I’d feel honored to introduce your story with…is this what you believe as inspired? “You may have the answer…” Loveyabye!
Dennis, my biggest inspiration to write has come from God. The books I have mentioned in my blog I read a few years before finding Frank’s letters and each book includes letters.
When I found Frank’s letters then reread, I realized that the content which was in them was not just for me but meant for all.
God has made it very clear to me that He has a purpose for the writing of this book. Do I know that purpose? No, but I don’t need to, I just go to the computer, type, and trust God completely to help me put the words up on the screen that He has a purpose for.
My Widow’s blogs have always been sharing experiences with others of things I have done while laughing at myself but the last two blogs, including this one, Soul and Inspiration, took me by surprise because of the depth of sharing the more serious side of my feelings.
I love your words of introduction for my blog.
God Bless you and thank you for your comments.
Nancy
Well then Nancy, I will claim them as mine! Yet only as long as you’ll also agree that I do so on behalf of “your understanding” of the Who, How, and Why Not? Of What it is… inspires the countless Souls, over the course of existence itself to write of a purpose as opposed to for a purpose. Of the One, the Only, “…Benefit Of The Doubt…”, of an
eternally curious heart, of Love “!
Nancy HendersonJune 3, 2018
Dennis, I really love your comments on here. You inspire me to think about what you say before I answer you. Thank you for your comment.
Your reception sounds a bit more fun. Ours was a party at the ranch and attended by a lot of stranger off the highway who saw the “party”
It was 109 degrees and people still had fun until the neighbor’s irrigation broke loose onto our property, through the barn and the yard.
The band had to shut down and the lawn and driveway were 12′ deep in flowing water.
Obviously putting “DAMPER” on the reception ~~smile
Oh my gosh, Chuck! Lol! Seems like we both got to experience water at our Wedding Receptions but what Awesome memories we have. Thank you for sharing your memories with me. Simpler times back then and more laid back to just “going with the flow” which it seems got fairly deep at your and Shirley’s Wedding Reception!
God Bless you, my friend,
Nancy
What is Going On?
Over the past 70+ years in my simple life, I have watched an insidious agenda creep into the American Society.
1. We have developed from being advocates of Character to those idolizing Personality.
2. Social engineers have done a successful job of convincing the population they “deserve a break today” whether they expended honest energy or not.
3. Education has been taken from local influence to a centralized bureaucracy, which is more easily controlled by the “power”
4. And most important Faith has been denigrated as being archaic and not progressive.
5. We have also reduced the ability of people to think for themselves.
Can it be changed?
I believe so but not overnight.
These are excellent answers, Chuck. It really seems like the only way people really talk anymore is through electronic devices. Even the telephone is becoming extinct with the young. I think we need to make our children and Grandchildren sit down and talk to us face to face otherwise their values and morals are going to come from a machine talking to a machine while on a social media without constrictions or control.
Advances in science have come very swiftly in the last fifty years or so and it has affected us all. People just do not sit and have real conversations very often anymore. You are right we can change it but it will take time bu do we have time?
God Bless you,
Nancy
Chuck, I agree with Nancy as to your answers. You seem to have a knack for picking out “things that have gone awry. One thing that we have to realize though is that this generation did not get to be “like they are” without help from “the generation preceding it”. I think that “every” generation has failed to realize that they have given just a little more slack to their children (who are the next generation). Not actually the fault of any one person or generation but a little bit “everyone’s fault”. My 16 yr. old granddaughter was asked to call her brother since we were going to visit them and when i asked her what he said, her reply was “he hasn’t messaged me back yet”. I asked why she didn’t just call him and again, another “no nonsense” reply was “I don’t like to talk on the phone. I was quite upset by learning this yet, I have heard that this is the “new normal” for teens. Had this been my child and not grandchild, her phone would have been taken away until she realized that “communication in all ways” is a necessity to have under your belt. That’s just hitting on one of the subjects but I could really get into the “downfall” of this generation with their morals. Or should I say with “no” morals. Which I blame on parents not stopping their children from “being followers” instead of pushing them to be “leaders”.. All in all. Great job on bringing to light some of the problems that exist with this generation.
Thank you, Arlene, for your comment and your thoughts about the questions in this blog. It also frustrates me that texting seems to be the only form of communication my Grandchildren want to use.
It is really hard to communicate with them even in the same room sometimes. They are not used to any emotion or emotional expression coming from actual face to face conversation and they overreact sometimes to absolutely nothing.
They are followers. They will pick one side of something going on and never entertain the idea of listening to both sides then coming to their own conclusion. Wondering if we taught them to always drink the “Koolaid”.
I really feel like my generation needs to step up and do more to try and fix these things.
Thank you again for leaving a comment.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Yes Nancy, it does seem as though they are “set in their own ways”. Right or wrong, they don’t care, as long as they are “doing it their way”. My granddaughter is 16 and comes to visit often, her Dad passed away when she was 12, don’t know if that has anything to do with it but, I doubt. I refuse to keep my cell phone on which “MAKES” her call me if she needs me. (pretty sneaky hey)? One thing she is good about is that she listens to me about quite a few things that are happening in today’s society. Including “politics”. She will listen to things I explain to her BUT, only if I discuss “both sides” of a topic. Her Mother (has a boyfriend) works 2 jobs and and he and my granddaughter do not get along. I have considered the fact that her Mother is not with her as much as she would like to be “part of why Gabrielle is like she is” but I’m not sure. I do know that she was not made to “do as they said” as my daughter did when my husband and I raised her and her brother. This could be a part of it but it’s all so confusing to me. I feel my daughter was too lenient with her and I also feel that this is a big part of the entire youth of today. Maybe parents feel bad because so many of them “both” had to work and so they allowed their children to (shall I say) get away with more than we allowed our children to. My children knew they did not “cross the line” but parents today seem to have “no line”. Sad, very sad especially since it’s the children who will be suffering in the end. One more thing that you mentioned about not communicating face to face seems to be something I have noticed also. I have wondered if because of this that is why our grandchildren (and all young adults of today) seem to be without expression. I sometimes tell my granddaughter that she has “no feelings” and she gets upset with me but, it seems to be true, or they “hide them”..
Arlene, thank you. Your insight so real and true. The absence of emotions about things in the young is a good observation but if you think about it this just may be part of the electronic world of communication.
My Prayers are with you with your Granddaughter. I think she has feelings but as you said she is hiding them.
Thank you again for your comment.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Wonderful Comment Arlene.
Re: “Which I blame on parents not stopping their children from “being followers” instead of pushing them to be “leaders”..”
My peers were encouraged to question evrything in Grammar school, high school and univeristy).
My parents were the worst always asking for “why”
Also I don’t remeber being “labled”
I was as succeessful as my defionition ‘allowed’.
No failures just the ability to learn how to do it better next time!
Thank goodness our children, grandchildren and now 8 great grandchilden have carried on the tradition of being INDIVIDUALS and not robots.
Of cours ethe downside is you might be considered “crazy” ~~smile
I totally agree with you, Chuck. Leaders are cultivated by planting the correct seeds of right and wrong then watching them grow through encouragement by teaching them to question for answers then research for their own answers to the questions.
God Bless you and Thank you,
Nancy
I enjoyed reading your post. I’m really behind and need to catch up on your other posts. I don’t know where my time goes. Keep up the good work. God bless.
Thank you so much Diane. Struggling a little here on writing next chapter of the book, so I did a funny blog instead. Hardest thing in going in that time capsule to write about the past, is trying to be able to come out and live in the present to make new memories.
My youngest Grandson is in from Saudi Arabia so I want to spend as much time as I can with him while keeping the tribe fed with chapters of my book. He is actually my biggest fan and always has been.
God Bless you and Thank you for you’re comment. I consider you an Amazing Friend,
Nancy
Love your sense of humor, Nancy. Keep up the good work. I haven’t seen a doctor for at least two years. The last one I had for a relatively short time before he closed up shop for health reasons. Before that, I hadn’t been to a doctor for about a dozen years. I really should get some blood work done so I know just where I stand in that department, but it isn’t easy to find a doctor who takes new patients, and especially one who will work with me with natural products rather than drugs.
Diane, I know exactly what you mean. I got lucky a few years ago and found a young Doctor who actually listens and helps. Of course, he is now accustomed to my sense of humor which is great but I still try to shock him sometimes just for fun. Lol.
You should keep trying to find a good Doctor. They are out there.
God Bless you and you are always in my prayers.
Nancy
Aww… what a fun and sweet story Nancy Lou. It speaks to your character of making play and fun out of a not-so-perfect time. Thank goodness the money came through!
Thank you for your comment, Mary Rae. We were so young and we didn’t realize how paperwork could get tied up in the Military. The rent that we were paying was an enormous amount because of the need for apartments near Fort Devens. I guess today we would call it price gouging. Of course, the Military pay would always be low wages but we learned to adapt.
I am typing on a new chapter today with two new stories, “Smoking Laundry” and “Big Fins”. I love to tell our Love Story this way.
Praying you will stay with me on this journey as I tell our Love Story.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Great post, Nancy Lou. I could feel your concern as your money ran out and your joy when the allotment finally came. I’ll bet those Oreo cookies and candy lipsticks (I’ve never heard of candy lipsticks before) tasted better than ever before or since! I remember the times I did my laundry in my bathtub, but I must admit, I never got in with it. I’m afraid I don’t dance well and I would probably have fallen right in had I tried. And I had the use of a clothesline right outside the door of my tiny apartment. Actually,for several years now I have been doing my laundry, a bit at a time, in my bathroom sink. I hang it in the bathtub (I have a tension rod that fits between the wall and the shower rod) and direct 2 fans on it to dry. It works quite well. Saves a lot of lugging (to say nothing of money) down to the laundry room.
Diane thank you for your comment. I miss my clothesline but down here on the Texas coast, it is really damp so you have to time it just right to miss the morning dew and evening moisture.
I always told Frank, “I can live without a dryer but I would like to have a washer.” He made sure after our Ayer, Massachusetts time that we always had some sort of a washing machine. The first washer we bought was over thirty-five years old when we were in Okinawa.
I still do some hand laundry too.
I missed talking to you on the Talk shoe show Monday. Praying you are well and it is not too hot where you live.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Thank you, Mary Rae for your comment. We had so much fun. We were young and foolish but our love for each other was so real and deep. God always held us in His arms.
I love the song “I Got You Babe”, it truly reflects us.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Nancy, I simply forgot the time on Monday night. By the time I thought about the call, it would have been just finishing up. I had a very long, unexpected phone call mid to late afternoon, and I think that put me off my time schedule. I had every intention of calling before that. I do tend to get involved in things and forget everything else for the moment. It is not too hot here yet, but it is supposed to feel like 113′ F by Saturday. I’m not looking forward to that. I like the heat, but there is a limit. 🙂 I have been doing a lot of cleaning and moving stuff around over the past couple of weeks since Robyn moved out, and that has taken a lot of time and a great deal of energy. I have been feeling it in my hip somewhat, but it hasn’t been as bad as it could have been. I still have a lot to do as I hadn’t done a thorough clean-through for quite some time as I did not have the energy for it. But it sure feels good to have done what I have so far. It’s looking more homey, too, as I have made a few very simple changes.
Diane that all sound great, except for the heat. I was thinking it might be cooler in Canada but evidently not.
Hot here too.
I need to do some serious cleaning out of closets here. Wondering how I have accumulated so much stuff.
We missed you on Monday. You are always so much fun.
God Bless you and praying you stay cool.
Nancy
Oh, Nancy, you’ve done it again! What a lovely story. I just love how you end with an appropriate video. This one got me out of my seat trying to mimic this fabulous dancer. Hang on Sloopy (Snoopy) was one of my favorite songs of that time too. I can feel the affectionate, deep, abiding, and fun-loving kind of love that you two might have been feeling while singing this song. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your comment MaryRae. I love that song too and I laughed and danced watching and listening to it. Life was so simple back then and we had so much fun. Thank you for enjoying our story. More fun to come.
God Bless you,
Nancy
That is “Hilarious” I wonder if it was a person making the first decision or an AI gadget related to your FitBit?
Congratulation on following through.
Most just get MAD and let it be.
Chuck, I really think it was an AI but still that thangy needs to read the total typed title. Lol! Maybe it is my Fitbit sending messages to the Facebook AI. Surely my Fitbit knows it needs me, LOL! I enjoyed typing this blog.
God Bless you and thank you for keeping me out of trouble!
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 16, 2018
Most interesting…I’m trying to wrap my head around his walking into your bedroom…..lol
Kim Lavoie, he was a little drunk and I was fully dressed. Lol. My bedroom was actually the first door off a hall that came out of the den headed for the bathroom in our home.
Frank had been to our home many times because he was best friends with my oldest brother.
Having four brothers, I always stayed dressed until all made it home. Of course, I could have shut the door but then I wouldn’t have been able to hear Dad getting on to them Lol.
Thank you so much for coming to my website reading and commenting. I really appreciate it.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Ahhhhh…the memories…I was a member of Bapist Youth Fellowship for a while. Like you we did a few hayrides, shared soft drinks….talked….the memories you have brought to life!
Kim, we had a lot of fun back then. I really hope that kids have good honest fun like that nowadays. I am so happy this stirs good memories for you. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I feel very honored.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 17, 2018
WOW!! What a description! Reading this was a great way to begin my day. The vision is one of a wild woman just attacking everything with a pair of scissors, hair flying everywhere! Everyone…Stand Back! Lol
Lol! Kim, I really wasn’t quite that wild but those darn little fine pieces of hair just seem to fly everywhere! I am so glad you enjoyed this blog, I had a lot of fun writing it. I love humor and see it in all things. Thank you for your comment.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Too funny, I remember years ago when I was a kid (that was many, many years ago) I thought I would try and trim the hair that was hanging into my eyes. As you so rightly say, one thing led to another and I created a disaster on my head and a mess on the floor.
My mother (who did not cut hair) had to take me on the long trip to town to get it tidied up before I could go to school the next day.
Thank you for your comment Peter. I have made some pretty big messes of my hair at times but thank God it always grows out. Lol. Thank you for sharing your experience with me.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 18, 2018
Lol..LUCKY YOU DIDNT END UP WITH ACUTE ALCOHOL POISONING!
Kim that is so true. I had never drank at all before and not very much after that. Frank never let me mix my own drinks again. Lol! We were such crazy young kids. Coach nearly killed me at practice.
Thank you for your comment.
God Bless you,
Nancy
I know it could have gone all wrong.
Thank you for your comment.
God Blessyou,
Nancy
Kim LaVoieJuly 18, 2018
the memories are uncanny… I once mixed a strong whiskey drink for a new friend who unbeknownst to me had never drank before. She got it all down and passed out. A few of us carted her around for quite a while before she came to….. I could have killed her….
Thank you, Kim. It was a crazy time for us but we were so in love that it all seemed magical.
I am so glad that my folks loved Frank. It was just all part of God’s plan for Frank and I. I thank God everyday for sending me such a Special Love.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Another beautiful share of a true love story. The world will benefit when this book is available. It could easily be a glue that binds True LOVE for many.
Thank you, Chuck. We didn’t have any rules in our love and we were totally unjealous of one another. We just laid our feelings of love out to each other freely. Neither of us were controlling of the other but in awe of what made each of us tick.
Thank you for your comment and continual encouragement,
God Bless you
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 21, 2018
Rotfl!! Thinking back to riding on the hood of a car….that could have messed up his whole army experience….
Kim, you are so right. Sorry, I was delayed with replying to your comment. My son had a heart attack and I didn’t check emails yesterday.
Frank was so sure that I could drive his car. Lol
Thank you for your comment
God Bless you.
Nancy
Yes, they are but memories seem to help us as we age to see how different we handle things now. What is important to remember and what is not.
Thank you Kim for your comment and Gos Bless you,
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 22, 2018
My sympathies regarding your son…he’ll be alright?
Yes, he will be alright. He had a stint and some ballooning done but Hod was definitely by his side. He lives in Saudi Arabia where he works for a Saudi Co.
Thank you for asking and God Bless you.
I am having fun waiting for your responses after you read my chapters. Thank you for your comments.
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 22, 2018
I can remember the feelings….coincidence! My MOS for my first enlistment wad 67N….turbine helicopter maintenance…UH-1 helicopter…..lol my AIT was at Ft. Eustis, Virginia
No, coincidence. You are remembering because Frank is laying it all out there in his letters. I sometimes wonder if it is the same in basic training. Back then we all didn’t know we had individual rights. Lol
Thank you, Kim for your comment.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 22, 2018
Fire watch, charge of quarters, the seemingly endless harassment…all designed to break us down so they could remake us into soldiers. The drill instructors always had some menial task for us to do, just to keep us from relaxing…..I xan only imagine how hard it must have veen on you and all the other women who sat at home wondering what was going on with their loved ones….thanks again for inviting me to read your posts.
Thank you for reading Kim. Frank was the writer and you see it in his letters. He is told me everything that was happening to him and talked to me as if I was in the room with him.
The 100+ letters I have from him while he was in Vietnam are amazing. They will come up on the website after I finish Okinawa.
You will see that I am judt the ghost writer, he is the writer.
Thank you for reading and commenting. It means so much to me.
God Bless you.
Nancy
Yes, barbed wire! Lol! He use to call me “his cast iron kisser”.
He got so sick but he did not want to miss and be held back.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 24, 2018
Yes…the testing, all the extra duties, all the menial nit picking garbage….and being both sick and homesick. His commitment to you in the midst of all that…..
Kim, Frank’s love for me and mine for him was the purest form of true love. Our hearts beat as one and our souls were so intertwined that they quickly became one.
God had a plan for us and I thank Him everyday for being part of that plan.
God Bless You and thank you for reading and commenting.
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 25, 2018
I had that album…lol…just thinking of sitting around the barracks…lonely….I don’t know what was worse, sad songs or love songs when you’re in love and missing somebody..
Frank and I were really into music which I think all of our generation were. We had some of the best music which is still around.
Frank had made good friends and I had friends at home but the loneliness was awful.
Thank you for really reading and commenting on this book. It really means a lot to me.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Carmen BacaJuly 25, 2018
You touch my heart, as you always do with your writing, Nancy.
Thank you so much Carmen. I am struggling to write this week of the past. My son is only 44 years old and I lost his Dad at 47. When I go to write the memories which come up are of loosing his Dad and the fear I have of loosing our only child.
I needed to remember to let God have my worries and concerns with absolute trust knowing He has my son in His healing arms.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Lovely as usual, Nancy. Having total, unequivocal faith is the key to life. That you have it is evident. How wonderful to have that kind of faith that sees you through all of the challenges that life throws our way. Love and prayers to you and your son, Scott. Hugs.
Thank you so much MaryRae. God has always been the strength that I lean on. I know that He has my son in His loving arms and has a Great Purpose for him.
God Bless you and thank you for your love and prayers.
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 25, 2018
Well, I feel a bit like a voyeur at times lol….still, I know what I missed out on by not having someone love me as you so obviously do him
Well Kim, you are not a voyeur (By the way. I had to look that word up. Lol) this is a real Memoir with real letters and real people. I share it for all to read because I think it has a God given purpose.
Not sure what that purpose is but “someone” told me it has to do with the fact that the kind of Love Frank and I had for each other actually exist in the world.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
KB SchallerJuly 25, 2018
This is beautiful. I have asked God what my purpose is in this life also, and keep moving ahead as I feel led by the Spirit. Keep writing, sister.
Thank you so much KB. He leads us on to our purpose even if we are not aware of or never know the final outcome. You are definitely on the path of your purpose.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
KB SchallerJuly 25, 2018
What a love story. Beautiful, Nancy. I agree with Chuck that many will no doubt benefit from your story. When the book is published, it would make a nice wedding or anniversary gift from a couple, one spouse to the other.
Wow KB, what a beautiful thing for you to say. Words fail me as I try to respond to your comment. God has a purpose for this book. I hope and pray that it will be the for the purpose you have mentioned.
God Bless you and thank you so much for reading and commenting,
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 26, 2018
Did Frank ever tell you about all the cadence songs? About the legendary sleaze “Jodie?” Thinking back to some of the guys in my BCT company and how they got the notion in their heads about their significant other’s…it truly is a testament to the love you two share that he never mentions that.
Kim, Frank never mentioned that song but now you have sparked my curiosity. Lol! Frank, as you will see as you keep reading, was very protective of me.
Thank you for reading and commenting. It means alot yo me that you read and comment.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 26, 2018
Lol…the drill sergeants used to use limericks to keep everybody in step when marching…several of them involved a guy taking up with a wife or girlfriend…for example…ain’t no use in going home, Jody’s got your girl and gone…ain’t no use in going back, Jody’s got your cadillac…the DU would call out a verse, we’d repeat it, tben he’d xall out the next verse….there are hundreds of variations…lol
Lol, thank you, Kim. Frank never mentioned “Jodie” songs. Thinking he knew that I was true blue. I was more afraid he would change his mind about me, of course, that was a needless worry also.
Thank you for reading and giving me some info on things a basic training.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 27, 2018
Yes, no greater love…..thank you for writing, and thank you Jimfor allowing your sister to add your letter and a piece of your life to her postings.
Thank you, Kim. Jimmy is my oldest brother of four. I am next in line after Jimmy. We have always been close. Before we started dating. Frank and Jimmy were best friends.
God Bless you and thank you so much for reading and commenting, Kim.
Nancy
Kim, my Mom was so upset with my oldest brother, Jimmy. Lol. She never got upset with Frank even though they were equally involved in Mark seeing them hot wiring the motorcycle.
Thank you for reading, enjoying, and laughing.
God Bless You.
Nancy
Another heartfelt vignetter form a wonderful love story.
Can you imagine young people today have in to Endure the grueling and almost slave-like duties of being a grocery clerk? ~~smile
“I worked from opening to closing (twelve hours, including two breaks and a thirty-minute lunch) checking out 243 people and my end cash register money total was exactly correct.
And OMG:
“Oh, I forgot to mention, we had to know how to make correct change, there was not a machine telling us how much change to give the customer back. Also if our register money came out short, you were responsible, and the shortage came out of your paycheck.”
Thank you, Chuck for your wonderful comment. Funny how I don’t remember being enslaved but just making money to go live in Okinawa with Frank.
Responsibility was the name of the game which came with always doing your best plus.
God Bless You
Nancy
Great fun to read, Nancy. I used to cut my own hair, even give myself perms. But I have not cut my hair in decades as once I decided to let it grow, that was no longer necessary. The last time I went to a hairdresser for a cut and style was sometime in the late 60s – a very long time ago. I remember as a teenager going to get my hair cut. My hairdresser (who was also my Sunday School teacher and friend) would always say it didn’t need much trimming. But when she finished, there was always a very large amount of hair on the floor. I agree that when you do it yourself those hairs just go down your neck and start prickling, and everywhere else. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that any more. I don’t even seem to get split ends that need trimming. Love your humor.
Thank you so much Diane. Thank you for sharing your experience and commenting.
Yes those stray pieces of hair are real travelers.
Thank you for liking my humor too.
God Bless You
Nancy
Thank you for commenting KB. Frank and I were soulmates. Our hearts and souls were totally entwined. We were totally devoted to each other and to God, who took care of us always.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Yes Ma’am. We were so connected in the way we loved each other. Our hearts and souls were tightly entwined and once together then separated it felt like one body being severed in half but we had the constant connection through thoughts and letters.
Thank you, Fiane for your comment.
God Bless You
Nancy
I’m enjoying getting to know Frank in some small way. I love your posts and am sorry I am so far behind in reading them. I just spent a few hours deleting at least 1200 e-mails from my inbox. It’s hard to deal with that and keep up with everything else. I still have 500 unread, but they are the ones left that I want to read before deleting them. So I will keep coming back when I can to try to catch up soon.
Thank you, Diane. Frank was such an Amazing person. God must of loved me alot to send him to me. You will get to know him more and more through his letters and my memories of him. I am so happy that you are reading and commenting.
God Bless You
Nancy
Thank you Nancy, your lovely story brings back memories of my national service in the military, my initial training started in June 1969, just a couple of months after you got on that plane to Okinawa. I remember well the grocery stores of that time with manual cash registers.
Peter the funny thing about the cash registers was that we became very quick at hitting those keys while checking those groceries. Of course, we had to use our brains to make change but I am so happy I have the knowledge we from back then. Minds need to be worked more now.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 31, 2018
I think the happiness of the day comes through loud and clear in your writing….salud!
Thank you, Kim. First chapters of the book could use a little work. I was so unsure of what I was doing while I wrote them. I feel the flow in writing now so praying I am improving.
I am so happy you are reading and enjoying.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 31, 2018
WOW!! Quite a time! LOL humming the tune “memories”
I was hoping you would like that chapter, lol. I was one wet bride. We were known for many years in Bay City, Texas as the couple who got thrown in the Swimming Pool.
Thank you for commenting Kim.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim that is so true. Frank was a spur of the moment kind a man. I was the OCD planner but he taught me to just go with the easiness of one moment at a time.
Thank you for commenting and God Bless you, Kim.
Nancy
Kim LavoieAugust 2, 2018
LOL..at least you headed to the great white North in the spring! I know you were excited to be getting back together, but, it must have been more than a little frightening to leave the security of family…
I was too young and excited to get back in his arms again to be frightened. Those 12 to 13 days that we were separated seemed like an eternity. We were so connected in our hearts and souls.
I don’t remember ever feeling insecure except when I was not by Frank’s side. We were both very independent except together and then we were solely dependent on each other.
Thank you for your comments Kim
God Bless You,
Nancy
No one knows how to count back change anymore. They put the amount the cash register tells them to (or something close to that amount) in your hand. But do they need to count it back if the amount is right? (Though it’s interesting to watch today’s cashiers trying to figure out how to make change when you’ve given them an odd amount and they don’t key it in correctly. In Florida, you could be standing there for days…
As to responsibility, I think we are less responsible for small things (remembering phone numbers) but maybe that frees us up to be more responsible for more important things. We can hope at least.
Barbara, I hope so too. I had a young man now my grass today and I asked him if he knew how to make change. He told me he did.also I gave him several instructions to follow before I went in the house to type. He followed every instruction to the T. He is sixteen, fixed his own truck. and his lawnmower plus other yard tools. I am so impressed by him each time he mows. He told me he doesn’t play video games at all, he works to put up money for college. There is hope.
Thank you so much for reading my blog and commenting.
God Bless Zhou
Nancy
Were all of your neighbors US Military or was the neighborhood a mixture?
That concrete house sounds like it was relatively “cool”. Looking forward to more!
Our neighbors were a mixture of Okinawans and US Military. Funny though only Okinawan were across the street in front of our home. Behind us and to either side were off base military. I should have mentioned that.
The horses were fairly cool but the humidity on the island was high, so with out AC the walls inside would sweat and mold quickly. I bleached walls alot.
Thank you for commenting with great questions Chuck.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Robert ThornsberryAugust 3, 2018
If you ever do this in a book I will want a copy. Until then I will keep reading.
Thank you so much, Robert. I will make sure you get a copy. Thank you for coming here to comment and your continuing support. I will keep on writing and posting.
God Bless You, Robert
Nancy
I agree with Barbara that not having the responsibility to know things that a computer can do for us frees us up to do other things – like maybe enjoy life more? Technology may be seen as hindering responsibility but I don’t see it that way. For me, it might even have turned the tables. Working at the computer all day is enjoyable knowing what it can do for me. I can put out a lot more work on it than writing by hand. Research is a breeze now. But… and… it feels great to get off the computer and do something with my hands. lol… I feel like my thoughts are rambling so I will go… thanks for the thought-provoking article, Nancy Lou.
Thank you MaryRae for your comment. You never ramble but speak from your heart which zi love. The blog was meant to get others opinions on responsibility. I love what the computer has done for me too. I am of a different generation and it is very important for me to know we have instilled the younger generations to be responsible.
I personally thing it is born into us.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim LavoieAugust 3, 2018
Lol….memories of “neighborhood stew” when a bunch of us would clean out any leftovers and share with each other….thanks to those “huge” army paychecks…
Thank you for commenting Kim. Sorry I am slow getting back to you. I was out of WIFI range.
Yes. we had many potluck dinners with friends, especially in Okinawa.
Oh, yes those checks were so huge and once a month but we ate best the first of the month. Lol
Thank you for enjoying what I am writing.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
Kim LavoieAugust 4, 2018
Ahhhh…crazy newlyweds….lol….so, you were McGivering before it was a thing!
You got that right. Nancy Lou thought she was an inventor. Lol
I actually made that fan again for the picture. Still works! Lol.
Thank you for commenting and reading Kim.
God Bless You, Kim and praying you have an Awesome Day.
Nancy
Yes it is and we nearly killed everyone in the laundry. We were so crazy but those sheets were really clean. I don’t remember if they detieriated quickly or not.
Thank you for reading and enjoying.
God Bless you Kim,
Nancy
Kim LavoieAugust 8, 2018
More memories…not enough money but enough friends to make it all work! GBY
Yes, we had some of the best friends. Having Money was never a real important thing to Frank and I but good friends were.
Thank you for reading Kim,
God Bless You
Nancy
Thank you, MaryRae. That is one of my favorite stories. We always had so much fun. Of course, we were foolish at times but we were young. Lol.
God Bless You, MaryRae
Nancy
marion rowertAugust 9, 2018
To have such a love is a treasure. My God, I cry with every post you share. To miss what was and can never be again except in memories. I miss my husband so much and Thank God, my children also have beautiful memories. He would be so proud of them. They are an extension of him. Thank you Nancy.
Thank you, Marion. I don’t mean to mean to make you cry. You and I have been Blessed to have the most Beautiful Love. I promise you that your soulmate love is always by your side. God has allowed this and it is one of the most Amazing things.
I had no intention of sharing this as I wrote it but God decided it should be shared.
God Bless You, Marion
Nancy
KB SchallerSeptember 27, 2018
Losing someone we love is never easy. Memories haunt us forever. Even remembering the good times can trigger sudden sadness for what we can never have again. —-KiKi
Exactly, Frank was so upset with the man. Frank was so even tempered an twice I saw him upset in our time together, that was the first time and neither time was he upset with me.
Thank you for commenting Kim. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Carmen BacaAugust 10, 2018
Sometimes when I read your posts, I smile with memories of discovering my own soulmate, and at others I cry for your loss. This one, however, brings me comfort that despite existing on different planes, you and your Frank are still together. Wow, Nancy, this post leaves me with chills and yet warmth, knowing you and he have still discovered ways to communicate and to bring one another solace.
Carmen the way he communicates with me by touching my hair has been truly Amazing. I have even asked him yes and no questions. We are totally one soul and heart. God knew that I needed him to stay by my side.
I actually think that this happens for all people but they are not receptive to feeling it.
Thank you so much for your comment
God Bless You
Nancy
Kim LavoieAugust 11, 2018
Lol…mI worked at a paper mill in Maine for 33 years. We were part of a group of mills that included the old Riegel paper mills in Fitchburg and Lunenburg. It was always fun to “break in” a new worker…..glad you enjoyed the folks while you were there
I totally enjoyed working with them. They were always so very nice to me. I was there “Texas”. I am so glad you are enjoying read these crazy stories about us as a young married couple. Of course, the craziness never stopped. Lol
God Bless You Kim
Nancy
What a delightful read! $30 for a ‘family’ car, albeit with little no floorboards! I wonder if young couple today can ever experience such wonderful Lack of things and an abundance of Love?
Chuck, I certainly hope they experience the abundance of love. Somehow I think the lack of things made our love into what it was. We just didn’t need stuff, just each other. We actually thought this was the coolest car ever. Lol.
What can I say about Ralph? He was our very first child and we loved him so much. Soon he would have some siblings but that is another story.
Thank you for your comment and always being there for me. I don’t know what I would do without your friendship and help.
God Bless You, Chuck
Lots of love to you and Shirley,
Nancy
Sounds a little like chaos, but much good came out of the chaos! I’m trying to get caught up with your posts, but am so far behind it will no doubt take me a while. I got back from my holiday on Saturday but didn’t turn the computer on until today. There were 830 e-mails waiting for me, so I have just finished plowing through them.
Wow! I would probably give up on that many emails. I pray you had a Great time on your holiday. My son and his family have been here from Jubail Saudi Arabia and we have been on the run for weeks but having so much fun.
Thank you for reading and commenting on my chapters.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
Thank you Diane. We had so much fun that day.
Thank you for commenting and reading.
God Bless You and I am glad you are back home. I have missed talking to you.
Nancy
Diane the suit was fine but the shoes were pretty crispy and ruined. The laughter in the crowd was unbelievable. I still can’t believe we made it to Frank’s folk’s home without getting found.
Thank you again for reading and commenting.
Nancy
We had a wonderful time. Wish it could have been longer. It is absolutely beautiful there. I will be putting some photos on my blog when I get them resized. The weather was great. The only problem was that I had a great deal of pain the whole time and that made walking not so very pleasant. But I survived. I think it was because I didn’t have my turmeric pain tea. There are just too many ingredients, and not all dry, to take away with me, so I had to do without.
I have often found that doing something on the spur of the moment is much more fun and memorable than making all kinds of plans. But of course there are times when plans are absolutely necessary. Sounds like you had a wonderful honeymoon – much more fun than some of the very expensive trips many people take.
Frank would always be spur of the moment. He loved to just say, “Let’s go Lou”, then we would pack up and get in the car.
I loved the carefree nature that was so much apart of Frank.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
Yes, I agree with Chuck, a delightful read. Reminds me of my first car, an Austin Healy Sprite. The soft top used to fly off if I got up to 60mph. Did many makeshift roadside repairs on that car.
Peter that is hilarious. Cars that had little old quirks were so much fun.
Thank you for sharing and commenting Peter.
God Bless You.
Nancy
KB SchallerAugust 16, 2018
Another thing: I wonder how in the world you cashiers were able to memorize the prices of items on sale, when the prices were constantly changing! Also, the plane trip you describe had to have been quite an adventure, and the brawl that broke out truly scary. So heartwarming the way you describe the closeness of your family. Thanks again for this post!
We figured out a game to play with the names to be memorized of sales. The sales items stayed for a week si not too much changing going on.
Yeas the plane trip to Okinawa was a real adventure at eighteen years old but I don’t remember being afraid except during the fight with on the plane.
I was very close to my family and Frank’s family. My younge adds t two brothers were only 10 and 12 when I left for Okinawa.
Thank you for your comment KB.God Bless You,
Nancy
You know Nancy, you and I have something in common as it goes to our dogs…my dog is named “Frank”! I wanted him to have a simple name I could yell easily. The story of how he came into my life is kinda cute as well. His mama, a pug/chihuahua mix had somehow managed to get knocked up in doggie jail! My sister was desperate to place the puppies about to be born because she wasn’t even “supposed” to have Diamond in the house she was living in at the time! My sister felt it was important to admit that nobody had any idea who the Daddy was but I knew it could of been any of the usual suspects down at the pound. Well, I agreed to take a puppy on one condition…I would get the pick of the litter! My sister called to tell me when Diamond had her litter which if the last two were any indication, could’ve been as many as six or seven! Nope! Diamond gave birth to one puppy, which meant I got the pick of the litter whether I liked it or not! I’ve got Frank on loan to a friend at the moment, she’s an elderly lady who gave us a place to stay for a minute in all the hubbub of an eviction. I visited last friday and both are doing well and appreciative as I. You’d like Frank I think. He was trained not to lick faces and instead will hop into your lap stretch his paws around you neck and press his little face against yours! A friend forever who knows… if you love me, you love my human too!
I thoroughly enjoyed your story and appreciate the song you ended it with as well. I didn’t cry but I did have a total recall of the chorus to a song from my youth your story of Ralph, and the song you ended it with conjured up for me… ” Don’t be concerned…it will not harm you…it’s only me pursuing something I’m not sure of…Across my dreams, in depths of wonder..I chase the bright, elusive Butterfly of Love…” Thanks for sharing Ralph, Nancy…Frank appreciates it, and so do I.
Dennis thank you so much for this beautiful comment.
I remember the song you have referred to. It is a beautiful song.
I loved Ralph and so did my Frank.
I am so happy that you have your Awesome Frank.
God Bless you and thank you for your comment Dennis.
Nancy
I miss those days too. Parents who have had teenagers have to be the quickest, smartest people ever because to figure out what a teenager is thinking takes a sixth sense.
I miss those days of raising my son.but I do not miss those tennis shoes! Lol
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim LaVoieAugust 20, 2018
ole bondo looks like a chevy corvair….. thanks for the memories, of visiting married friends off post and getting away from the barracks if only for an evening, of driving around in old beater automobiles, of being in a near constant state of broke….. and thoroughly enjoying every minute!!!
Kim, we did have fun. Having money was not the key to us having fun. The single guys did take us out to eat in places we couldn’t afford.
I have eaten Kobe Beef once and it was in Okinawa when the single guys surprised us on our birthdays which were 4th and 6th of October.
They told us they were taking us out to eat and to our surprise it was at a high price Okinawan restaurant.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless you, Kim
Nancy
Kim LaVoieAugust 20, 2018
yup….. the little pleasures, the little things that bring so much joy in remembering
Kim, you have caught up with me again. Lol. I have had lots of company here but trying to keep writing some. Thank you for reading what I write. Unknowingly, you are inspiring me to get the chapters up.
God Nless You, Kim,
Nancy
Well…if my guardian angel has taught me anything about the most amazing thing, Nancy…it’s to make sure to use the right email address before you hit the submit button! I don’t know if you’ll ever read what your story just inspired me to write, but perhaps that’s the way it was meant to be! I doubt you’ll ever get it yet, have no doubt whatsoever that if you do, it’ll remind you of Lilacs!
Dennis, Please write it again. You have so sparked my curiosity. I want to be reminded of Lilacs.
Thank you for commenting on this post which is my favorite.
God Bless You, Dennis
Nancy
I wish I could…I spent quite a bit of time trying to integrate the most amazing thing, guardian angels, and the mysteries we experience while by ourselves. I never once used flowers in the context of my comment yet made the mistake of using the email address I use as a privacy filter. You may remember the April Stevens and Nino Tempo song “Deep Purple”, well…a very dear friend started calling me Purple…and whenever I think of those people I love, well…my outlook goes to “all the shades of purple”. In keeping with the mysteries of Love you’ve shared, I suppose I wasn’t meant to tell of my story at all…but only to help you remember… why you want to be reminded of Lilacs.
This to me, would clear up a lot of mysteries as they relate to Love, and that would truly one of the most amazing things ever, for me!
This is your story to tell Nancy, and you’ve titled your story well…maybe, just maybe one of your chapters is meant to be called “I Want To Be Reminded of Lilacs”? Write it Nancy…your “why” may allow the rest of us to want to be reminded, as well. Loveyabye!
Dennis that is very Beautiful. Thank you for sharing the Lilacs. I have only one chapter that has not been written call “God’s Grace”. It will deal with loss and grief. Thinking it will tell of the Lilacs and remembrance of what they mean.
God Bless You, Dennis
Nancy
KB SchallerAugust 24, 2018
Shows how frustrating life can be sometimes, even when the answer seems so simple! How did things turn out for you? I guess I will have to wait for the next post to find out?
Actually, I was seen in the ER. My insurance company was not happy and very upset when I called them about it all and they are still actively pursuing getting these Urgent Cares surrounding me educated about what referral means on my insurance card. The referral is only for specialists.
The Insurance company calls me once a week to update me. I am very humbled and totally impressed with Aetna Advantage Medicare. Awesome you ladies working for them.
Thank you for your comment KB
God Bless You and keep on sharing your postd. You are doing Awesome.
Nancy
I thought you would like that song add.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim LavoieAugust 26, 2018
So touching…yes, I know of lilacs, just not in the sense of my own loves. A friend and his girlfriend (also a friend) had to get married. One day, before the wedding we were riding around drinking and saw an old abandoned farmhouse with several lilac bushes around it. They had just bloomed and we stopped and filled the back seat and trunk with white and light purple lilacs. We took them to their apartment and scattered them all around the living room and waited for Roxanne to come home from work….thanks again for yet another memory of a happier time!
Kim, you are so welcome.Thank you for your comment and sharing that Beautiful story. I know Roxanne must have been so surprised and appreciative of such a Beautiful gesture.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
I didn’t know this about lilacs. I have always loved them. We had a white lilac tree in our back yard for years, but it got too old and was cut down. Perhaps this is why, in another century, when women came out of mourning and wearing black, they often changed into mauve. It was considered acceptable. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for reading and your comment Diane. I had to do so research at several places for this .
blog.
I have always loved the shades of purple. After I posted this blog, I noticed the last ch as Peter I posted, Frank had a blue purple shirt on.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Lo! The problem is that other children can come over to your house.
I am glad you liked my blog. Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I’m starting to play catch-up on your widow’s blog even though I am still not caught up on your love letters posts. I still find mistakes in my cash register receipts though they have scanners and registers that tell how much change is due. I usually use my debit card, so change is not relevant, but sometimes they have even missed charging me for an article. I have been charged wrong prices probably because the either reverse the numbers of the code entered, or have simply not remembered the code correctly. In the grocery stores, they are required to remember the codes for fresh produce. I’m afraid I wouldn’t fare too well in that area. I tend to reverse numbers. So I’m not sure whether things are more efficient today or not. One thing I think is that cashiers back then may have been on the whole a lot friendlier than today. Though I don’t have a lot to complain about in the store I mainly deal with. But I have had some pretty unfriendly people serve me in stores at times. But they are in the minority. Probably if stats were available, the percentages of responsible people compared to irresponsible people might be similar. It just shows up in different areas of life. I think I’m rambling and I had better move on to the next post. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I think we were friendlier back then because we were expected to be and we were raised to be curious, respectful and friendly.
The cash year, at my store, just punches in numbers off of stickers on fruits and vegetables but for somethings that do not have stickers, they have a list of numbers to punch in.
Thank you for your comment.
God Bless You, Diane,Nancy
Thank you, Diane. The picture of the fan in the story is a replica that I made while typing the story. I had to do it one more time and it still works! Lol! I am glad that you are reading and enjoying.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
When I read what you had in the pillow case along with the bleach, I cringed. Thank heaven nothing bad happened. But it did surely leave you with a fun memory and lots of laughs. That car was something else. 4 flat tires. Wow! But you always made the best of things and that is something most people do not know how to do. Loved your stories.
We loved that car but we were to broke to get new tires. Finally, we had to give it to a guy who the renter got to tow it away. I can still see Frank and I in it driving over that bridge. The memory of it runs like a video in my mind.
Thank you for reading and commenting Diane. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I don’t remember ever seeing lilacs growing in Africa, although I am sure they would have been quite comfortable in the Western Cape province of South Africa which has a Mediterranean climate and is home to a huge wine industry.
There is a big lilac bush in our garden here in Ontario, it is a medium shade of purple. I did not know that there were red and white lilacs.
Peter, I did not know of the different colors either. I imagine some of the colors are decided by the type of soil and nutrients in it.
I am so glad that you have a Lilac blush. I don’t have one but after learning about them I truly want to get one and plant it in my yard.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Peter,
Nancy
Two of the advantages of bringing my two boys up in Africa were that a) It was warm all year round except for fewer than 10 days when there might be light frost in the cooler parts. b) It was customary to be barefoot most of the time indoors and out.
So children and teenagers on farms and any property with a garden, spent most of their time outside without shoes. They did wear shoes for school and sport but because no pairs of shoes were worn all day and with the sanitizing effect of good clean dirt and grass between toes we did not have the green fog problem.
Peter, that is fantastic. It seems some of my Grandsons have more of a problem with the “Green Smog” than others. Of course, my Granddaughter’s shoes could be just as bad. Lol.
It is really humid and moldy on the Gulf Coast, so some of it may have to do with the climate here.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Peter,
Nancy
Hello Nancy!
Thanks for your lovely article on lilacs, love, and color. I love purple and magenta. Lilacs are pretty and dainty to look at. Growing up, I always found the smell stifling. I hated their smell. I haven’t smelled one in a long time. I hope my nose has changed its mind after all these years. 🙂
Blessings, Mary Rae
Thank you, MaryRae. I absolutely knew nothing about Lilacs but now that I do, I am intrigued by them. I am not sure they will grow in Texas but I plan to but a Lilac Bush and give it a try.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I love Purple Iris. When I owned the Florist, I bought lots of them in many colors but the purple was my favorite. Thank you for your comment, Chuck.
God Bless You and Shirley,
Nancy
And thus, he was assured…
Have you been told you are loved today? I was! Chuck now knows…and now, I do as well. You see, Nancy…Lilacs have been around my life always. The subtle difference in their shades always appealing to my eye, even as I’d learn their fragrance was most appreciated from distance! (about 6-12 inches works for me…)
Here, I’ll thank Peter Wright of South Africa and Ontario, for helping me to to find assurance regarding the mystery I’d hoped your ” I Want Yo Be Reminded of Lilacs” might reveal. While Lilacs are not particularly suited to a Mediterrainian climate…African Violets and purple Bougainvilla, will always be!
I’ve heard many times from folks how difficult it is to “keep” an African Violet. Yet, my mom’s violet had thrived in her windowsill for nearly ten years before she and my dad moved to New Mexico! I’ve been told by a trusted friend that my guardian angel is male, yet…now, I’m assured my angel’s a she…Mystery solved! If Soulmates are One cleaved from Two…then my guardian angel are “Soulmates for Eternity” of the deepest purple, fragrantly, flowered love. My guardian angel is both my parents!
Thank you, Nancy…et al., so much for that!
The thanks goes to you, Dennis. You opened my eyes to want to know about Lilacs. I didn’t have the answers but I was praying God would bring others to comment on what they think. I have had many African Violets that did fairly well and loved them but Frank’s mother was a true master at growing the most beautiful African Violets.
I think the color purple any flower that blooms is very special and emits love, whether it be from a friend, a parent, a child, or a spouse. Of course that is just my opinion.
I am so happy you got the answer to your question from Peter. He is a deep thinker like you and I thank you for helping me get an answer to mine.
Although, different answers to the same question our needs are different just like the different colors of lilacs and God has a way of answering our questions in different ways.
Have I been told I was loved today? Not verbally but through a sweet touch by an Angel.
God Bless You, Dennis,
Thank you again,
Nancy
Kim LavoieAugust 27, 2018
Ah….the adventures….the fun of being young enough to not let a simple thing like a typhoons cause any undue concern….lol
Kim, Frank and I had so much fun and seemed to get ourselves into the strangest situations but we always figured out how to somewhat solve them. Lol
We were young and so much in love that we thought we could do anything.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Kim
God Bless You and I appreciate your friendship.
Nancy
You are so right Caroline, I always felt protected by Frank. He made me feel so safe and he gave me confidence in myself to face any challenges that might come up.
Thank you for your comment Caroline.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim LavoieAugust 28, 2018
Lol….just when I was thinking Nancylou was going to blow a gasket she showed why Frank was the luckiest guy in the world!
Thank you, Kim that is one of my favorite stories. Thinking the silence was a bigger punishment than if I had spoken. I see this all so clearly in my mind. Frank knew the power his dimples had over me and he actually writes about it in a letter he wrote to me from Vietnam.
Stay with me, so many fun stories to come.
God Bless You, Kim.
Nancy
the beauty of meeting different cultures and working through the language barriers….meeting and making friends who are thrown together by circumstance…. wonderful memories
Thank you, Kim. Living in Okinawa was a Beautiful experience and one I will never forget.
Thank you for your comment and reading what I am writing.
God Bless You. Kim
Nancy
KB SchallerSeptember 1, 2018
Delightful stories of true love that stood the tests with which time and circumstances challenge us. You are so blessed, and thank you for blessing the rest of us with your memories, your slices of life, so beautifully penned. I loved the water fight! How much longer before you publish?
Thank you so much KB. I am in the process of finishing up Okinawa in one more chapter then we go home and after a 30 day leave, Frank returns to Okinawa for two weeks before direct transfer to Vietnam while in Okinawa he wrote me four letters. That will finish this book.
I am working hard to get this book finished and praying I have given everyone a true look into our hearts and souls.
Thank you for reading and commenting KiKi.
God Bless You,
Nancy
KB SchallerSeptember 1, 2018
Your book will touch many lives. So much to identify with and hope for in our own lives.
KB, I so hope for people to come away with a true picture of our soulmate love. True love takes a lot of hard work, unselfishness, understanding, commitment, acceptance, devotion, trust, and faith in each other. God is love and I know He loved us, helped us grow our love for each other, and He was always loved by us.
I also believe from our births he planned on our soulmate union and I believe He has one planned for everyone.
Money can not buy a lasting love of any kind. Material things never meant much to Frank and I, they were just things. We just enjoyed being together.
Frank was never jealous of me nor was I of him because we had total trust in each other.
God Bless you, KiKi and thank you again for reading and commenting.
Nancy
Thank you, Caroline. We always had fun. We couldn’t stay upset with each other because in seconds we would both start laughing.
Thank you for reading and commenting. It means so much to me.
God Bless You, Caroline.
Nancy
Another great memory. That apartment building looks classy. And it was certainly more convenient for you. It’s good to have such fun memories in your home. God bless.
What a beautiful, tender ending to what was a very nasty situation. God certainly blessed you with a wonderful husband and you have so many precious memories to think about. Thank you for sharing them. God bless you.
Thank you for reading our story. Frank was the greatest man and husband. He loved me just the way I am and there was nothing about him I didn’t love. You would have loved his smile and the way he laughed.
God Bless You, Diane
Nancy
Kim LavoieSeptember 5, 2018
I get more and more impressed with your love for each other..,your understanding of a young service man and his need to spend some time with his co workers…..
Thank you. KIM. We had a true love and we had a playful love. I couldn’t stay upset with him and he knew it and I knew he knew it but oh what fun I had trying to get him to think I was upset with him. Lol
I never minded him being with the guys and having a beer or four. I just wanted him to let me know a head of time so I knew he was okay.
Thank you for your comment.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
What can I say?
Again, you have shared an example of LOVE we seem to be so devoid of today.
If men would get off the concept of False Manhood (the Viagra Syndrome) and learn to be MEN our society would be stronger.
I totally agree with you Chuck. Nothing says more about a true man than his ability to shed tears from deep emotion and totally say what it is in his heart to a woman.
God Bless You,Chuck. You have all of the best qualities of a true man.
Nancy
Sounds like that job just “happened” to come along at the right time. God does know when we need something and is always faithful to bring the answer. Your pay was pretty good. I started to work in December 1966 at $1.00 per hour. My take-home pay for a forty hour week was $36.00. By the way, there is a typo in the following sentence: It actually looked like mild with a little coffee and sugar in it. I do think you meant ‘milk’, not ‘mild’. 🙂 I have made some pretty funny typos, too. Great story, Nancy.
Thank you, Diane. I fixed the “mild” to milk. You are so right on the typo. I need all the help I can get with typos. Lol.
Yes, our pay was low but then again at Fort Devens Commissary we paid 10 to 15 cents a pound for hamburger in 1968.
I would still go back to the simpler times.
Hod Bless You, Diane
Nancy
Fun story, Nancy. You did seem to get into a lot of scrapes. 🙂 But you know how to see the funny side most of the time. Except for those drunk bivouac “tramps”. Great story.
We were always getting into something. I always see the funny side first but you are right this drunk bivouac tramps were lucky they didn’t touch my husband. It still makes me upset just thinking about them. Lol
Thank you for reading and commenting Diane.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I am sure God was smiling. And He is still smiling as you share this beautiful story with us. Being so open about your love both to each other and now with your audience is a rarity. I can feel the depth of your love for one another as I read, and it is precious. Thank you for opening your heart and sharing your stories. I think KiKi is right. Your book would make a great wedding or anniversary gift. God bless.
Thank you do much Diane for your heartfelt words. I want so much to convey how much we loved each other.
I think the time we soent really talking to each other is do necessary in marriage.
When I get to the Vietnam letters you will read about how much Frank missed our talks but then again you will also read that as he writes to me he is actually talking to me as if I was sitting in the room with him.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
Wow! That was some plane ride. I don’t wonder at your being scared. But you had me laughing when you yelled at those soldiers. You certainly got their attention. Good work!
Those soldiers nearly scared me to death. Lol! Frank tried really hard to get in touch with the soldier who came to my defense but he never found him. I always think he was one of God’s soldiers sent to protect me. Of course, my Dad was part of God’s plan too.
Anyway. I made to onto Frank’s arms safely.
Thank you for your comment Diane.
You are fixing to get to some fun reading in the Okinawan stories.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Another great story. It’s a good thing the two of you were able to adapt to different situations and places. Some people would find that very difficult. I love the way you just went with the flow and did what you had to do without grumbling about conditions. By the way, that meal looks very tempting. That would be something I would enjoy.
I loved Yakisoba. It was such a great dish. Frank and I were on a wonderful journey and just had each other. We didn’t need more than that.
Thank you again for commenting.
God Bless You, Diane
Nancy
Me too. We had so much fun just like to kids which we were playing games with each other. We couldn’t stay upset with each other. Lol!
Thank you for reading. I am totally enjoying your comments.
God Bless You Diane,
Nancy
Another fun story. That sounds like some car! But it got you where you wanted to go and saved wear and tear on your feet. 🙂 It must have been an interesting place to live.
Okinawa is a Beautiful Island! There are still paths for rickshaws and they still use them. We saw so many old ruins. One side of the Island was the China Sea and the other side the Pacific Ocean. Totally different but both beautiful. The Island was 70 miles long and 2 to 7 miles wide. At the 2 mile wide area you can see both the China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
Thank you again for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Diane
Nancy
A really funny story. I’m surprised Ralph didn’t have any kind of stomach or intestinal problems. Thank heaven that GI was able to laugh at the situation and especially that he had another pair of shoes to replace those devoured by Ralph. I’ll bet he never made the mistake again of letting Ralph in while the shoes were lined up at your door. I’m sorry about your Bible, though. Shoes you can replace. A gift like that cannot really be replaced.
Thinking Ralph had an iron stomach. Lol. I still have the bible which is in the picture. None of the pages are damaged which is what counts.
I am so glad you are reading and commenting. I love reading what you have to say.
God Bless You, Diane
Nancy
I’m sure thinking you could do anything was the perfect mind set to have that enabled you to actually do those things. I’m glad nothing worse happened than the door coming off – something that could be fixed. Had that snake or those stealy boys got close enough the damage may not have been repairable. Glad you kept safe.
It’s funny that before I even started to read this story, I noticed those huge dimples in the photo and planned on mentioning them. Then they became a big part of the story. You were so forgiving, and that comes with the love. Another great story. Just 4 more to go to catch up. That is if you don’t get more posted before I get there. 🙂
Thank you, Diane. I could not stay upset with him and I didn’t mind him being with the guys. I just needed to know he was okay. Our love was true and so deep.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
What a wonderful, memory-making Christmas. I’m sure everyone appreciated your hospitality and open home. Those baskets were a beautiful gift – God’s gift to you for your generosity to others.
Those baskets are so special to me. Everytime I look at them, I thank about that Papasan and his big smile. What a Beautiful person. I still use those baskets every Christmas and I tell my Grandchildren the story of the Papasan and the Baskets.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
Never a dull moment! I doubt either of you were ever bored, especially with each other. It is wonderful to see how two people can love each other so completely and openly. You don’t often see this in couples. I remember working with a young lady who was planning her wedding. She made a statement that took me aback. She said if it didn’t work out, they could always get a divorce. Where was the love there? Where was the commitment? I fully expected that one day they would be divorced. I never did find out as it was after that when I got sick and lost my job. It’s wonderful to read your stories and feel the foundation of love that they were built on.
You are right about no dull moments. Beauty of it was that we it didn’t cost us a penny. We were very open about our love and others around us knew how much we loved each other.
Divorce never entered our minds and would have been considered a failure to us. Our communication with each other was one of the keys to our successful marriage.
Thank you for your comment, Diane.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Wow! That really was a roller coaster ride. How sad about Ralph. Pets are just like members of the family and when they are gone, they leave a big hole. I’m glad you had the kittens to fill some of that hole. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for you to have to find your way by yourself all the time knowing that your time with Frank when you finally got home would be so short. A very emotional time, I am sure. God bless.
Yes, it was a very tough time for us but nothing could prepare us for what was to come. Ralph was so special to us, I will never forget him.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Diane
Nancy
That is one powerful love story. The Lord was truly with you. But how do people go through times like that without God? I can’t imagine. And I can’t imagine how it felt to know you would be apart for a whole year. It sounds like an eternity and I imagine it must have felt like one. But the assurance of Frank’s deep love for you held a power of its own coupled with God’s love and made you both overcomers. You have built together an enduring and strong legacy for your son and his family. And I pray that these stories will inspire other couples to love with that same kind of love.
Thank you so much Diane. God was so important to Frank and I. We loved Him so much.
That year would have been impossible for us without God’s help and the strength He gave us.
We had become inseparable by as one heart and soul blessed by God.
I will add three more letters from Okinawa tomorrow which will end the first book.
God has a purpose for the writing and sharing of our love story and I pray I am honoring His wishes in every word I write.
Thank you for reading and knowing how much Frank and I love each other which is an eternal love.
God Bless You, Diane
Nancy
Kim LavoieSeptember 10, 2018
So sorry to have to read about Ralph….the memories of how the airlines used to work….lol
Ralph was a real sweetheart. It was so hard to lose him.
Yes the airlines were crazy back then but saving that $50 was a must.
Thank you for reading and commenting Kim. I really appreciate it so much.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim LavoieSeptember 10, 2018
Chuck and Diane pretty much said it all…..so touching…..
Thank you for reading and understanding, Kim. That was a very hard day for us but with God’s help, we made it. The uncertainty about what our future together held was too much.
God Bless You, Kim,
Nancy
Kim LavoieSeptember 11, 2018
Unchained melody…that certainly fits….Funny how time has erased the memories of the delays involved with written mail and changing duty stations…that must have been rough on you.
It was rough on me but it was really rough on Frank as you will see in the first letters from Vietnam. Even after He mailed me his address it would take it five days to get to me then my letter would take five days to get back to him.
The most Beautiful miracles happen because we were so of one heart and soul. When I would mail him a letter then check my mailbox and the answers would be in a letter on the same day.
Thank you for reading and commenting Kim. I really appreciate it so much.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Your posts and Frank’s letters bring back vivid memories of my own army service in Rhodesia at the same time, waiting, waiting, waiting for letters from home. Although I was only a couple of hundred miles from home, not thousands like Frank, it still took up to 2 weeks for letters to find their way through the system and out to the bush.
So much will happen in our exchange of letters. Sometimes the mail planes were used for different purposes.
I can only imagine how long it took mail back in the days of the only means of travel being a horse.
Thank you for reading and your comment Peter.
God Bless You,
Nancy
It must be comforting to be able to read these letters while at the same time sad that Frank is no longer with you. There is no room for doubt as to the fact that he loved you. As Chuck has said, it is very unusual for a man as young as Frank was then to write so openly and sincerely about his love and devotion to you. That is a wonderful memory to hold in your heart. Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to reading more. God bless you, Nancy.
Thank you so much Diane. Frank was never afraid to tell me about his love for me. I am typing in more letters tonight and I know him do well that I know what he was thinking as he wrote them. I have smiled as t his humor and felt a sadness at his loneliness whil er he was in Vietnam.
The last letter in the group I am typing is very special
Thank you for reading and commenting, Diane.
God Bless You
Nancy
It’s not often one gets to see the inner workings of another person’s heart. It is a privilege to read these once private letters. Thank you for sharing them. I pray that they will touch and change the hearts of many who need an example of what a good husband looks and sounds like and what a good marriage should be like. God bless.
Diane thank you so much. God has a plan for the sharing of these letters and I know that plan will be revealed as these books go out into the world. I do not know God’s plan. My only concern is that I always do my best to please God. True love in marriage takes commitment, sacrifice, acceptance, and loving God. Frank was truly an Amazing man. God must love me a lot to have sent me such a beautiful loving husband.
Thank you for your comment and reading about our love.
God Bless You,
Nancy
This chapter Ms.Henderson is…(as you have exclaimed many time yourself, in other posts) just pure “awesomeness “!
As a matter of fact Lou, I’m thinking you actually may have coined what may very well be anong the best one word expressions, ever!!
And yes, I’ve no doubt there’s gonna be a million billion people out there claiming otherwise…but, we know better, don’t we? Especially since what they can’t prove, you and Frank can…as I simply say thank you both for the ” beautifulness “, of your love!
Thank you so much Dennis. I truly did not think those letters would ever get to Frank.
We missed each other so much. Frank’s letters are absolutely priceless but you will see that as they are posted. I am going the easy part of writing now because he is doing most of it.
God Bless You,Dennis,
Nancy
What can I say? These are very beautiful letters and I feel privileged that you are sharing these intimate conversations with us. I continue to be amazed that a man as young as Frank was then could express himself so fully. God certainly blessed you with such a husband, and He also blessed Frank with just the wife he needed. You were a team. You were one. And that is beautiful, more than many people can testify to after more years of marriage than you had at that time. God bless you, Nancy, as you continue to share and eventually put your book together.
Thank you so much Diane. This was a hard one for me to post. I struggled with it because of it’s truly intimenance of our struggles to have a child but that is also a part of our love story and quite possibly part of the reason God has compelled me to write our story. Marriage has struggles but when there is commitment and true love those struggles can be overcome.
After praying about this post. I went back to the typewriter and finished it. God truly wants me to be totally open while I write our story. I still don’t know His purpose for these books but that is not for me to know.
Please keep me in your prayers and God Bless You,
Nancy
Another exceptional post. Love is all over and through it, and it’s beautiful. God bless you as you continue sharing that which is closest to your heart.
I just came to the realization (where on earth have I been, anyway?) that I am not following you. I am going to fix that as soon as I submit this comment. How did I miss that?
I thought you were following me too. Thank you again Diane for reading and commenting.
I dudn’t think I would ever get an address to send my letters to him. I was getting his letters and could feel his loneliness but I couldn’t get my love for him to him.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
Another beautiful slice of life shared by two people in love. I so appreciate your husband’s ability to share his feelings. That is a trait too few ‘men’ are able today to share with all of the BS about what masculinity is “supposed” to be.
Looking forward to more.
Thank you so much, Chuck. You know at the time, I was used to us sharing our deepest feelings openly with each other. Frank was never afraid to tell me how much he loved me. Wow, I was so blessed.
God Bless You, Chuck,
Nancy
Nancy, I agree with Chuck about Frank’s ability to verbalize freely how he felt for you. We need to see more of this today. If husbands cherished their wives as Frank cherished you, there would be far less divorces. Paul admonished men to love their wives as Christ loved the church. That’s a tall order, but I think Frank did a pretty good job of living up to it. God bless. Looking forward to more letters.
Thank you so much Diane. I am typing another chapter now and feeling very very loved with each of his written words as I type them. I was so blessed by God to have had this Amazing man in my life.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Another great example of Frank’s deep love. I never enjoyed the popular music when I was growing up and after, but Unchained Melody was a song I did really like. Not sure who sang it, but what I remember is not the version you have here. I believe it was a woman singing it. But for some reason that song got my attention. (There is an interesting site about the writer of the lyrics here https://www.dansher.com/unchained/unchained.html) There were one or two others, but very few I liked. My choice was classical, even as a teenager. It was good that music meant so much to both you and Frank. There is something healing and fulfilling in music that can release the emotions like most other things cannot do. Thank you for sharing these letters. God bless.
You are so welcome Diane. I will look up who wrote that song. It was Frank and my favorite. He mentions it again in this next chapter. Frank loved music and he knew all of the words and singers.
Thank you for the information and for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
Another winner. It is really encouraging to read these letters and know that Frank did come back to you and you had that opportunity to love each other close up and forever. I pray that others experiencing separation from one another for whatever reason will take comfort and learn how to love even while apart, how to express that love to solidify their relationship. God bless you, Nancy.
Thank you so much Diane. We had been separate for short times before but the ideal of Frank being in a War zone made the fear so hard but our love only grew.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You
Nancy
I guess I will say it again. Frank Henderson epitomizes Manhood. He truly understood what men should be and how to share. You were truly blessed and thanks for sharing. I have directed several young men to your site.
Thank you so much Chuck. I appreciate all you have done and do for me.
Yes, Frank was a true loving, beautiful man. His love for me was real and gives me unbelievable strength everyday. Being truly loved by him and truly loving him is the Greatest Gift God could ever give me. I am so blessed.
Thank you for reading and sharing with others.God Bless You.
Nancy
If your posts make me any more sentimental, I am going to have to stop reading your blog Nancy.
When I was doing my army service at the same time as Frank, we had a radio programme called Forces Favourites on a Saturday afternoon. A woman announcer with a lovely voice read messages from wives, girlfriends, children, parents and played songs they requested for us. Her name was Sally Donaldson, she did it for years. Sadly she is no longer with us.
Some of those songs especially the Beatles one, Scotty, and Unchained Melody that reminded Frank of you had the same effect on me and my fellow soldiers.
If we were not on patrol, we would huddle around a small transistor radio in our base camp or out in the bush trying to hear our names through the hiss of static and the raucous (and envious) mockery of our mates if our messages were too soppy. A typical ending was …..with licks and kisses from Brutus the dog.
Your post and Frank’s letters transported me back to sitting under trees in the heat of the Zambezi valley nearly 50 years ago.
I agree with Chuck, Frank set a wonderful example for young men today. Your blog should be compulsory reading for all high school boys – and girls.
Thank you so much Peter. Frank was a special man. Everyone always told him he was an old soul in a young man’s body.
The music brings back so many memories for me. We loved music and it played in our home all of the time.
It has been very nostalgic for me to play these songs as I type his letters.
I pray this book will be an inspiration to what it takes to really work at Marriage. It takes true devoted love to each other, sacrifice,commitment,patience, understanding, and trusting in God.
Thank you so much for reading, commenting, and your encouraging words.
God Bless You, Peter
Nancy
Kim LaVoieSeptember 25, 2018
AH… the marvels of snail mail! The ability to take a break and return to writing in a totally different mood… the discourse as letters passed each other and reflected different thoughts and emotions. So touching…
Yes, one day could change a mood. Frank and I were both fighters for our love and marriage. We totally depended on each other regardless of how far apart we were. We would get tough on each other sometimes in letters but it was to help each other pull out that extra fight inside to overcome depression. Thank you for reading and commenting Kim. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Caroline Uherek GriffithSeptember 25, 2018
Lovely letters from a very loving and true man for his loving wife, each suffering from their empty aching arms, waiting for the wonderful time when they holdtheir true love closeto each other’s heart, they are seperated by space, but their mind. soul and hearts and thoughts are constantly upon each other, love , Caroline
Thank you so much for reading and commenting Caroline.
You are so right our love could not be separated by any obstacle.
As I reread and then type these letters into chapters, I feel his love surround me and I feel him here by my side. I thank God everyday for sending this Beautiful Man to love me with all his heart and soul. My love for Frank has never wavered but grows more everyday. He is my love for eternity and owns my heart.
God Bless You and thank you again,
Love Nancy
Kim LavoieSeptember 26, 2018
I still Marvell at Frank’s willingness to be so open with his emotions and his ability to occupy his time. What of you? How did you cope? What was your support system in his absence?
I worked everyday during the week then in the evenings came home and wrote to him. All of my friends were away at school. His parents and mine were close but I could only confide in him. I barely ate except on weekends at our folk’s homes. It was hard because they were concerned for me and instead of a wife, I became a daughter again which I couldn’t do.
By the end of March I had lost down to 112lbs. I had our two cats and a puppy.
At work I was fine but the nights were terrible. I was so afraid of losing him. I confided in him but realized it upset him so much if I was depressed or crying that I learned to leave that out of my letters. I would fail miserably at times trying to do that as you will see through out these letters.
Frank’s Mom was awesome at coming over and we sewed together making curtains and other things but she never tried to talk to me about Frank because she knew I couldn’t. She just tried to get my mind on other things.
Thank you for your comment Kim and for reading. I hope I’ve made some sense in explaining how I coped.
God Bless You,
Nancy
KB SchallerSeptember 27, 2018
Thank you for sharing your heart with us, Nancy, you who were a loving and faithful wife and to us, your readers, a wonderful friend. —-KiKi
Thank you so much KB. I was so fortunate to have married my soulmate.
We had a very deep true love for each other.
I really appreciate your friendship.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Beautiful. Like Kim, I am always amazed at not only Frank’s ability but his willingness to pour it all out. He was an amazing man. By the way, I am still not getting e-mail notifications of your posts. I just keep coming to see if there is anything new, and I find 2 new posts. I think I’ll leave the other one for tomorrow as I have to get up at 6:30 in the morning. God bless you.
Thank you so much Diane. He really was truly Amazing. God so Blessed me. Not sure why you are not getting emails. I will try to find out why. Try subscribing again, if you don’t mind.
God Bless You and sweet dreams,
Nancy
Kim LavoieSeptember 28, 2018
I guess I figured as much. I saw the young guys who were so insecure that every letter they received was used as justification to convince themselves that their wife was being unfaithful….poor kids! If the wife said everything was fine that meant they were not needed. If everything was messed up that meant it was omly a matter of time before she was going to find someone else….there seemed (to me) to be precious few who could simply accept that “she” was making due best as she could and was hanging on until deros day. You were a special one who was married to a special one
Thank you, Kim. I could tell how hard it was for Frank to see what was going on around him with other husbands with wives at home and guys with girlfriends at home.
Evidently lists of Dear John letters happening.
Frank knew how much I loved him and I would always be faithful to him but things happening around him messed up his mind plus the loneliness and depression.
He will write then get upset with himself and write letters of apology over and over.
Thank you for reading,commenting, and your Beautiful compliments.
God Bless You
Nancy
Nancy, I just re-subscribed, and the thank you page came up, so it was processed. It’s funny as I do get the notifications for the comments. Who can understand technology? 🙂
That was a good up-beat letter to end this chapter with. Frank’s letters are filled with so much emotion, something most men do everything they can to hide. I don’t know where this idea came from that men should not show emotion. It’s crazy. I understand their emotions are different than a woman’s and are expressed differently, but my goodness, to keep emotions bottled up is not good for man or woman. It probably saved Frank from becoming more deeply depressed than some of the soldiers. God truly blessed you with Frank and blessed Frank with you.
Thank you so much Diane. Frank never thought he could express him self with pen on paper but thinking he did an Amazing job. Even reading now, I feel his tremendous love for me coming through from each letter.Hard to believe he was writing these things at 21 years old.
God Bless You and thank you so much for reading and commenting.
Love Nancy
Kim LavoieSeptember 30, 2018
Like Frank I often had run ins with tbe higher ups. Makes me smile to think of his rebellion against the haircut and the monkey on a stick crap of a promotion board. Being surrounded by security allowed the “careerists”the opportunity to play those Mickey Mouse games instead of letting proficiency determine rank….. For his sake Im glad you learned how to communicate in ways that didn’t overly (impossible to completely do it) upset him. It must have also done wonders for you also
Thank you, Kim. Yes, Frank was beginning to rebel a little. I would fail miserably at times writing to him about the emotions I was feeling but it was because he was my only confidant. I hated when I was weak and upset him. He wanted me to confide in him but his helplessness to help me overwhelmed him plus the length of time it took for our letters to reach each other.
His fear was losing me and my fear was losing him but our love for each other never wavered but became ever stronger.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
Thank you, MaryRae. Frank was a strong loving man and had a strong belief in God along with right and wrong. As with all of us the gray areas of right and wrong we face in life are the hardest to deal with.
He decided to make a statement to them but was given his rank change because they knew his value to them.
As I type now, I reread his letters and realize he vould have written them at age 47. His thoughts and beliefs never changed. He was gifted by God with an old soul.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, MaryRae.
Love Nancy
“It amazes me that at his age he could think so deeply.” This says exactly what I am thinking about Frank. It is amazing how deep such a young man could be. We need more like that today. It is so encouraging to hear of that kind of love in a marriage which lasted through the years. You were committed to one another, and you didn’t let anything come in between. I don’t know if I told you about this, but I remember working with a young lady who was about to be married. We were sitting at the lunch table at work, and the statement she made really shocked me. She said, “If it doesn’t work out, we can always get a divorce.” My first thought was that she would probably be divorced before the marriage went very far. That doesn’t show real love, at least not to my mind. Without that foundation, I don’t see how a marriage could last. I have no idea what happened to her, but I often wonder where she is today and what her life is like. Thanks for sharing these beautiful letters. God bless you.
Thank you, Diane for seeing and really knowing Frank. He was always like a true ray of sunshine, a true leader and a deep thinker.
I remember watching him leaning against a fence after he had mow the yard looking like he was in deep thought. I asked him what he was thinking and he told me that he was thinking how great it was to be alive and being so much in love with me. Our love was so deep and committed to each other.
I can not imagine how anyone would not work at making their marriage work.
I wonder about your young coworker too, by starting out a marriage without commitment. I pray she figured it out before she married. Marriage is a sacred thing between God and the two people getting married. Those vows should be forever binding.
God Bless You,Diane and thank you for reading and commenting.
Love Nancy
I feel the emotions riding high in these letters. You never have to read between the lines to figure out what Frank is saying. Everything is completely open. I have shared it on FaceBook and Twitter. God bless you, Nancy.
Thank you so much Diane. I love haow he talked about the months of the year. He was encouraging me through. He was so open about everything. I realized in two of those letters that he was not getting my mail but being strong through it. Although being so far apart we felt each others feelings. Thank you so much for sharing and commenting.
God Bless You, Diane
I love you,
Nancy
I am really looking forward to each new post to learn a little more about Frank, and also about you. Those collection agency letters are hilarious. God bless you.
Thank you, Diane. We were beginning to settle down a play with each other a little. I love those two letters, they really express the way we were together. I have finished all of April letters and those collection letters begin May. May is hard one because our third Anniversary was May 8th.
Thank you again for reading and commenting. God Bless You, Diane.Love,
Nancy
KB SchallerOctober 8, 2018
What a lovely chapter of a beautiful and undying love between two young people. Thanks so much, Nancy, for sharing these most intimate moments between a husband and his wife. In addition to his love, Frank expressed his feelings in their many dimensions: his depression, loneliness and sometimes anger at things when they did not go his way. There was, however, that common thread of love interwoven throughout. You shared an honest snippet of your lives then, unembellished and not sugar-coated.
You did not tell us much about the kitty-cat, though. I suppose s/he kept you company, and both you and Frank enjoyed the kitty’s filling a space in your heart till hubby came home again.
Thank you so much, Kiki. Yes, this is all an unembellished account of our love. frank’s letters are full of every kind of emotion that a person can feel. I wish that everyone could see these letters because the handwriting really shows his different moods.
We actually had three kittens, Candy, Homer, and Kitty. Of course, they all slept on our bed beside me while Frank was in Vietnam. They were all unique and had different personalities. They would curl up next to me while I wrote a letter to Frank every night. I don’t know what I would have done without them.
When deciding to share our lives and these letters, I decided to share them honestly, unembellished, and as they are because this is a true love story and a true look at marriage with all of its trials, sacrifices, total commitment, and devoted faithful love. Frank and I were not special but we were determined to totally commit to our love. I really believe that all marriages can achieve this same kind of love.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Thank you so much Diane. It is doing really well. Still swollen but no pain. I did have a Great Birthday.
Thank you so much for coming here and wishing me a Happy Birthday.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Nancy, I have to agree that the first letter is a beautiful letter, and so special to you. So often people say, “I love you,’ with little thought behind it. It becomes so ordinary and loses much of its meaning. But with Frank, it doesn’t matter how many times he says it, you know absolutely that he meant it emphatically. It’s easy to tell that he not only wrote beautiful letters, but that those letters came from a beautiful soul and spirit. You were blessed in having such a husband. Thank you for sharing. God bless you, my friend.
Thank you so much Diane. Sometimes as I type these letters that Frank wrote to me, I wonder if God had a purpose for them even then as Frank wrote them. Of course, they were for me back then but I know that God has another purpose. I am beginning to see those effects in some age groups of people. I am just honored to get to type Frank’s words.
God Bless You and thank you for commenting.
Love,
Nancy
I love it! It’s hilarious. I’m so glad that those tasks are done for me as I live in an apartment. But these new-fangled toilets look as though you can’t even take the tank top off with the push-button flusher. I used to be able to at least re-hook the chain when it detached itself, but I don’t even know what it looks like inside the tank now. I haven’t needed to have it fixed as it is a fairly new toilet. They put new toilets in the building often enough they probably never need fixing. They take out perfectly good toilets to put in new ones for no logical reason. But then, we have had three new owners in less than two years–two this year–and there’s no explanation given for that either. Talk about confusing. We have to get our tax receipts from more than one landlord. Crazy! Not sure I would want that outhouse here in winter when you would have to plod through a couple of feet of snow. It would be pretty chilly, too, at below freezing temperatures. It would be OK for you, though. But a four-seater? I’ve heard of two-seaters and even that is questionable. Makes you wonder what they did back then, doesn’t it? Thanks for sharing this light-hearted post to bring a laugh at the end of my day. Actually I should be in bed by now, but wanted to read your post first. And then there’s the problem of trying to shut my computer down when it keeps freezing on me. So I’ll say good night. God bless you, Nancy. Looking forward to your next “fix”. 🙂
Thank you for reading and commenting Diane. I had so much fun writing this blog and laughed the whole time.
Yes, things are a changing. I,’m sure the winter would definitely be a challenge up there.
Praying your computer decides to behave for you.
God Bless You and I am really enjoying your blogs.
Love,
Nancy
Well done, Nancy. These letters show a depth of love that many people have never experienced. Thank you for sharing such intimate thoughts and words. God bless you.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Diane. I am praying through this openess of sharing these letters, that others will understand how to truly be open in speaking and writing their love for each other.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
What a sad thing for Frank’s friend. Like you, I don’t understand how a wife could do that to her husband when he is thousands of miles away fighting a war. I can see how that would shake Frank.
Yes, it shook up Frank and I am sure many others. It still irritates me when I think about it. Praying Frank’s friend found peace and someone to Love him as he deserved.
Thank you for commenting and reading our love story, Diane.
God Bless You.
Love
Nancy
Good for you, girl! I can understand how difficult it must be for you at times, but you never wallow in self-pity because of it, and I admire that in you. And you can always find humor in situations that otherwise might devastate you. And the Lord will sustain you, and carry you when you need that, through anything you have to face in life. That is so comforting, isn’t it? He never let’s us down or leaves us on our own. God bless you.
Thank you, Diane. God has never let me down and He has sent Beautiful friends in my life to encourage me. You are definitely one of those friends. Your writings encourage me on so many levels.
God Bless You!
Love,
Nancy
Thank you, Nancy. It is a privilege to be your friend. I am so happy to be able to encourage even one person with my writing, and am very happy that you are one. God bless you. Love you. Keep up the good work.
Believe me, your writing will encourage so many people. You have such a beautiful unjudgemental way of writing God’s truths. God has Blessed you, my friend.
Love,
Nancy
KB SchallerOctober 18, 2018
Thank you for sharing your letters. Each is so honest and open. I think it is beautiful that two people in love can share their ups and downs. It proves only that one is human. I’m sure these letters from your beloved Frank sometimes stir deep emotions in you of the times when you were apart, and when you were eventually together again as well.
I think it was very healthy as well as manly that he shared his anger, depression, and yes, sometimes rebellion while in the armed services. It is not a natural state for any person, and to adjust to it from day to day must have been a great struggle for him at times. Thanks again for sharing you deeply personal journey. —-KiKi
Thank you so much for reading and commenting KiKi. Frank’s moods could shift so quickly while he was in Vietnam. He was never a moody person except then. I was so glad that we could write to each other and express our feelings openly. Frank worried so much about me being alone without him to protect me from harm. Of course, I worried about him being in a safe place. Frank had been in the Army nearly three and a half years and he was just sick of being told what to wear and do. They were so confined in the compound where he was with little to do after their twelve-hour shifts.
God Bless You, KiKi and thank you again.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you so much, Kirby. I am so pleased that you are reading and have left a comment. It means a lot to have an Awesome Author read our love story. Frank was the writer, I am the ghostwriter. He was such a deep thinking person with a laugh that lit up the room. You would have loved him and he would have read all of your books. Thank you again for reading and leaving a comment.
God Bless You, Kirby,
Nancy
Dale VaughnOctober 26, 2018
Dang Nancy…squeezed my heart there. My Lovely goes away for a week and I’m a basket case so I know that feeling. When love grows like that she’s taught me that it’s me learning to love me….what a gift…beautiful writing…
Thank you so much for reading and commenting Dale. I am so glad your wife has taught you that you have to love yourself. I believe that God really gave you a Beautiful gift when he gave you your wife.
God Bless You Both,
Nancy
You have such a talent to describe reality and the wonderful feeling of true love. I have shared your story with several “younger” people and they are hooked
Another great post, Nancy. Frank sure was surprised with that pocket watch. Isn’t it fun when you can totally surprise someone with a gift they never expected. Makes you feel you have done the right thing.
Yes, it does and his Special Surprise for me is even better. I have no ideal how he kept it a secret so long. Lol
Thank you for reading and commenting Diane. I think there are two more chapters up after this one. I hope you have time to read them.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Beautiful! There is such a wealth of emotion in these words. I agree with you that it isn’t the same in a text, e-mail, etc. Written letters have almost become a thing of the past. It takes time to actually write a letter. With all the short forms in texts, it doesn’t take much thought or time and probably doesn’t carry as much meaning either. You are blessed to have these hand-written letters from Frank.
The letters still hold the emtions they were written with. I have them all typed but I still prefer to type from the written ones. I can feel him and see him in the writing then and now. He could do the same then. This is such an emotional journey but one I will do strongly.
Thank you so much for your Beautiful support Diane.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
I just realized that I missed this post. I, too, think it most wonderful that you could be completely open with each other, even on paper. Too many people let things fester inside and that leads to all sorts of problems. I don’t wonder at him being depressed at times considering the atmosphere and situations he was in. But you can see just by reading that the fact that you were totally stable in his life and he knew you were there for him was what kept him from falling into a pit of continual depression. God bless you, Nancy.
Thank you for reading it. You are so right, I was his anchor. I don’t know what others did without a someone at home they could totally talk to.
God Bless You, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you so much Theresa. You’re words mean so much to me. You and Lloyd knew us so well and we all had so much fun together.
Thank you for commenting and your Beautiful support.
God Bless You Two and I love you very much,
Love,
Nancy
Thanks for being so honest as you share these letters and your thoughts and memories of that time. It takes courage to do that. What an emotional time. And what a blessing that you were both able to express your feelings to each other. So often people keep these things hidden inside and begin to either withdraw or simmer. You both had a healthy outlet for your emotions and I’m sure that brought healing and peace. God bless you.
Diane, I think it is important for me to share our struggles to have a child. So many other couples share this same struggle. Frank tried so hard to keep me from being upset about it. When we were in Okinawa we did a lot of talking about having a child.
When I think back on those times now when it was just the two of us, I realize that God gave us a true blessing of time to be with just each other.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
I finished the post, Nancy, and I am breathless. i was breathless all the way through. Your story, and your words, are magical. I cannot stop reading. I predict that you will touch, before the end, tens of thousands of people.
Thank you so much Kirby. Your words mean so much to me. God has been been so gracious to me in my life and He gave me the most Beautiful soulmate to love me and share my heart and soul with for eternity. God has allowed Frank to remain all around me.
The book I am writing, God has a purpose for. I do not know what that purpose is but I know that God does and that is what really matters.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
God Bless you, Kirby.
Nancy
Kim LavoieNovember 4, 2018
Nice to read your posts again. To read his letters and note he has gone from calling you Lou to Nancy again, and knowing his location and job over there its not at all surprising that the NVA would do anything possible to add stress to their lives
Thank you for reading Kim. He was very upset in the last letter but in the chapter I am typing now he apologizes over and over. The NVA were all around them but he won’t tell me that for a few more letters which I found out by rereading ahead.
His best buddy had left so he openly confided in me.
Thanks for noticing he has gone calling me, Nancy again. He is very serious when he does that.
God Bless you, Kim
Nancy
KB SchallerNovember 4, 2018
Thank you for posting another letter from your dear Frank. Reading your posts, it is as if he is still very much the soldier who cannot wait to get home to his beloved wife. These letters, poignant and honest, reveal his innermost feelings and frustrations, but also his undying love for his wife, which is timeless.
I can visualize some tears, too, from time to time as you revisit that very special season in your life that you were blessed to share with him.
Thank you, Kiki for your comment.
Yes, he was a good soldier and his undying love for me and mine for him was what truly got us through those months.
His best friend had just left and he needed to talk to me very openly about his feelings in the last letter.
In a letter in the chapter I am working on now, he will apologize over and over, then in a letter to come he will tell me more about what was going on around them.
Tears do flow often as I type but I really think his written words are important to others.
God Bless you, Kiki.
Love,
Nancy
More wonderful insights into Frank’s heart for you. I imagine he was a very conscientious man in all areas of life. It is beautiful that he allowed himself to feel those emotions, but even greater is the fact that he was free to write those feelings down even when he thought his words were not adequate. It says a lot about him. By the way, I finally received a notification for this post–the first in quite a while. I must check to see if I have missed any previous posts. God bless.
Frank’s letters show how much he loved you and what a good man he was.
Reading his letters reminds me of the frustration I felt doing my military service at the same time. I was lucky, after my initial 9 months training I was only away for 6 weeks at a time.
Thank you so much Peter. I l9ve the padlock and key letter. Frank was a very deep thinker and he never thought he could express himself on with pen and paper but he certainly could and did.
Thank you so much fir reading and commenting.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Kim LaVoieNovember 6, 2018
BTW… you do know that Ray LaMontagne spent a lot of years in my neighborhood? I used to coach at Buckfield Jr/Sr high school when he lived there.
Thank you so much, Phil. Frank is writing some fantastic letters. He is opening up to me more and more. After he came home on R&R, he just knew that I needed to know everything. Sometimes men are afraid to be this open but he knew that it just made us deeper and deeper into being one with each other.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Frank Henderson was a Man’s Man all the way. His ability to LOVE and express that Love unabashedly is fantastic.
I hope many young men and women will read these letters and learn you don’t have to be a Viagra Guy to be a Man
Thank you so much Chuck. Being a Man’a Man is truly being sure of yourself enough to openly love and openly express emotions without fear of doing so. Frank did not fear telling me how much he loved me or telling me about his emotions.
Knowing his heart and soul so deeply totally molded my heart and soul to him for an eternity.
His stregth as a real Man was his openness of his heart and soul.
No way Viagra or Cialis can achieve manhood.
Thank you for realizing and seeing in Frank who he really was.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
More revealing letters. It must have been really difficult for Frank to keep on working with those hemorrhoids. That takes determined stamina. I’m glad he decided to get help. I find myself doing the countdown thing to when he would come home. 🙂 God bless.
Thank you for helping me countdown. I feel myself back in time doing the very same thing. Frank always hated going to the doctor. I can count on one hand how many times he actually did.
He was very tough with pain but this was too much.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
I am waiting anxiously for your new books to come out. I am so Happy for you. You were given a Beautiful talent by God to inspire others through your writing. You are so Blessed by God.
Love,
Nancy
It just keeps getting better. 🙂 I believe with Frank that it shows a great strength for a man to be able to convey his feelings of love. And besides that, it is very healthy for body, soul and spirit. There are many people who would do well to follow his example.
Thank you so much, Diane. Frank was such an old soul in a young man’s body. God blessed me with Frank. I think that all men whatever age should realize that the manliest thing they can do, is to speak and show their love openly. It totally endears them to their loved ones and makes them men among men.
God Bless you, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you, MaryRae. He really wanted to be alone with me with no distractions. We had so many decisions to make about our future and we really needed to do that alone together. In a future letter, you will read that decision was not very well accepted by others but I convinced him to make a slight change in our plans that remedied the situation. Not sure how I will approach that letter but have time.
God Bless You, MaryRae.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you so much Phil. He was an excellent public speaker too. He was really opening up in these letters and I am so glad that I have all of these letters.
Thank you for reading and commenting. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You and I can’t wait to read more of your writing.
Nancy
It is hard to hear the depression in Frank’s words, but so good to realize that he was able to overcome by talking it out. His love for you just oozes out everywhere. The ability to see the humor in a desperate situation is a gift from God and no doubt it kept him from completely losing it in those terrible circumstances. I am watching out for that one special letter when he tells you he is coming home. I am sure you are reliving this as you write and share. God bless you.
This was a tough chapter, not only because he was depressed but I realized he really did not have a close buddy left there to talk to. He had such an Amazing ability to pull himself up by his boot straps and get himself together.
The letter of him telling me about his love for me and describing me as he saw me down to my delicate hands, really caused some serious tears here. I was so blessed to have Frank in my life.
Thank you for reading and commenting Diane. I appreciate you so much.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Yes, his descriptions reveal a very caring, sensitive and creative nature. A wonderful thing for a man to possess. I doubt if many men would even think this way let alone unashamedly put those thoughts down on paper. You were blessed to have such a husband.
Awe, thank you so much Diane. Praying men will read Frank’s letters and realize how open they should be with their feelings with the person they love.
I will never stop loving Frank. He is my heart.
God Bless You, Diane.Love,
Nancy
Oh, Nancy…this post is so exquisite and fully bursting with love, emotion, and passion from you both. What a gift to this world! Thank you for sharing this intimate relationship between you and Frank.
Thank you, MaryRae for reading and commenting.
God so blessed me with Frank. Our love for each other was so real, pure and deep, an eternal love.
God Bless you,
Love,
Nancy
That’s quite a poem. He knew how to craft with words, and the words flow so well. His feelings come across so strongly in his letters whether he is depressed or happy. Nothing withheld, all in the open. That is a healthy way to live.
Thank you, Diane. Frank loved to write me poems and notes which he would leave around the house for me to find. They are among my most treasured possessions. I have kept all but this one and one more which I found in the letters, in my jewelry box for years.
Finding a note or a poem from Frank left in places he knew I would find them was priceless.
Frank’s letters are getting longer and he is really putting his thoughts down now. The next two letters are on both ends of the spectrum but both priceless.
God Bless you, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
Kim LavoieNovember 20, 2018
So touching…glad he got out of the dumps, if only for a while. Breaking 100 days was a milestone! DEROSing became something palpable…… On another note, I’ll be writing about my experience with the same typhoon. 🙂
Thank you, Kim. Yes, Frank was disappointed by not getting a drop but he was resilient in pulling himself back up by his boot straps.
I bet thyphoon Edith caused you all many worries too.
It is really a neat experience to talk to you knowing you were in Vietnam the same time Frank was.
God Bless you, Kim and thank you for your comment.
Nancy
Nancy that was Beautiful! Well told, right from the Heart! I love what you are doing! I think it truly is important to get this out to the world of people to understand the communication that can accelerate love from the heart.
Thank you so much, Helen. It is so wonderful to have reconnected with you at Stewarts. We will get together soon. You are an awesome person and friend.
Frank was such a deep thinking person.
Thank you for your beautiful words of encouragement and commenting.
God Bless you, Helen.
Love,
Nancy
This is so close to home. We went “artificial” (not intelligence) a few years ago.
The second year set up was easier.
They are easier to maintain. ~~smile
Yes, they are but the new artificial trees have changed a lot. The one I had for so many years wad just beautiful. This one will have to grow on me, lol. I am nearly through spreading out the limbs then I will decorate. Great Grands are gonna love it. I hear Elyse, my two-year-old Great Granddaughter, has already been banned from touching her tree. They actually had to put up a fence around it. LOL!
Thank you for your comment Chuck and all you do for so many.
God Bless You and Praying you have an Awesome Day.
Love,
Nancy
Don’t you just love ordering stuff online? I never cease to marvel that my cleaning products from Amazon come with the huge air-filled bags surrounding them and my toilet roll and tissues and paper roll all come in nice large boxes filled with aforesaid huge air filled bags. Sigh one would think that in this age of recycling and whatnot that there would be a better delivery system that would not consist of multiple boxes. Loved reading this today and I smiled because I have been there.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I am always amazed at how much packing is in boxes I receive. I am so glad that this post made you smile which is what it was intended to do. I like to find humor in all things around me and then I write about it.
God Bless You and praying you have an Amazing Day.
Love,
Nancy
Amy L. BovairdNovember 25, 2018
Yes, Christmas trees have become products or commodities now more than representative of family love and get togethers. I’ve seen the ones advertised on TV that tries to retain family fun and goodwill but it is mostly consumer-related now. I waS trying to understand how you cut yourself on bubble wrap. But I think it was in cutting the bubble wrap that it became a problem. Maybe your Santa will come from Outer Space this year…
Love,Amy Thank you for sharing youro traditions with your readers!
I actually cut myself on the clear tape wrapped around the bubble wrap, lol! It really was only a nick but since I write humor I might have blown it out of proportion some. I am praying to not have any Alien visits for Christmas but If I do I will just give them a candy cane.
Thank you so much for reading, sharing, and coming here to comment.
God Bless you and praying that you have an Amazing Day.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you, Kim. He never only allowed himself to change. He was a very strong person and processed what was happening around him but refused to let it change him.
In these last letters he is really opening up to me. His best friend who he trusted and could talk to had left. Frank had been shielding me trying not to upset me or make me worry but then he realized so much he had shielded me from, I could read between the lines in his letters anyway. His total openness to me only made me trust and love him more, if that was possible.
God Bless you and thank you for your comments. The “Wow, just Wow” comment made me cry because I knew you understood his words.
Love
Nancy
Thanks for the laugh. I have had artificial trees for years as I was told when I moved in here nearly 42 years ago that we were not allowed to have a real tree. I had a 7′ tree for quite a few years then decided to go with a 4′ on a table. Two years ago I could not find one of the 3 pieces that fit in the slots to make the stand, so had to improvise with a piece of wood I had, and it worked fairly well except that the tree was a little tilted. I used the same solution last year. But then I found the other piece, so this year, if I haven’t lost it again, I will have all the pieces. I bought my tree from the store and it had only white lights. I already had a strand of 400 colored lights, so I just string that on the tree as well. It is well lit up by the time I get through. I still have that to look forward to this year as I have not started any decorating yet. When I had the 7′ tree I didn’t have anywhere to store it, so I left it up in the corner all year (minus the Christmas decorations of course) and put birds and nests on it.
That’s a great ideal, Diane. Believe me, I have thought about just leaving mine up all year. I have been so busy that I am just now taking the time to write a new chapter in our Memoir. I can write the Widow’s blogs really quickly but the Memoir takes a lot of thinking and recall. I have been trying to share a lot on my author Facebook page to entertain everyone.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I really appreciate it.
God Bless you,
Love,
Nancy
This is a great story. I could envision the whole process. It reminds me of two houses here in London where they used to compete as to which one had the most lights and decorations. They were amazing. Every year there would be more and more lights and displays set up. I don’t know what happened a few years ago but they weren’t there the last time I drove by. Normally the street would be lined with cars stopped so everyone could enjoy the displays. There must have been thousands of lights between the two houses. I can’t imagine the time it must have taken. Almost the whole surface of the houses was covered with something.
Thank you, Diane. Frank loved Christmas. I still haven’t put the outside lights up but it doesn’t take me long. I don’t do the roof. I just do the multicolored lights in his honor. The inside of our home takes me a week to do and I don’t even get everything out anymore but Meme’s Red has to come out for the Grandkids.
God Bless you,
Love,
Nancy
So human, to have our conversations with and without the focus of our love, being there. Like the lyric from the song Sister Golden Hair by the band America…” I’ve been one poor correspondent and I’m way too hard to find, but that doesn’t mean you ain’t been on my mind…” we try. When I was married, it was well after my time of letter writing.
Your story reminds those of us who’d rely on the written word how valuable the struggle to share our true feelings will always be for its small moments successfully shared.
Life is often nothing more than a successful struggle to build something that lasts. Those who really live, I think, have figured out that love is that foundation on which to build. Whether our love is shared with another or with the whole world the struggle is part and parcel to finding out whether or not it’s true. On the road to forever we, everyone of us have only just begun.
Loved this chapter, Nancy. You and Frank, continued…
Hello Dennis. Praying you are doing well.
Thank you so much for your comment. You have such a Beautiful way of putting words together that require us all to take a moment to let them soak in to receive deep caring meanings. Your understanding of life is very special. You are so right about love being the foundation for building a strong foundation.
God Bless you, Dennis.
Love,
Nancy
Fabulous share with provocative questions. ~~smile.
Appreciate the mention, Nancy. Thank you.
Year and years ago I used to join a New Years Water Ski (No Wet Suits) in So-Cal.
I have wrinkles today and….
How cold was that water in Southern California? Is there a difference in the secrets of lake water and Pacific Ocean water? Lol.
Thank you for sharing and commenting.
God Bless you, Chuck.
Love,
Nancy
I was in the middle of typing a comment last night when my computer crashed again. I hope I get finished this time. Loved your post. Sounds like something I could get myself into. But I’ll bet you have never been driving down the highway and headed at a 45′ angle to land in a ditch a few feet deep and a couple of feet deep in snow to find yourself facing the direction you just came from. That happened to me because of black ice. And I just sat there holding the steering wheel as though I were still driving, and wondering how I was going to get myself out of there. It was dark and I didn’t even know exactly where I was. I don’t own a cell phone, but several cars stopped and one man had a cell phone and called CAA (connected to AAA in the US). The tow truck was there and had me out within 15 minutes. So you are not the only one to get in a fix. 🙂 It was good you had someone to help you out of yours. Thanks for my laugh for the evening. God bless. Love ya, girl!
No, I have never driven in black ice but I was in the car with my parents and siblings when Dad tried to take a curve a little fast and we ended up nearly running into a mountain beside the road. Lol! I was raised in Levelland, Texas which is in the Panhandle of Texas. We had lots of snow there when I was a child. I can still smell the tires spinning on that snow. They smelled like they were melting.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Praying you figure out why that computer is crashing.
God Bless you, Diane.
Love,
Nancy.
Frustrating is too mild a word to use for those things. I have had things that didn’t even have written instructions, just diagrams that made no sense at all. When I found the computer desk I wanted a few years ago (a big one with file drawers and a huge hutch) I discovered you had to put that darn thing together yourself. And since the desk was to go in my bedroom, where on earth would I find room to put all those huge pieces and then try to put them together. They are too heavy for one thing. I discovered I had the option to pay the store an extra $50.00 to assemble it for me and deliver it in one piece. It was well worth it. It is so heavy I cannot even move it to dust behind it. It has become a permanent structure. I really don’t think this has anything to do with age. I have had this sort of thing happen years ago and it wasn’t any different than now. I don’t think there are many items any more that you don’t have to put together with “some assembly required”. God bless. Have a great weekend.
You are so right, Diane. So many things require total assembly. I really do not like things out of particle board. They are way to heavy and most of the time do not hold together well.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless you.
Love,
Nancy
Thanks you for yet another laugh, Nancy. I love your humor. Since laughter is like medicine and brings health to our bodies, I want to laugh as much as possible. It is good to see the funny side of things and it makes life much easier, especially the harder times we go through. It’s kind of like the difference between an oiled wheel and one that hasn’t been oiled for a long time. God bless.
Thank you, Diane. Humor is my best friend and I look for it in all situations. I love to laugh at myself and share the funny things I do. Thinking when others read they laugh because they have done something similar that they can relate to. Humor absolutely makes the world go round easier.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Fortunately my desk has held together well and is very sturdy. The drawers at least are actually made out of real wood. As for the rest, I think a lot of it may be pressboard covered with veneer. It was expensive, but worth it. I have had it for quite a few years now. It looks as though it will probably last for many years yet.
That is Awesome. I think the strangest thing I have bought recently was a real wood Cherry table with chairs. The table and all of the chairs had to be put together. That was a new experience for me. Lol.
Kim LavoieJanuary 5, 2019
Just sitting here thinking back to standing in a sentry tower….trying to find the frame of mind it would take to see the sadness of war on everything it touches. Yes, trying times indeed. Thankfully he had someone to look forward to coming home to. Bless you Nancy Lou
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Kim.
Frank was having very deep thoughts in that guard tower looking out across the A Shau Valley. I am sure the valley was a beautful place before it was ravaged by war. I understand there are many ancient buildings and ruins in Vietnam and many were destroyed while taking the youth and lives of many young men.
Frank would always remember what he saw during his time in Vietnam but he would not let it change him in a negative way but make him a better person.
God Bless you, Kim
Love,
Nancy
Another brilliant slice of Reality. I encourage younger people to read the words and between the lines. True Love and Commitment are fabulous Life experiences.
And many have forgotten this:
“Having served a year in the unpopular Vietnam War/Conflict made it hard for soldiers returning home to get a job because of the unfair baggage that the war attached to them.”
Thank you, Nancy for sharing with us your story
Thank you so much for your comment, Chuck. Thank you for remembering the plight of the Vietnam Soldiers returning from war and the difficulties they faced trying to get a job. It was such a very unpopular war fought by so many young men, many who were drafted not having a choice and others who join because they wanted to serve their country but then to find out they were basically thrown out with the dishwater to fend for themselves in a foreign land to only come home to so much disrespect for their service.
God Bless you,
Love,
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
In 1972, I was 12. I do remember the Vietnam War. My cousins on my father’s side had POW and MIA stickers of servicemen. This is my default memory. I read earlier excerpts between Frank and you, and how the year before he was longing to be with you. So glad you got to be together.
We share a slice of Texas. I lived in San Antonio for 8 years. I am so familiar with College Station and Texas A & M as I had many friends who attended the Aggie college. Really enjoyed reading about your first days together as husband and wife. Thanks for sharing your story and love.
Amy
Thank you so much for reading and commenting Amy. We loved Texas A&M. We were actually there when they opened up enrollment to women which made the number of students enrolling nearly doubled every semester for a while. We had so many fun experiences there and I can’t wait to write about them in chapters to come.
God Bless you, Amy.
Love Nancy
Wow! Another great read, Nancy. You make your story come alive. (Just corrected a typo but not sure that I shouldn’t have left it–Instead of “alive” I started to type “alove”.) I can relate to your preference of using the back roads and different routes there and back. If there are several ways for me to get somewhere, I’ll find them and eventually use them all it it’s a place I go to often. It is so much pleasanter and peaceful. The scenery is much better than on the major highways and, of course, the traffic is much less and sometimes almost non-existent. Once again, your love for each other shines brightly through your story. Thanks for sharing. God bless you.
Thank you so much, Diane. I am now back to writing fun stories without any more letters to share but I feel Frank surround me as I type. I am so glad your computer is up and running. I can’t wait to read more of your blogs.
God Bless You, Diane.
I Love You,
Nancy
At some point in time the Widow’s Blogs will be published in a book but first I would like to make sure the Memoir is all published. The Widow’s blogs come to me quickly and are for some reason easy to write. My love for humor and seeing it in all situations allows me to never run out of fodder for the Widow’s Blogs.
Thank you for commenting and reading. God Bless you, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
Quite the ordeal to winterize! Those armadillos sure are strange creatures. I remember years ago when I was in Florida one of them actually walked between my legs. I just stopped and waited for it to get through and carry on. At least it wasn’t a huge snake. Armadillos I can handle, but snakes are an entirely different story. Here we have to be careful of skunks. We seem to have a large population of them in the city. Hope the weather doesn’t get too cold for you. We have been having the same kind of fluctuation of temperatures here this winter. One day it was over 50′ and the next I think it was below freezing. It has been snowing since last night, but not heavily and it isn’t a huge accumulation. Hope it doesn’t become huge. Keep snug and cozy. God bless.
Right now we are just getting lots of strong wind, no rain or snow. House seems warm, so just working on catching up on website and Facebook.
God Bless you and stay warm.
Love,
Nancy
I understand. Some of my blogs come very easily, and sometimes I just cannot seem to get it quite right. Fortunately I have a reserve from an old blog I had which is still up but I haven’t posted there for years. I just copied and pasted the posts into a Word doc. and draw from those that are still relevant. It’s good when I’m a little crunched for time. God bless.
I am so very thankful to have found your blog! I am a new widow of two weeks but I have experienced grief for years as I have watched my husband slowly disappear from me because of a brain disease. He is my soulmate and I do feel his presence encouraging me each day. Thank you for sharing your life. ❤️
Thank you, Judy, for your comment and sharing a part of your story. You will always feel him by your side,
Soulmate love is eternal, and you will be united with him again.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Judy, if you ever want to talk, I am here for you. Sometimes it is nice to talk to someone who has been where you have been and shares the same kind of loss. Grief has so many faces, the loss of a child, parent, friend, brother, sister, etc. We share the face of grief from the loss of a spouse.
I am here for you.
Love,
Nancy
Our only child was born March 4, 1986. We named her Elise Victoria, which at its root means, ” God’s victory “.
Thank you for sharing yours and Frank’s story of God’s Beautiful Gift…and the love that continues to grow your family.
Thank you, Dennis. I know that you know what a Special gift a child is. Our only child was born October 15, 1973 and he has given us five grandchildren(four boys and one girl). We named our son, Matthew Scott. Matthew means “Gift from God”.
Thank you so much for sharing and commenting. God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
So funny! The kind words about Highway 77 Cafe are right on! We love stopping there and do so every chance we get! From those delicious rolls, to chicken fried steak, to the veggie plate, to ALLthe yummy desserts…..you cannot go wrong! Throw in the friendly owners and staff and you have real Texas Hospitality! Love your humor….so glad you did not have “a date” for the preacher!!
Thank you so much for your comment Betty. You are so right, HWY 77 Cafe is the best homemade food anywhere. I love that they have all of the Veterans pictures up on the walls. I have driven through Red Bud many times going to Hico, Texas where I was born and I have always thought Red Bud was a beautiful little town.
I can’t wait to pay Red Bud and HWY 77 Cafe another visit.
God Bless You All,
Nancy
Too much emotion in audio? Not at all when it’s a story of love, Nancy.
See…love’s meant to be shared.
I just had a friend write, ” I just came to cry over love’s result.” And after reading it my heart added,”…whether coming or going!”
Just between you and I…I think it’s clear that when James recently wrote a reply to a conversation we’d saying that he’d love to hear a chapter read by you…he really did mean “you” because while tears are she’d in both love and war, true love is not a war story and the tears that fall for love will always come and go! Keep doing your audios and let the emotions rise and the tears fall where they may…
Thank you so much Dennis. I was totally surprised by the emotion that came out of me as I read this chapter. Sure, I cried when I wrote it, but I was not expecting to see it all so vividly in my mind as I read the chapter. It wasn’t my writing but the memories embedded in my mind.
I will try to do more of the chapters and shoot for an audio book.
God Bless You, Dennis.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you so much, Diane. I was totally surprised that reading it would pull up such an emotional response from me. As I read it pictures of Frank’s face looking at me helpless to make me stop crying flooded my mind. The uncertainty of whether we would ever see each other again overpowered us. I still can’t listen to the audio without crying.
God Bless You and thank you for listening and commenting.
Love,
Nancy
I’m really behind in reading your blog. I’m still not getting notifications. I love your story here. I can feel the excitement in your words. God bless.
Thank you so much Diane. We were so happy to finally be out of the service and start our lives together with new freedom and no more separations.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless you,
Nancy.
Great post, as usual, Nancy. The barracks turned into apartments reminded me of the residence I lived in when I was in nurses’ training. Winston Hall was originally a temporary army barracks but still in use in the 60s. Not very temporary. I spent my first six months of training living there until they finished building the new residence building attached to the hospital by a walkway. And being stuffed into a Beetle reminded me of a time many years ago when Mike and Davina, part of our youth group, had a Beetle. They would take the kids home, and I remember one night there would have been at least as many as you had in your car. Maybe a couple more. Those were the days. 🙂
Yes, they were fun times. We had a blast at College Station. Of course, just like when we were in the service, everyone around us was in the same financial state. Looking back, it was very simple times.
Thank you for your comment Diane.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
A beautiful story. I was an only child, born after my parents had been married for 13 years. Although back then they didn’t have all the tests you would have gone through. But I am so glad that you were given that precious gift of a child. God bless.
Thank you so much Diane. They were just beginning to find ways to test and treat infertility. There are so many new treatments today. We never had another child but we were so thankful to God for our little miracle baby.
God Bless You, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
Love your story. I am trying to get caught up with your posts. I just got a notification for Taking Our Baby Home, but it is getting late and I think I’ll leave that for another day. I am really enjoying your ongoing story. God bless you as you continue to share your love story.
Thank you so much, Diane. Working on getting notifications steady. A glitch. I really appreciate you reading and commenting.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Another excellent word picture of your experience. You still had a place for a little humor, too, even through the discomfort and embarrassment. I do love your way of describing your experiences. God bless.
Thank you so much Diane. You loose a lot of your modesty when you have a baby.
I did edit out some of this chapter. Figured I didn’t want to scare some new Moms before labor.
God Bless You,
I love you,
Nancy
Another great story. I have been reminded from your “baby” posts of the time I spent in the nursery caring for newborns when I was in training. An unforgettable time in your life. God bless.
Absolutely! Scotty’s Nurses were totally in love with him. The one who walked us to the car cried when she handed him to me.
Thank you again for reading and commenting Diane.
God Bless You,
I love you,
Nancy
Well, it looks as if I have finally caught up on your posts again. I love the part where Frank took the book, ripped it up and threw it away. I’m sure books can be helpful at times, but no two babies are alike, even in the same family, so parents usually need separate strategies for each child they have. It’s so much fun watching babies grow and learn to do different things. They are so precious. God bless.
Thank you again Diane. Yes, Frank and I were not having any of that heartbreaking for no reason crying.
Frank was an Amazing Dad, Husband, and Person.
God Bless You,
I love you,
Nancy
LOL…you are too funny, Nancy. I’ll bet you looked adorable with that rainbow color accordion bow in your hair, like in the photo above. What a strange thing to be disciplined for. I guess because you caused a disturbance to the peace in the classroom. Oh my goodness, to make your classmates laugh, what an offense! Keep tearing it up, Nancy Lou. You’re the best!
I definitely disturbed the class. That Bow was one big dude up on my head. Thank you for reading and enjoying then leaving me a comment.
God Bless You, MaryRae.
I love you,
Nancy
Thank you so much Diane. What can I say? We were a humorous family. We had so much fun in College Station but the fun is just beginning in Ls Peyor, Texas. Lol
God Bless You and thank you for reading and your comment. I really appreciate it.
I love you,
Nancy
Omg, such a beautiful post, I could vision the bond between you and Mr. Frank. I pray that I have a love and bond that is strong as yours and stands the test of time
Thank you so much Lisa. Marriage takes a lot of work through total commitment and open communication. You will have this bond.
God Bless You and thank you for reading and commenting.
I love you,
Nancy
This should be read by every young couple starting out on the new venture of marriage. I love the humor and love the two of had mastered.
“I covered our son’s ears as he talked to that ramp then I cleaned and patched up his leg with gauze pads and medical tape” is CLASSIC
Thank you, Chuck. Frank was a little upset with the ramp. Lol! So many wonderful memories are coming from La Pryor, Frank’s first teaching and coaching job. Seems like yesterday…
God Bless You.
Much Love to You and Shirley,
Nancy
Nancy, I must apologise, I haven’t been to your site for a while. I am not sure why I was directed to this post but I am glad I was. I think God wanted me to read yourlovely story about what must have been a trying time for you and Frank.
Your memory and ability to recall and then write about that period of your life is amazing. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you so much, Peter. I am happy that God directed you back. Please don’t apologize. I get crazy busy too, and I am not the writer that you are. I am just a storyteller with a purpose from God to tell Frank and my story. God has a purpose, and He has strengthened not only in memory but in opening up my heart and soul to write this Memoir.
God Bless You, Peter.
Love,
Nancy
I’m a couple of days late for this, but I’m trying to get caught up after a very full week. Happy Anniversary to you and Frank. I know you had many fond memories to think on throughout the day. May God bless you with everything you have need of from day to day, moment to moment. It has been a pleasure getting to know you through your writing and on the phone, and through you getting to know Frank. I look forward to meeting him and you together in heaven when that time comes. Love you!
Thank you so much Diane. I had a very Beautiful Day of remembrance. I always reflect back on the fun times he and I had together.
He would love you and I am sure already does from Heaven.
It is always so much fun to talk with you. You are a true inspiration to me.
God Bless You.
I love you,
Nancy
Wow! I have never seen poison oak, but where I have been going for vacation the past few years and where we went when I was a child it rife with poison ivy. I learned at an early age to recognize it, and fortunately never came into contact with it. My mother, while digging in a little garden at the cottage where there must have been some poison ivy growing at some time in the past, ended up with it on her hands. We ran into a man a couple of years ago on one of the trails up there who had contact with poison ivy in April and in August his limbs were still a terrible mess. I hope you can manage to stay clear of your enemy from now on. God bless.
Thank you for commenting Diane. Yes, I usually stay very clear of it but this must have been hiding in the bushes when I hedged them. Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Summac a very abundant down on coast of Texas because of the wet climate.
I thought it was time that I came back to catch up at least in part with all the unread posts. Wow! That was quite the ordeal of waiting what must have seemed an interminable time. At least you got to the hospital on time. 🙂
Wow! If that had been me, I would have been long gone and never returned. I hate spiders of any kind, but especially big ones. There isn’t room anywhere for me and them to stay together. What a mess to walk into. What would you have done if Frank’s parents hadn’t kept Scotty? What a nightmare.
I am the same way, I hate spiders. Wood spiders are huge too. I was so glad that Frank decided to do spider duty. I had enough to do chiseling that toilet. Lol!
Thank you again Diane.
Love Nancy
It is one of my favorite stories too. There are still so many more stories to come. I have got to get back in there and write.
Thank you again Diane.
Love Nancy
Love it! Your stories get better and better. I think I am finally caught up again until you post more. Except for the Widow’s Blog of course. I have no idea what I have been missing there. But I will be checking it out either later tonight or another day. God bless.
Yea! I’m getting notifications again. 🙂 Another great post with lots of laughs. The joys of travelling with a small child. I would have been on your side if I had been in the car with you behind that car weaving all over the road. I would want to stay as far away from it as possible. Thank the Lord everything turned out fine.
Yes, I figured out a way to get out notifications. A Niki at AWeber has been a real helper. There is still a Glick in getting the blogs to them, but I figured out a way to go around that. Where there’s a will there is always a way. LOL.
I am so glad that you enjoyed the chapter. We did so many fun things and I love sharing them.
God Bless You, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
I got two notifications for this one only the first one was missing the link. There was a link and I almost clicked on it until I read that it was to unsubscribe. Whoops! Not the thing to click on. I did that on another blog once, and had to sign up all over again. I was trying to copy and paste part of your first paragraph here about how your brain works or doesn’t, but I can’t get anything to highlight long enough to copy it. It’s not your blog, but either my computer or the mouse. I am getting really frustrated with that mouse when it doesn’t behave well for me. But I did enjoy reading your post. I’m glad I now know the difference between fiction, non-fiction and memoir. 🙂 If I could get that smiley face any larger, I would make it really big. Gee, I think it’s time I went to bed and stop this rambling. Actually I got that backwards. I would need to stop the rambling before I go to bed. Oh, dear. Have a great weekend, Nancy. Love you. God bless.
Diane, thank you. After I hit the send button, I realized immediately that I forgot the link. This is a new way to do this for me but I should have used my head a little. LOL! Not sure I really know what the difference is between Fiction, Non-Fiction or a Memoir, but my mind sure wanted to think about it last night.
God Bless You and thank you for your Comment.
Love,
Nancy
Nancy, thank you for allowing a glimpse into the heartfelt words used to explain your raw feelings of love for your husband. The use of emotion is frowned upon except within closed family circles. Having listened to this portion of your memoir, I think it puts names to the love shared between two people in a military family. As a Vietnam Veteran, I have recalled many of the past emotions I experienced in leaving the comfort of family – or at the combat loss of a brother in in my unit. I did not have a spouse or love interest when reporting for U.S. Army enlistment, which destined my travel to the Far East. However, I shared discussions with many who left newly married brides at home. (Only some NCO’s and Senior Officers with whom I served, could have held a bond with their spouse your emotional recording displayed in this excerpt.) Truly, you have nothing for which would be considered inappropriate. In fact, this reading adds to the writing – and, makes me want to read the remainder of your memoir. Memoirs in print are the most difficult to have published. Most will not read the memoir written by us ‘unknown commodities.’ Only through personal connection do we have the desire to know more. I will purchase your series solely based on having listened to this recording. Thank you for baring your soul.
Jay, thank you so much. I was not expecting to react the way, I did. The memory of that day is etched into my mind so deeply. As I read the words that I had written, I could see it in my mind like a movie. I was no longer a sixty-nine-year-old woman, but a twenty-year-old wife who was trying to say goodbye to the one person in the world who owned my heart and soul, and who she might never see again. Of course, the emotions were not only from that time but from having lost him twenty-six years later.
I try hard not to let my grief of losing him to come out in my writing of our story because it was not part of our life then. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes the grief surfaces.
God Bless You, Jay. Your comment will always be Special to me.
Nancy
What a fabulous comment, Jay.
Those of us men who have stumbled across Nancy and Frank’s journey are amazed at the reality of this couple’s love for each other.
Frank is truly a role model for true masculinity.
Thank you, Chuck. What a truly Beautiful comment. It strengthens my journey to hear your heartfelt words.
God Bless You.
Nancy
Kimberly Harold LaVoieJune 14, 2019
touching…. I to this day can think of many people who either didn’t or haven’t learned the lessons of teamwork. It is refreshing to read of someone who stuck to his guns and made a difference.
Thank you so much Kim. The Senior ended up getting a scholarship from a College whose scout had been to every game and witnessed all that occurred. The Scout told Frank he had taught that that young man a life lesson which would change the young man’s life.
Thank you for reading and commenting Kim. You and Frank shared so many of the same life experiences.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I think you are pretty much on. Fiction can range from science fiction and fantasia, in which the writers create their own worlds and sometimes laws of physics, to tell a story, to historical fiction set in the past with fictional characters to such as Maureen McCullough, who wrote a series “The First Man in Rome” in which she viewed Rome from the POV of many historical characters in general historical to occasionally fictional situations, to explore how these different people were motivated, to take them out of the text book and make them real people. Non-fiction can range from how-to books to historical or scientific treatises, emphasis on accuracy. Memoirs are basically recollections of the events and people that shaped your life, and since Frank happens to be the person who most shaped your adult life, he and his letters certainly belong in your memoir. Which is also historical, since it recreates the turbulent years of the 60s and 70s very nicely.
Thank you so much for your comment Lew.
I like your explanation so much more than mine. So many books are now written as fiction and they contain actual well researched facts with the exception of names.
I love the way you do research for your books then build a story around your research.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Golly Gee Wilikers, dagnabit…what an invasion…just read your blog. Try this to attract dragonflies, who eat mosquitos. Not sure what to do about the other invaders except your trusty Cutters method…lol. I’m cohabitating with the wasps, but their nests are on the rafters of my deck. They don’t bother me and I don’t bother them. I did hose them down last year, but as you say in your blog, they build back fast. We seem to have come to an agreement… smile. https://livelovefruit.com/10-plants-that-attract-dragonflies-for-mosquito-control/?fbclid=IwAR2HVWh3WfnYceFHWAVKZ3aL6BiXQZbkzyT0wPTTnGkURZG0zqB0GqEBI0E
Thank you for your comment, MaryRae. I have heard there is a plant that also repels the mosquitoes from around your home. I really need to look into something else. The Cutter only lasts until it rains again.
I hope I made you laugh.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Another great story. It’s funny that you are talking about teamwork, and tonight I started to watch a movie about a football coach who instilled in his high school team that the only way they could win was by working together. It is based on a true story. I think it’s called “When the Team Stands Tall”.
Did you delete something between the last two paragraphs? You have this line: “Frank, Scotty, and I drove to Hico, Texas, to spend a few weeks with her” but I can’t figure out who “her” is referring to. Did I miss something? 🙂
Thank you so much Diane. That her should have been my Grandmother. I guess somewhere it didn’t take. I fixed it. Seems no matter how hard I edit, I miss some things. In Hubbard, Tx another young man will learn a life lesson from Frank then they will meet again years later and the young man will thank Frank.
Frank was a true teacher of young people and he wanted them all to succeed in life.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim lavoieJune 16, 2019
OF COURSE the skeeters are huge…EVERYTHING in Texas is bigger…lol….glad you are holding your own against the invaders
Thank you, Kim. We really do have two different size Mosquitoes. Lol. I am sure where you live, you are fighting the same battle. It seems this is the year for the insect, but I am hearing people are having lots of different kinds of snakes too.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Your ability to describe reality always brings memories to my mind.
Thank you.
This post relates to many past experiences, especially from my days in the Southern Califonia Desert with Crickets.
Thank you, Chuck. Your story about crickets reminds me of my Grandmother’s home in Hico, Texas. We use to walk downtown at night in the Summer and the sidewalks and windows would be covered with crickets. Thank you for sharing your memories.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Stephen LucasJune 16, 2019
Nancy try these around borders .They are easy to grow.
Marigolds, an easy-to-grow annual flower, emit a smell that deters mosquitoes. … Marigolds are also a popular addition to borders and vegetable gardens. According to NYBG, not only can they keep away mosquitoes, but they also dissuade aphids, thrips, whiteflies, Mexican bean beetles, squash bugs, and tomato hornworms.
Thank you so much Stephen. I will definitely try the Marigolds. I had forgotten about them. Frank and I use to plant them in our vegetable gardens to keep away insects.
Thank you for commenting.
God Bless You
Nancy
Wow! You have been at war. Where I lived years ago I had a picture window with an awning. The wasps used to make their nests up in the corner and they just kept coming back. I also had a clothesline on a pulley because the ground dropped at one point and I had to lower and raise it to use it. The wasps nested in the pulley and drop out when I used it.
If you get an invasion of ants at any time, I have read that they do not like cinnamon so if you get them indoors, sprinkle some where they come in and they will go right back where they came from. There may be other insects that don’t like cinnamon too. Others don’t like peppermint.
I remember a couple of different years when June bugs covered the sidewalks and filled the small trees at dusk. It was horrible.
Here’s hoping you don’t get any further invasions of anything of that sort. But at least it gave us opportunity to laugh. 🙂
Diane, I have heard that about cinnamon, too. I am so glad this post makes people laugh. I see humor in all I do. I really think humor is our best coping skill.
Not sure if the Cutter will repel the Web Worms like it does Mosquitoes, but time will tell.
Thank you for reading and commenting. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you for commenting. I love birds and birdhouses. I will definitely try this. I love to do things in a non chemical safe environment way.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Thank you, Chuck. There is nothing like being completely loved by someone and completely loving them. He loved me just as I am and he was my heart and soul. We were so blessed by God to have shared this Special kind of love for each other.
Thank you for your comment.
God Bless You,
Nancy
You have breathed life into a family tradition. Are cedar chests still being treasured as in the past, or are memories just on cell phones or up in the cloud?
That is a very good question Chuck. So many things are now kept online. Our pictures, books,etc.
I still think being able to open my cedar chest and actually see and touch my treasures from the past is so special.
I have bought a cedar chest for my oldest Grandson and his wife. I think because I want them to have the same feeling when they open their cedar chest.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Thank you, Jerry. I have was for some reason pulled to write this. I have never given a voice to an inanimate object, but thoughts kept running through my mind about what the Cedar Chest might have thought or heard if it had human emotions.
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate you.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I love the way you have written this from the viewpoint of the cedar chest. I have never had my own cedar chest, but when my mother moved in with me, that was one of the special pieces of furniture I wanted to save. I also have a chair that originally was my grandmother’s and which my mother had had for years. God bless.
Diane, my cedar chest was my Mom’s. She gave it to me when I was in High School. I redid the exterior as a project for a Homemaking Class my Sophomore year. The cedar chest had been scorched in a fire when my parents home caught fire when I was three years old.
I have a unique rocking chair too.
Thank you for commenting and sharing Diane.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 1, 2019
Hmmmmm….if the walls could talk…. now we know what the chest would say. This was a most enjoyable read. Bless you for saving, and sharing the mementos and memories.
Yes, if the walls could talk, LOL! This blog was a different form of writing for me and a fun write. Thinking, I am going to broaden this cedar chest’s world. I am having so many thoughts of where this could go. This blog was actually a set up for the explanation of how I found the letters, but I see so much more now.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Kim. Your opinion is very important to me.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Theresa HendersonJuly 2, 2019
This is an intriguing monologue from the keeper of the treasures. What a unique perspective!
In knowing your story, we now revisit it from an entirely different viewpoint. I love this!
Your writing has reached depths I’m sure you never expected!… because of your obedience in saying yes to our God when He said….write your story!!
Thank you so much, Theresa. From rereading and typing from Frank’s letters, I genuinely know that inanimate objects hold energy and emotions. I thought it would be different to write from the point of the cedar chest as to what it might have heard and known. I have never written anything like this before, but I love it. I am in the process of expanding on the blog using it as an outline giving more insight into its journey.
God Bless You, and I love you,
Nancy
Wow! That was quite the house and quite the move. As you were talking about the heat, I was feeling it as it is very hot here today. Have you got any photos of the inside of the house?
I do, but mostly outside and will share as stories are written.
It was a Beautiful home.
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 5, 2019
Is it just me or does a moving van unload a lot faster than it fills up? LOL….. this one brings back memories of the days when air conditioned vehicles were reserved for the ‘well to do’… car too hot? Roll down the windows and open the vents!
No, it’s not just you. Uploading a van requires skilled placement of stuff stacked right. Downloading just requires tossing boxes out to someone, but not my boxes marked “Do Not Toss or Drop” Lol
We really never had an air-conditioned car until we bought a new pickup in 1977 and even then we drove around with the windows down thinking the air-conditionerate the gas up.
Thank you for commenting, Kim.
God Bless You,
Your Partner in Crime,
Nancy
Oh, Nancy, this is wonderful! How original and creative. Very touching. What a cool vantage point to write a memoir/story. I look forward to reading more.
Thank you so much, MaryRae. Writing The Cedar Chest is so different for me, but it is exciting and fun. If inanimate things could talk to us what treasures they could tell us about their journies. Thinking so many objects around us hold energy from what has happened around them.
God Bless You, and thank you for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you so much Diane. I rewrote several times then it began to click as to where it is going. True life happenings will be embedded in the chapters and you will hear from the cedar chest as to its thoughts and feelings on those events.
Thank you for your comment and God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 8, 2019
I must simply echo what has been written before me…I think it clunked a bit at first, but, you really got into it in short order. A novel way to hit the high points of your life? I look forward to the next chapter!
Thank you, Kim. You are spot on, on the first part. It wanted to just speed through the creative part but thought I could give the reasons the cedar chest knew words. LOL. After that, it got easy because now I know where it will go.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
Thank you, Kim. I love that you Luvvit, Lol.
As you know from experience, you have to love Coaching to be a coach. Frank absolutely loved it and I loved watching him love it.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
Thank you so much, Mary Rae. I love the same things about you. We are definitely sisters in spirit, spunk, and grit. I wish you lived close by because we would have an amazing time together.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim LavoieJuly 20, 2019
Eye catching…literally! LOL… a wonderful story…wonderful memories too, I’m sure….and yet another time when silence, (this time on your husband’s part) was golden.
Absolutely, Kim. He knew that I had to go to the meeting and handle it by myself, but his love for me would not let him stay home. I am so thankful that he did not have to defend me. Frank had no patience with someone intentionally hurting my feelings, and I felt the same way about him. Our love for each was so deep, but we allowed each other to grow as a separate individual and become independently strong. Thus, as his widow for twenty-two years, I have been able to thrive. Of course, I know he has that Angel help me power now. LOL
Thank you for commenting.
God Bless My Good Buddy,
Nancy Lou
So endearing your story of love, young love, and all that made it work. You knew how to seize the day and did it. Your stories have me falling in love with you both. Thanks for sharing your story, Nancy Lou.
MaryRae thank you for reading our story and commenting. We were so young and so much in love. We really didn’t think there was anything we that we couldn’t do together.
God Bless You, MaryRae,
Love,
Nancy
Wow! That was some job to accomplish. I could never have handled anything like that. I can’t even imagine it. You two sure worked well together. Too bad it wasn’t more profitable for all the work you put into it, but at least you didn’t have time to get bored through the summer. 🙂
Diane,
We had so much fun. The place was always full and we got to meet everyone in town.
I had never seen a pool drained. They usually left them full of water, then you added a powder that would shock them back to clear.
Painting that pool was a lot of work. But we had fun doing it.
Thank you for commenting. Congratulations on your new book and study guides. You are Amazing.
God Bless You My Friend,
Love,
Nancy
Thank you, Chuck. We worked really hard that first week at cleaning up that pool, but we always had fun. Frank was such a Special person and I thank God everyday that Frank chose me to love.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I have lived in several houses with swimming pools and on farms with dams, reservoirs and big tanks so your story reminded me exactly how black water filled with rotting leaves and dead animals smells.
Sounds like you worked hard that summer but had a lot of fun.
We did work hard, but, as you said, we had so much fun.
I had never experienced the comete draining of a hugh pool like that. Usually they left the water in them then shocked them with chemicals first thing in the summer.
We used rollers to paint the interior of the swimming pool.
Frank and I really worked hard together at everything we did.
Of course, we didn’t make much money that summer, but the experience was priceless.
That was quite the move. It must have been really scary for you with Scotty–and for him, too. I’m glad it didn’t make him afraid of the water after that. With kids it only takes a second for something to happen. It sounds like it was a pretty bad wound, but I’m glad it was no worse than it was.
It was very scary for all of us. I am so glad I was watching him when he jumped in, otherwise, I am not sure what would have happened. I knew immediately that something happened. Moving down the road was the worst move I have ever made. Nothing got packed except what I packed that night and stuff was everywhere. LOL
God Bless You and Thank You for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
Chuck, you are so right. They instantly took charge of the situation and responded with so much maturity. I will never forget their love for us when everything got so scary and intense. Praying that teenagers today still respond in such a way.
Thank you for your comment.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Texas gals seem to be ‘fearless’.
One question.
Was the rifling through the PU truck the “watchman’?
If so that was a poor decision on the Police department
Chuck, yes the watchman was rifling through the truck. From his weaving walk down the sidewalk, I think he might have been a drinking watchman. I guess he was rifling through the back of the truck out of boredom.
The police made a huge mistake by not telling me they had left the watchman and I am so thankful the deer rifle was not loaded.
Thank you for your comment Chuck.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Wow! What a scary night. I’m glad nothing worse happened. I can understand how it is still so vivid in your mind. And I’m glad your dad had bought Scotty that dog. What would have happened without that warning system?
So true, Diane. We loved Snowball, and she was an excellent watchdog. I shudder to think what would have happened if the police had not arrived and the man had not been a watchman for them, but I do believe that God was with us all and we would have handled it.
Life is full of so many uncertainties, and we never know what tomorrow may bring. One thing I did know that night was that we could not stay there. I could not take any more suspense.
God Bless You and Thank You for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
Wow! What a great lesson learned. You both definitely had the right attitude in dealing with issues. If more people took that route, there would be a lot less divorces and a lot more love in marriages.
Thank you, Diane. Frank and I never ridiculed each other. We had such a deep communication between us. We didn’t always agree, but we didn’t put each other down for having a difference of opinion. Love is actually helping one another to become the best they can be. Ridicule is a destroyer in my eyes and never helps anyone.
God Bless You and Thank You for commenting.
I Love You,
Nancy
Ahhhh…memories. the way things used to work with day care! And to think back to the days of doing the monthly checkbook reconciliation and writing checks and putting them in the mail hoping the next deposit would happen before the checks cleared! LOL
Thank you for your comment Kim. Don’t tell anyone, but I still write checks and mail my bills. Lol. Thinking Big Brother online is not reliable. Lol.
I really don’t know if I made a lot of money doing daycare, but I had a lot of fun and it gave Scorty playmates. I was a stickler for them eating right. I was going through pictures and I have a picture of four of them together.
God Bless You My Friend.
Nancy
Love it! You sure did know how to have fun together. I think that one of the missing links in families today. They have forgotten how to have fun together. Laughter is like medicine and very healing. It is life-giving and that is always a good thing. Thanks for sharing and giving me a smile tonight.
Thank you so much Diane. We had so much fun. I think you are right families need to put down the cell phones and communicate verbally and play games, laugh and have fun.
God Bless You and thank you for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
Kim LaVoieAugust 27, 2019
most of my best memories of Christmas, and Thanksgiving too, were about family, (my brothers and sisters) getting together (as many as possible) and telling and retelling stories about family events. If and when something exceptional happened it invariably became part of the following year’s stories…. thanks for the reminders
Thank you, Kim. Isn’t it amazing how much fun we all had together at Christmas gatherings. I’m so glad I had siblings and we were all jokesters. Precious memories.
God Bless You, Kim
Your Buddy,
Nancy
Absolutely not. Lol. We looked so funny in those patches. We couldn’t quit laughing at each other.
Thank you for commenting Diane.
God Bless You,
Love
Nancy
Thank you so much Chuck. Frank was such a Special man and touched so many people. This was such a wonderful memory and as I wrote it played through my head like a movie and touched my heart deeply.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Another excellent chapter which reveals more of who Frank was and who you were together. You have some wonderful friends to remember and a lot of fun. Great memories for you and a great story for us to read.
Thank you so much, Diane. This is a very Special chapter. Unbelievable how much those kiddos loved and appreciated their Coach Henderson. Frank loved teaching and coaching. His dream before he died was to go back to teaching and coaching.
God Bless You and thank you for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
Kim lavoieSeptember 7, 2019
Reading this and thinking how difficult it was to make the next move….. The bond that develops between coaches and players……
Kim, I know you know that bond and how Special it is. Moving around as a Coach is the main reason Frank got out of paid coaching. That is except for Little League Baseball, soccer, & anything else he volunteer for.
Frank dud not want to move Scotty from town to town after Scotty got into school.
Thank you so much for your comment.
God Bless You, Kim.
Nancy
Kim lavoieSeptember 19, 2019
A fitting tune! LoL Armstrong steering, unsynchronized transmissions….and running daycare too! I remember a bus driver who used to do his route with his kids sitting right behind him…. Times have changed…
Kim, I loved that ole school bus. It was cantankerous, but so much fun. I got to take Scotty and Lisa with me too. Not sure how many times it died and I had to restart it with the help of an older student, but I am sure it was a lot.
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy Lou
That was quite the vehicle! Rather you than me, is all I can say. 🙂 I don’t even like driving a van. You are much more venturesome than I am. But I can see you had fun with it. God bless.
Diane, I thought that It would surely do me in, until I drove it for a while then it became so much fun.
I would love to try it again, but they don’t make’em like that anymore.
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Theresa HendersonSeptember 23, 2019
Heart rendering. I hear in your voice…something I can’t pinpoint. You’re “there”, sad, heart broken, hopeful, in love, reaching back and connecting with the thread that can’t be broken, even still.
Thank you so much Theresa Rereading Frank’s letters always takes me back to that place and time. Thank you for listening to the Audio and commenting. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim LaVoieSeptember 23, 2019
impressive……simply, impressive…. Frank’s ability to put his emotions into words, your ability to express those emotions in your words…. impressive
Thank you so much Kim. I actually did the whole chapter but when I relistened to the song at the end by Ed Sheeran, I decided to try something different and the end of the chapter with Frank’s letter reached out to me.
God Bless You, Kim and thank you for coming here and commenting.
Nancy
Thank you so much Chuck. I know I was certainly Blessed to have Frank in my life. His love for me was so complete. While reading his letter as I made this audio, I could hear his voice coming from his words as if he was talking to me.
God Bless You, Chuck and thank you for your Beautiful comment.
Nancy
Nancy, I really felt the love you two shared in his letters. I also felt your sadness in leaving him at the airport. Your book is a testament of true love. Thank you for sharing your life with me. I Love you.
Helenb
Thank you so much Helen. I can’t wait to write more of this book. Thank you so much for your comment.
I love you sweet friend.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim LavoieOctober 23, 2019
Well, it’s about time you got back at the keyboard! Great chapter! Glad all that cammo training came in handy lol I really love how he included you in these adventures rather than take off alone.
Kim,
You’re too funny. Yes, I am back st the keyboard instead of running around Massachusetts.
Frank and I were not only husband and wife but best friends. He took me everywhere with him. We had so much fun.
God Bless You. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Your Buddy,
Nancy
Absolutely true, Dianne. We were always up to something. Great times.
Not sure about the like button, but I will find out.
Thank you for your comment and God Bless You.
Love
Nancy
Yes, my socializer had been deactivated. Lol. I reactivated it.🥰
Peggy VicarsNovember 3, 2019
Everything you write pulls heart strings.You are very talented. I hope I’m still around when your love story is on film. Would be a great Hallmark movie. Best of luck my friend. It’s in God’s hands. I’m very proud of you.You are amazing!!
Thank you so much Peggy. You have been by my side on this journey from the very beginning. You give me so much strength and courage.
God Bless You my Sweet Friend.
I love you,
Nancy
Kim LaVoieNovember 4, 2019
I am continually amazed at the parallels of your life and my experiences in Maine! Yet another trip down memory lane. Keep pounding away at the Keyboard!
Thank you so much Kim. I am still typing. I think Good Coaching, which comes from the heart and a love for the kiddos, is the same every where. I know you did an excellent job just from our discussions.
God Bless You, My Friend,
Nancy
Kim LavoieDecember 5, 2019
Lol…..no blisters? Or, did you rely on swimming pool experience? That floating septic tank must have brought back memories of cleaning out that pool!
It must have been nice to get back in the vicinity of family
Kim, yes there were blisters. Lol. It was good to be near family again. Lord knows we would never have gotten that trailer set up without Frank’s Dad and Brother.
The porches will be even more fun. So many funny things that Summer.
Thank you for your comment, Kim and your Beautiful support.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Thank you Brianna. He was so excited in these letters. I also think these letters show how hard it was to communicate through letters because if the wait time.
Thank you again for your comment.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Thank you, Chuck. It is a Beautiful Memory for me. Time passes us by so quickly. It’s hard to believe this memory was from so long ago.
Merry Christmas to you and Shirley. You two are very Special to me.
God Bless You two.
Nancy
It is too bad we learn to lose the wonder of childhood – to wonder at a new birth of an animal, to wonder at life itself. We become so used to things being commonplace that we need a reminder. Thank you for being able to remember and to share that wonder with us. You are a blessing.
A merry Christmas to you and to your departed family. Looking forward to sharing the new year with you.
What a beautiful memory, Nancy. I’m glad I found your post on LinkedIn so I could read it. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Mine was quiet but good.
Diane, I had a Beautiful Christmas. It was quiet here too, but had all but three of my Grands and Great Grands on the 20th. My son and Daughter-in-law came in too.
God Bless You and so happy you are up and running again.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you so much Diane. We had so many great times together.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Hod Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Kim lavoieJanuary 2, 2020
I figure those porches outweighed the trailer lol….. Did Frank call you the queen of denial? I don’t blame him for relocating. It must have been hard trying to sleep through all the itching and other discomfort!
Those porches weighed a lot for sure.
Yes, it was hard to sleep with me itching and scratching, lol. Still to this day, I am not sure if he knew those vines were Poison Oak, but he wasn”t allergic to it so probably not.
Thank you for commenting Kim.
God Bless You My Friend,
Nancy
That was quite the ordeal! I can’t imaging–and don’t know that I want to–how you must have felt during the healing time. It’s amazing the power in a little plant. I have never seen poison oak, but have seen tons of poison ivy and have always managed to steer clear of it. It’s definitely not something I want to experience. Glad it didn’t take too long to heal. When I was on holidays a couple of years ago in a place where poison ivy overruns a lot os space, we met a man who had come into contact with poison ivy in April and he was still a mess in August. I felt sorry for him. I hope he eventually got clear of it.
Diane, I have been allergic to Poison Oak ever since then. I am very careful to never touch it or anything it has touched.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Thank you, Diane. I actually went back today and changed the ending. After reading what I had written five years ago in the original manuscript this morning, I knew I had left out what God wanted me to say.
I will definitely read the original first from now on.
Thank you for reading and your comment.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Kim lavoieJanuary 11, 2020
I just re-read this chapter. Glad I read the comments, that saved me the trouble of asking what was wrong with the original lol….this is a great chapter, and, like so much of what you write, it invokes memories of times past. Thanks for sharing….
Thank you, Kim. I guess I just thought I needed to add the original ending. Probably didn’t make much difference but it touched me when I read it. Mainly because I was reminded of Scotty being a gift to us.
God Bless You My Friend,
Nancy
Carmen BacaJanuary 12, 2020
Oh, my! Nancy’s experience confirms what we see as “coincidences” are instead God’s message to us through our loved ones. It’s as if the cat knew its importance in Nancy’s emotional, mental, and especially, her spiritual health. Reading what the Siamese breed means and knowing what I know about her eternal love story with Frank, I felt the chills at first, but then a warmth, like a blanket of comfort over my shoulders as I read on and became mind blown. I believe there are powers greater than we know at work in Nancy’s life: the Almighty who wants her to know she’s not alone, and Frank, who constantly visits and leaves signs to reassure her. Nancy, you are indeed blessed, and your books tell the story of a love with no bounds.
Carmen, thank you. I knew you would understand this blog. God sends us Angel’s in all forms to bless us with his peace. Kitty Kat was an Angel in disguise and brought me so much peace, comfort and love.
God bless You, My Sweet Sister,
I Love You,
Nancy
Thank you so much for your comment, Velma. She is a pure joy to be around. She always hugs you and tells you how much she loves you.
I am not a poet, but the words just came to me, so I wrote them down.
God Bless You, and I love you.
Nancy
Chuck, thinking unless we pause to see this world through a child’s eyes, we miss the serenity of the love and beauty that surrounds us. Seeing my Great Granddaughter running through the grass reminded me of being a little girl innocent of all the things that can taint us.
God Bless you and thank you for your comment.
Nancy
Beautiful, Nancy. I love how the process just kept on evolving into these four books not only for your family but for all to read and be blessed by. You have a message to benefit the world, and now it is available for anyone who chooses to learn from your experience of Frank’s love. God bless.
God works in mysterious ways to lead us on a path for His purpose. The glory is always God’s, we are only His instruments.
God Bless You and Thank You for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
That was some truck! I’m glad Scotty didn’t have any adverse reactions to the anesthetic or the surgery. By the way, I couldn’t find your “Like” button. Where did it go?
Thank you, Diane. All went well, and we thanked God for that.
Not sure about the like button.
Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it so much. It was so good to hear you are selling your books, and your congregation is behind you. God has a purpose.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you, Diane. I rarely write poetry, but when God sticks something in your head, it is best to write it down. I am getting an excellent response to the poem, which surprised me. It is on my Youtube channel, and I entered it in some online places.
Spillwords did a beautiful job in their posting of The Cedar Chest. I like them, and they are so helpful.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Carmen BacaJanuary 31, 2020
You cracked me up! Not often does an author make me do that out loud! Well done writin’ about that dang thang!
Thank you, Carmen. I see you noticed that I went back to my native tongue. LOL! Wow! I went on Google, and you would not believe what people do with that Dang Super Glue. Unbelievable.
Thank you for the comment. I am glad it made you laugh. You are a special friend.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Thank you Chuck. These Great Grandchildren are tugging at my heart and giving me a new kind of writing inspiration. I am not a Poet. Lol
God Bless You,
Nancy
Thank you so much, Brianna. I have never written true Fiction much less Flash Fiction. The picture they gave just spoke to my heart, and I couldn’t resist the temptation to write a short story. I just noticed the contest winner announcement day is May 8, 2020. I was shocked because that is always a very Special Day in May for me. Win or not, it was fun to write.
God Bless You, and I love you.
Nancy
Kim LaVoieFebruary 20, 2020
Que Preciosa!!!! As much as you feel truly blessed to have him in your life I’m doubly sure he will also know the same feelings.
Thank you so much, Kim. I love him so much. He is so smart and actually very quiet until you get him one on one. He loves to read and is really into technology. God has given him so many beautiful gifts, and I can not wait to see what he becomes as he grows older.
Thank you so much for commenting, you are a very dear friend.
God Bless You,
Nancy
You and Frank certainly had some fun painting that house Nancy. I wonder how well the roofing was done given the distraction from the neighbouring garden?
Frank and I had a blast painting the house.
I am sure the roofing would have gone a lot slower had I not been up there. I never let those guys live that one down.
Thank you for your comment Peter.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Wow! You guys certainly knew how to make life “interesting”. Never a boring moment while accomplishing the work needing to be done. You’ve got more gumption than I have. Climbing ladders is not something I do, especially to get on a roof. But you sure had fun, and that means a lot and makes for great memories that you can now share with us.
Thank you so much for your comment Diane.
I did climb ladders back then but not anymore. I don’t like heights and it always took me a little while to get my footing on the roof.
We had so much fun together.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I remember when I was a kid we played badminton in our backyard, but the yard wasn’t big enough for a real court. Sometimes the birdie would end up on the shed roof. I was OK if I could climb near the top and reach out to get the birdie, but if I had to get off the ladder to reach it, then I was in trouble. I didn’t know how to back down on the ladder. And the shed wasn’t very high.
That was always my problem too. Getting back down the ladder. Lol.
Last time I went up on the roof, I had to get my Grandson to help me down.
God Bless Diane and thank you for your comments.
Nancy
Theresa HendersonFebruary 26, 2020
One thing needs mentioning….said brother in law and his said wife were laughing til they cried, in the front seat. And in the cafe. And why is he your brother in law and I’m his wife and not your sister in law? Although I love being his wife. Just wondering! Lol ! And who was it that couldn’t walk or open the door? Never mind. Don’t go there! Funny and REAL stuff…..and that cafe is amazing! Love you, Nancy Lou!
Thank you for commenting Theresa. It would have definitely have been easier to just say Lloyd & Theresa, but I was putting this blog out to the world. Lol.
I love that Cafe. We need to make a return road trip soon. They have lots of Amazing little shops downtown too.
I love you,
Nancy
Thank you, Chuck. I had a lot of fun with the audio. It took a few trys, but finally got it better.
God Bless You and thank you fir your comment.
Nancy
Helen BuckleyMarch 1, 2020
A darling story of a truck’s memory! Great Job Nancy!
Thank you, Chuck. I am enjoying doing so poetry and fiction while finishing the last chapters of Book IV of the Memoir.
God Bless You and thank you for your comment.
Nancy
Rosalie HaverstickMarch 9, 2020
Rosebud—not RED Bud—my step dad and late husbands pictures are on that wall.
Thank you, but the blog says Rosebud. I do not know where you saw RED bud.
I am so glad your husband and Step Dad’s pictures are on the wall there.
God Bless You and thank you for your comment.
Nancy
Thank you so much Chuck. Actually, it is really fiction. I thought about it today while sharing it with a friend and remembered when Frank hung around our home then approached me at the kitchen sink that day. I had been blind to him because he had a girl friend then looking in his eyes at that moment, I was hook, line and sinker in love with him and knew he loved me too.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Absolutely! Lol! Myself is so unruly.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Terry DaileyMarch 21, 2020
This was great Nancy. It made me laugh and there was a little bit of sadness in there for the truth it presents to Myself. I know all to well as a single person what it’s like to pull an all nighter binge watching a Netflix show. Myself and I need to quit ignoring each other and come to some kind of compromise. I’m exhausted! 🌼
Thank you, Terry. I thought it would be fun to write something funny.
God Bless You and thank you for your comment.
Nancy
Carmen BacaMarch 20, 2020
Oh, goodness, I needed to laugh today. Thank you for providing me with a good one! Well done, and well said. I have a Myself that I call a dumb a$$ at least a dozen times a day.
Thanks, Nancy. I needed that tonight. BTW, you were dancing to Wipeout. When I was Jr. Hi age, those of us on drums in marching band had to learn Wipeout and we used it for cadence. We didn’t actually march as much a strutted down the street. 🙂 Memories!
Now, if I can get Myself out of this chair and to bed, maybe I can accomplish something later today when I get up, if Myself will cooperate.
Jerry, I think it is great that you played drums, my son did too.
They played thos song over and over. I have danced to this sing but not lately. Lol
God Bless You
Nancy
Kim lavoieMarch 21, 2020
Me myself and I… oftentimes separate people lol….do you often lose the argument with yourself? 🙂
Kim, I always argue with Myself and usually lose. Lol
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You My Friend.
Nancy
Gail HedlundMarch 21, 2020
I never had a cedar chest. But after my hubby & lost everything in the Camp Fire (Paradise CA November 2018), I found one at a thrift store. It has a funky paint job on it, I believe it was used for a kids’ toybox. My hubby & I plan to strip it, sand it & put a nice coat of stain on it.
I want to be able to place any new memories we have in it. Cause the old memories are just gone. Turned to ash & hauled away in so many debris trucks to only God knows where.
I am so glad you found a Cedar Chest. I have had this one for 54 years and I painted it an antique blue because it had been scorched in a house fire when I was a child.
My Cedar Chest has kept my treasures in pristine condition
Thank you so much for your comment and reading my short story.
God Bless You.
Nancy
Yes, that was the way back then. I think now they strip them down and put them in a tub with ice water.
Thank you for your comment, Chuck.
God Bless You and Stay Safe.
Nancy
Kim lavoieApril 1, 2020
For some odd reason I got chicken pox in 4th grade…with almost no fever. A week off from school and able to run around the farm! I was almost in heaven lol….great story, and more great memories, I’m sure.
Thank you, Kim. I remember the chickenpox as very itchy, but those dang German Measles were awful and made a lasting impression. The Mumps were no picnic either.
God Bless You My Friend and Stay Safe.
Nancy
Thank you so much. Writing this blog brought back so many memories of being a child.
God Bless You and Stay Safe.
Nancy
Gat RodgersApril 2, 2020
I followed your link here. Thank you. I always wished I would have had your dad as my teacher (I was unlucky and got the other one). I thought he was a great principal. Any school system would have been lucky to have him. He was fair-minded, funny, and had movie-star good looks. I do plan to make me some potato soup – with lots of pepper! Maybe it’ll help if I come down with this new scourge.
Thank you so much for your comment Gat. Dad was a very gifted man. I wish that he could have taught you.
God Bless You and Enjoy the Potato Soup. Stay Safe.
Nancy
I had all those things, but in a rather mild form as I remember. And I had mumps only on one side. What I did have more seriously was tonsillitis. That did make me very sick and miserable. I even had a bad case of that when I was in nurses training. I would have been 19 at the time. I don’t remember anything like your breaking of fevers. Thanks for sharing this beautiful memory. God bless.
I am so glad you had the mild form of those viruses. While writing this blog, I was amazed at the viruses that have been eliminated with vaccines. Unbelievable.
Thank you for your comment Diane.
God Bless You and Stay Safe.
Love,
Nancy
Good poem Nancy. One problem–I can’t hear a word of your audio here or on the potato soup one. Haven’t tried the Life if Brief yet. Have a great weekend. God bless.
Not sure why you cannot hear the audios. I checked each one from my computer,iPad,and phone. They are working here. They are all on Booksie with audio too.
God Bless You and thank you for your comments.
Love,
Nancy
Love it, Nancy. So descriptive of the life of a leaf. Can’t hear this audio either. Too bad. My computer’s volume is as high as it goes, too. Keep those poems coming. God bless.
Kim, thank you so much. It was a poem that came to me and God wouldn’t let me not write it. He has the power if we have true faith.
God Bless You, My Friend.
Please Stay Safe.
Nancy
Who can figure out technology? But it is strange that I can hear all of the YouTube videos loud and clear, so my volume, except for these three, is good. I was able to hear one of the other poems you read a while back. Weird.
Very thought-provoking Nancy. I discovered that if I use my headphones I can hear the audio. Strange because I don’t need that elsewhere. Oh, well, at least I found a way to listen. 🙂 Have a blessed Palm Sunday.
Dang thang! Lol. I still have it and it is now a flower planter.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Kim.
God Bless You and Stay Strong.
Your Buddy,
Nancy
Diane, thank you so much. It is for a contest that required two people in a conversation on a balcony. I am still doing some editing, but I wanted to get it out there to see if readers enjoyed it.
God Bless You and Stay Strong.
Nancy
Thank you so much Elaine. It has been so much fun for me to write these poems for my Great Grandchildren. They are all so different but share a Special place in my heart.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Thank you so much Chuck. I have had this on my website for awhile but decided to publish it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Helen BuckleyMay 13, 2020
It sounds quite familiar, talking to Myself. I do that too. I Hardly ever listen to myself, cause I don’t want to do what Myself says I need to do! That was quite a tickler to the ole laughter box. Thank you Nancy!
It is easy during these times to get sick of listening to ourselves, but our choices are scarce. LOL
God Bless You, Helen, and thank You for reading and commenting.
I Love You,
Nancy
Talk about intentions backfiring! Sounds like quite the mess. But I bet the kids had fun while it lasted. By the way, that saying about pride, that’s a quote from Solomon in the Book of Proverbs. Not sure of the exact address without looking it up. Great post Nancy.
Diane, they had so much fun with that silly string. I should probably have learned something from all of that but, of course, I didn’t. Lol!
God Bless You and Thank You for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
Kim lavoieMay 26, 2020
Ahhhhh….the difference between doing special things and the memories that come from everyday life! Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much, Kim and thank you for your comment. Everyday with Frank was special, but the vacations and holidays were even more special. He made life so much fun.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Peter,
Thank you so much. It was my pleasure to be interviewed by you and Kathleen. I am nothing without God in my life, and He is the real inspiration, purpose, and power behind the views of this interview.
God Bless You, My Friend.
Nancy
kim lavoieJune 14, 2020
Sitting here, quietly reflecting on what I just read.. the loss, the faith, the strength….so much love….
Thank you, Kim. Without good friends like you and God, I do not think I would have made it through this chapter. Praying, I finished this chapter with strength, faith, and helping others realize that our physical bodies are only a vessel for our souls on earth, and our eternal life goes on through eternity.
God Bless You, My Friend.
Love,
Nancy
Jan Myers BJune 17, 2020
Precious friend,
My heart bounded with your pain and grief as I read your account of praising God in Frank’s passing, I could feel the strong bond of love between you two.
As Ecclesiastes 1 states, “there is a time to live and a time to die.” We must each endure God’s plan of returning those who are His children. Thanks be to the Lord for the 29 years you shared together and for the wonderful son God have you.
The Bible instructs is,
“ Whatever you do, do all for the glory for God.”
I felt the strong emotion as I read and it brought tears to my eyes. I can’t imagine what it must have felt like for you to experience, but knowing the Lord was with you must have helped tremendously. I felt your pain, yet I also felt your hope. God bless you Nancy.
Diane thank you so much. I am glad that you came away with the hope. This chapter took me a long time to finish and I wanted to end these books with hope.
God Bless You,
Love Nancy
That brought tears to my eyes too, Nancy.
You wrote about such a painful experience so vividly while still giving hope and letting your love shine through your grief.
Your faith, love, and fortitude are an example to us all.
Peter, thank you. I want to let others know that our physical earthly body is not our real existence but only houses our soul. Our soul is our eternal life and the love we possess. God gives us a choice as to being good or evil, but He remains faithful in His love and compassion, waiting for us to come back to the goodness He has put in our hearts.
God gave me an incredible purpose in writing this Memoir, and I pray in some way that I have honored His purpose. Without God by my side, I could not have written this chapter.
God Bless You, My Friend,
Love,
Nancy
.
Nancy, I just wish I could have known him.A special love like you two had is so inspiring to others. Your story and faith and the gift to tell about it in such a way that makes a heart skip a beat is a true blessing.Love you Nancy
Thank you so much Peggy. I love you very much and I know Frank would have loved you too. Think you for being my best friend through all of these years.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Wonderful post Nancy! I can almost feel the personality of the chest when reading. Don’t stop writing, you have a gift and an insight that is needed in today’s world.
Oh, what a heartfelt final chapter, Nancy. My thoughts and prayers go out to you. You are an incredible individual as well as a survivor who not only has made the most of a potentially crushing situation, but you have been able to share that experience so others can learn and grow from it. It an honor to read not only this but all the rest of your writing. Keep up the wonderful work.
Thank you so much, Jim. Your comment humbles me. I did not want to end our love story with Frank’s sudden illness and death, but it was only his physical body that left me. His love, spirit, and energy still surround me every day.
God Bless You,
Nancy
BrittanyJune 22, 2020
Such a beautiful chapter. I never got the chance to meet Frank but love that I have these books & stories to pass down to his great grandchildren.
Brittany, he would have loved you so much. He is around you watching you love Matt and babies knowing you are his Granddaughter now.
God Bless You and I Love You.
Love Meme
Oh, my, dear Nancy. Thank you for having the courage to put these beautiful words to paper. They have me feeling the pain it must have been for you. Thank you for being the living example of soulmate love and sharing that experience with us through your writing. It’s such a gift. I love you, my friend and am grateful for our paths crossing. Love and blessings.
PS: I’ve been enjoying two doves for a few months now. I live on a 2nd story and can see them outside my kitchen window on the roof of the dwelling next door. It’s a stone cabin the landlords are refurbishing. In that effort, they’ve been sealing the area under the roof along the building walls. I asked them if they could find a way to build around a particular area where the doves hang out. They did and built them a wood house too! After reading your story, I’ll look at them differently. They are God’s messengers that all is right and that God is protecting me and answering all my prayers.
Brianna, this is so special. I have a Mourning Dove that has stayed around my house every since Frank passed. I know it is him protecting me and letting me know he is still here. You are such a Beautiful Person. I am so glad that you are in my life.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Thank you so much Chuck. I was not sure this was poetry, but a friend informed me that is is a form of poetry called stream of conciousness.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Thank you so much Eva Marie. I am so glad you have subscribed to my website and I will enjoy hearing from you in your comments.
God Bless You,
Nancy Lou
Eva Marie, thank you so much. Frank and I were soulmates, and we thought alike. We had so much fun. Life was so uncomplicated back then.
God Bless You,
Nancy
You are not only a blessing to your granddaughters, but now also to your great-granddaughters. (To your grandsons/great-grandsons as well. Just differently.)
My mother says she doesn’t mind her wrinkles. At least they don’t hurt! 🙂
This was a delightful story about the grace of growing old. Life is a circle of events. And some of which can live a life time. This was heartwarming and delightful.
Thank you, Chuck. Love entails the big gestures of gifts and the little simple moments that cost nothing. What I remember and miss involves those special simple moments together sometimes without words, but always feeling loved.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Eva MarieApril 24, 2021
This was a fun read about that tang glue! I had to smile several times. I remember Elmers glue the best. We used it for everything
Thank you so much for your comment, Eva. Frank was so adventurous and I can still hear his laughter as he ran around picking up those hail stones.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Eva.marie11@hotmail.comSeptember 26, 2021
Beautiful poem just flowed. Love all the imagery. Could picture it all.
Thank you so much, Eva. Our life stories all have sadness and joy, but having comfort in the way God stands by our side through it all is so important.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Oh, Nancy, I love this touching short story! Your style of writing is so down-to-earth and very relatable and touching. I read your stories with such ease. Give us more! 😘💕
The cedar chest was given to me by my Mom when I was 16and it had been given to her by my Grandmother. I know it is over 80 years old.
I painted it blue after Mom gave it to me as a home economics project because it had been scorched in a fire when our home burned when I was two.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting Vicki.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Thank you so much.
I am loving your comments
God Bless You,
Nancy
Robert ( Bob) ByasseeDecember 27, 2023
Nancy
I don’t know if Frank ever mentioned me in his letters but I was accidentally stationed with him at Torii station. And when I got to Phu bai we were roommates until he went back to the states. He was older than me by one or two years but he was like a big brother to me. He was my protector and mentor. Probably the nicest person that I have ever had in my life. The first day that I arrived at Phu bai he took me under his wing and we were more or less inseparable. I was so happy to see someone that I knew. We were stationed at Torii together but not really close at that time. I probably even met you at some point while on Okinawa. When Frank got out of the Army he sent me a copy of his dd214. And that’s the last I heard from him . Today the day after Christmas2023 I type in his name and came a crossed your memories. I looked through the pictures and seen the his face . I’ve thought of him so very often. I think you only have a certain amount of friends in your life that you cherish and Frank is one of mine. Thank you so much for your love for my dear friend
Thank you so much Bob. I am so touched by your words about Frank. He was the best human being I have ever known.I hope you will read our Memoir and hear his voice again in the words of his letters. Please feel free to contact me 979 661-9777, so much I would like to hear about Phu Bai
Thank you, Nancy
This chapter had to be the beginning. I say that for having read a truly familiar account of what seems to lead up to all lasting relationships! The recognition of a person’s unique grace. A statement which is meant to ask you to see the imperfect within us all, followed by an act which forces the the truth of our own feelings upon us! Phew…sure glad to get that out of the way, now we can explore everything about us, honestly!
I’m unable to explain why I enjoy the way you write. Except to say as a former boyfriend, I appreciate every moment you question or are pleased by the feelings you experienced! It’s a valuable insight to share the workings of the mind from the girlfriends perspective! Especially before becoming one to the other! Of my late grandma Manning, I’d inquire why she never dated or spent time in other men’s company after my grandpa and her husband had passed. She’d say, ” Once you’ve had true love Denny…there’s really no point in questioning it!” Your story, Nancy…might very well be the access which will help so many to look for the elementals of true love, they may already have. Nice work!
Thank you so much. I can not tell you how much your comment means to me. My youngest grandson said your exact words, “I like the way you write”. I will bare my heart and soul to you in this book then he will also bare his through the letters he wrote to me. Frank and I became one so quickly that it made my head swim. I have always thought from the moment we met that God had planned our union before we were born. Even now, my heart grows with love for Frank. He lives and experiences life through me now as one heart and soul. Please keep reading and sharing. It only gets more humorous and better through the years.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I can hear the bees buzzing in the apple tree.
Thank you so much for your comment. There were certainly lots of bees buzzing in the apple tree that day, for sure!
God Bless you,
Nancy Lou
A fun story, Nancy. I remember cutting down Chinese elm trees in the yard behind my small apartment. I only had a hand saw. I asked my landlady’s permission before I did it. But those branches were quite thin compared with yours. Not sure I would trust myself with a chain saw. That might just be a recipe for disaster. A jig saw is more my style. Though I am not a widow, I have had to do many things on my own as I have always been single. I laid carpet once. That was a story in itself, too. Maybe I’ll tell you some day.
Thank you, Diane, for your comment. I was not very skilled with that electric chainsaw but I learned as I went along which seems to be the way I learn things. Thank goodness, it had a trigger that you had to hold down to keep it running. I really enjoyed our talk last night and I learned a lot from you. I can’t wait to hear your story of laying carpet, it has to be awesome.
Thinking as a single woman, you have some awesome do it yourself stories.
God Bless,
Nancy
I’m actually becoming almost clairevoyant! I knew before I even hit your link this was a caladryl story! Over the years, it was a staple in our home! Mostly because my mom could attract a mosquito from 2 miles away! But also because of what was indigenous to our neck o’ the woods. Poison Sumac. As well as a little poison oak here and there! Great stuff that Caladryl !! Accidentally fed our Bitsy the dachsund mix(she came with our first house in Green Valley) some red licorice and she had some pretty nasty lookin red bumps on her nose the next mornin…a little Caladryl and the bumps were gone by the next day! I look forward to your Chigger story, a friend Ray and his wife settled in Arkansas and had a lot to say about them lil varmints! Til then…keep on keepin on!
Thinking maybe that clairvoyance had to do with the picture. Lol! I keep that Caladryl as a staple around here too.
They actually make a clear stuff like Caladryl but it doesn’t work as well. Pink is the best.
When we moved to the Gulf Coast not only was there a creepy fog hanging on the ground in the giant trees but things like butterflies were huge along with biggest chiggers I have ever seen.
Thank you for your comment and sharing your memories of Caladryl.
God Bless you,
Nancy
So….you never drank again? What about gettin back up onto the horse that threw ya? Lol. I’m glad you survived! Never did get blasted before I was in the service, and I think I kept it to a minimum even then! I will share one excerpt of a story that goes hand and hand to the part yours regarding drive home. My gf at the time and I had been to an afterparty and I was the designated driver. She on the other hand had too much to drink! On the way home, I had just enough time to get the window down before she began to upchuck…and this was the first time I’d be a witness to this kind of event! Now, I’d been in the medical field for many years and had seen thousands of people upchuck, always with an attendant noise that in many cases could make you experience nausea as well !!
Well…the window was down and I, of course was expecting the worst! And that’s where I got the shock of my medically oriented life! She laid her head on the sill of the door and I watched he silently release her fluids from one side of her mouth! Not a peep! No gagging, no talkin to Ralph on the big white telephone, nada! The next mornin, I finally got around to mentioning what I observed and I guess that was probably one of the bigger laughs I ever got from her when I said, “You really surprised me ya know!” She asked, “How so?” “Well, let me put it this way…I’ve seen a few people upchuck in my time but you are absolutely the first I wouldn’t stand back from while they were in the middle of it!” “What do you mean, omg..you saw me throwin up?” “Yep..I sure did! But I have to tell you something about that.” “Oh please gawd was it bad?” I looked at her and smiled, “….no, let’s just say that when it comes to that sort of thing…you don’t puke ugly!” 😀
Lol, now I didn’t say I never drank again. I would also recommend no one ever mix Gin and grape juice, a definite toilet hugger mix but that’s another story.
Thank you so much for reading, commenting and sharing your stories.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Always welcome! Hope all is well with you!
Yes, all is going well. I am learning new things but enjoying it.
Thank you again.
God Bless you,
Nancy
You are always good for a laugh out loud laugh Nancy loo. My voice recognition always wants to spell your middle name as l o o instead of l o u. I think that’s kind of cute so I we’ll just leave it that way. BTW, loo is the colloquial for bathroom in England and Australia. Just thought you might want to know 🙂
John thank you for your comment. I will definitely answer to Nancy Loo. That spell check thangy gets me into lots of editing. Lol! Figures that spell check thangy wants me to be Nancy Potty. I love it! It fits with the way I talk to it.
Gotta love it “NANCY LOO”.
Thanks for sharing. This password ‘thangy’ as you call is a big pain in the @$$.
Oh wait a minute, did I just give away one of my passwords?
Thank you Chuck. Grammarly has decided that ‘thangy’ is an unknown word now! Thinking it has purposely told spell check and John’s voice recognition to call me Nancy Loo.
Chuck, I checked and I don’t think that was one of your passwords. Lol
Your honey’s letters are so touching, I’m sure the memories of those times come back fresh and emotionally strong as when you received them the first time so long ago. I am enjoying your installments greatly, and I’m honored you’re sharing them with us readers.
Thank you so much, Carmen. I am honored that you are enjoying our love story. Your opinion of means so much to me.
Yes, each letter I read and post puts me back in the moment I first read. Writing this book is like entering a time capsule. As, I see, hear, and feel, I become that young woman from so long ago standing beside my young husband, Frank.
Good Lord, what have I fallen into. I love the Southern drawl and all who share it. Thangy perfectly describes anything you want it to. Such as, as I whisper to my husband when we first got home to Michigan….Where is the bathroom ? That would be the thangy out back. Oh Lord help me.
Thanking the Good Lord for sending you my way. You betcha, you will definitely get some southern drawl here and a whole lotta humor! Thank you for coming to my website, reading, and commenting.
I really enjoyed talking with you yesterday. We are kindred sisters for sure.
God bless you,
Nancy Lou
It happens. At our local casino, there are two separate restrooms.
One in non-smoking and one in the smoking area.
In a hurry, didn’t pay attention to where the ladies restroom was.
Always turned left in the smoking area. Not so in the non-smoking area.
In I march in and there was this man right there doing his thing.
A quick retreat and I hoped he never saw me. No doors but there was a sign on the wall.
So, it does happen and found that I was a quick learner. Never again.
Marion just writing this, could not quit laughing. Life is so unpredictable and so much fun. Thank you for sharing,now I don’t feel all alone in my escapade. I will definitely try to read the signs, especially on bathroom doors. Of course, I can not promise that I won’t do it again but pretty certain it will never leave my mind.
God Bless you,
Nancy Lou
You are correct, Marion
At Rolling Hills, the Men’s bathroom is on right in the smoking section and on the left in non-smoking.
Very confusing for some of us who have short-term memories…
~~smile
Life’s funny moments are funnier in the rearview mirror. I had a similar experience myself as a very green freshman at Iowa State University in 1964. I’m still embarrassed even in recollection. I think you missed a real opportunity not titling this episode “Nancy Lou in the Loo”.
I wanted to title that but I am limited on title size. All I could think about was Nancy Loo. I really fit that name. No doubt that I knew you would love this blog. I even wanted to tell about your voice recognition thinking you said Nancy Loo. I guess you had a premonition.
God Bless
Nancy
Interesting how the distinguishing feature for the person in the wheelchair is ??? …I guess being disabled means your over any embarrassment for being… something other than male or female? I don’t know how to laugh at this…clearly, being disabled means either never having to worry which bathroom you wheel into, or maybe gender related signs are designed to make us all feel a bit disabled for our momentary state of being!
Ha….ut oh, sorry… that was for a completely unrelated sign of dysfunction! 😀
Dennis, you are too funny. Thinking they need to put a dress or pants on that wheelchair but I guess they assumed everyone would connect to the stick guy and girl. one thing for sure, it didn’t matter to me because I was just using my sense of hearing. LOL
God Bless,
Nancy
Once again you bring laughter to me.
Thank you, Marion. I love that it makes you laugh. Lots of thangys and dumafaches. In this one. I could not find some pictures I took when I actually refurbished the porcelain throne but I tried hard to find them.
Thank you for your comments, they mean the world to me, just like you mean the world to me.
God Bless you,
Nancy Lou
So sweet. I wish my letters hadn’t got lost. Only 7 in two years but read them over and over so many times that I should have them memorized.
Marion, I am sorry your letters got lost but I know you have them in your memories. I found these letters from Frank only three years ago after he led me to them in a dream. That will all be explained in the book. God works in such mysterious beautiful ways.
God Bless you and thank you for your comment
Nancy
Makes me miss my husband. Nancy, did they really have BC pills back then ?
Marion, yes there were birth control pills in 1968. I think my Mom was insisting because we were so young but we never ever used birth control our entire married life. God had a His own birth control plan for us.
These letters really bring back memories and of course, like when you have read them, they make me miss Frank being here physically again. The grief and loss of a true love never go away, it just simmers in the background of our minds until something brings it to the surface. Letter number 11 really affected me in ways nobody but me will understand because it had the answer to a question Doctors asked me when Frank was so sick before he died. Had I remembered or found Frank’s letters before he died, I would have had the Doctors answer but we all have a chosen time when God calls us home and I have found peace in God’s decision.
God Bless you and love to you, my sweet friend,
Nancy Lou
The thrill of learning new skills as an “experienced citizen” can be a lot of FUN!
Remember there are many tutorials on YouTube. ~~smile
Yes, Sir! Google is not getting the job done for this “experienced citizen”. I need duct tape to keep the knowledge from seeping out my ears. Lol! For some reason, I was googling trying to Google, Ask Chuck? Is he on Youtube?
You two had something very special. I think it is obvious as Time passed that the depth of your love for one another deepened and matured. The freshness and excitement of new love is something that stays with us for all of our lives. Thank you for sharing these obviously special and tender memories with all of us.
John, thank you for understanding how special our love was for each other. So many people still have this same love and commitment. Sharing these letters, our soulmate love, and our life together, I pray reminds others of their memories of falling in love then makes them look across the room at each other, seeing themselves as young Newlyweds but with the knowledge of knowing they are now one heart and soul forever.
Thank you for your comment.
God bless you,
Nancy
Twenty years ago I had some of the finest computer and network certification in the world. After a retirement I didn’t even try to keep up with changes. Now I know what I should be able to do with a computer or network without a clue how to actually do it!
Hu, I am with you. I remember when computers filled a room and at that time, I wanted to be a computer programmer. Now, I think they program themselves. Lol! Do they see what we type? Do they deliberately mess with us? I am trying to be kind to mine now and not take harsh action on it. Thank you for reading my blog and commenting.
God Bless you,
Nancy Lou
Hello
Hello, Big Bro. Thank you for the howdy
Although it’s difficult to appreciate, I will say I’ve begun to gain a better understanding for the interplay between two people who’ve found their desire to begin a life together put at the feet of a decision they had no ability to influence! While some would point to a thing called chance, I’ve begun to see how this story really goes to faith! You’ve done well to recognize the moments when and where one’s faith… in love, in family, or in your God might be tested and I look forward to how you and Frank chose to deal with each other in the moments both together and apart. By the way, I have always always been that line in the song by the band, America…Sister Golden Hair Surprise, ” …I’m one poor correspondent…and I’m way too hard to find, but it doesn’t mean you ain’t been on my mind!” I’m glad that you and your husband were Nancy, it makes for a great story! Carry on…
Thank you so much Dennis. God was so important to Frank and I. I really believe that God had a plan before we were born for us to find each other no matter what. Even then God had a purpose for the two of us. Finding these letters has truly reenforced that belief in my heart for that purpose.
True love, true commitment, true struggles, real separation by war, struggling to have a child and eventually heartbreaking grief at losing a soulmate who shared my heart and soul. You will read about all those things as I type about our lives in this book uninhibited while bearing our life together with you.
God has a purpose.
God Bless you,
Nancy
I’ve done this before too. I won’t do it again for sure as to me those urinals are nasty! lol.
Mary Rae, you bet they are! You would think they would be easier to clean than a regular toilet but seems it is not true. I really pray I don’t do it again ever. Thinking, I should use my eyes and not just my ears.
Thank you so much for your comment.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Nancy Lou, mail fun knew no boundaries for my brother and I. While I was a Radio Teletype operator in S. Korea my brother was a teletype operator for the FBI in DC. We would send letters back and forth and occasionally add a handful of the ticker tape punch outs we both had an abundant supply of. It really made my houseboy mad so I let him help me prepare an entire package for John.
Walter, I know that was so much fun. How big was the box? I love that you wrote back and forth with your brother. Do you still have any of your letters?
Thank you for your comment
God Bless you,
Nancy Lou
Thanks, sis, I was in Viet Nam from 1968 till 1969 then back in 1969 and home 1970. I was home 30 days in 1970.
Frank will always be my best friend, my brother in law and my brother in arms. We share a brotherhood that only those who served America in war can ever know. God Bless and Love you.
I am so proud of you, Jimmy. Thank you for your service to this country and most of all thank you for being one of the most loving and most kind people I have ever known. I know that God is very proud of you and Frank is proud of you too. I love you with all of my heart. You and Connie are always in my prayers. I am so thankful that you are my Big Bro.
God Bless you,
Your Sis
Well…give me just a moment while compose myself. Fair warning Nancy it will not be an English moment…no, that ninety-seconds wouldn’t afford me the time I’d need to acknowledge everything this post of yours has caused me to feel. About the worry we keep within us as though no one would believe we’d ever care for anyone else, or the camraderie shared between brothers, sisters, and family for knowing the what honoring love within family means against any titles as that would somehow make it subject to the law over our own hearts. No…it’d probaly take me a little more time than a minute and half to sort out why at this stage of my life the acts undertaken by a true friend for no other reason but to let them know how important it will always be for any veteran to feel and know that the service they willingly provided on behalf of their love for the life they’d been blessed to live prior to serving in wartime… should never, not for one moment, EVER be confused as an act of self-service against the horrors most veterans choose not to share out of concern for the same love they chose as their duty to protect. I think instead Nancy, I’m gonna stick with an “American Moment” since it is not defined by an exact period of time which allows me the time to catch up to the wonderful pace you set with this story, if only to match your stride long enough to tip my hat and smile as the well deserved compliment you Ms. Nancy Lou Henderson, so rightly have comin!! My hat’s off to you <3 Well done!
Thank you so much Dennis. This was an emotional chapter for me to write. I wrote it then came back to add more because there was so much more to say and it all needed to be said. Vietnam Veterans did not receive the gratitude and thank you they deserved to help them readjust to coming home. As with so many others, my Brother, Jimmy does not talk about his time in Vietnam but lives with it in that hidden place that all veterans have locked it away in but he has not let it affected the Beautiful, Caring, Loving Man that he always was. Welcoming Jimmy home after 42 years too late, in no way takes away his horrors or pain but it let him know, (and others who were there who didn’t have a clue about Vietnam) that we loved him, are here for him, we are proud of him, and we will always listen, without talking but true compassion, to him if he should ever want to talk.
Writing this book has opened up many conversations between Jimmy and I about Vietnam. Jimmy talks and I listen.
I have a deep love and respect for all four of my brothers and I thank God that the younger three did not have to go to war.
God Bless you,
Nancy Lou
Yes, it absolutely helps to connect you with me on that level, the way you speak to what was shared with you as by your brother, and also your husband is the compliment to everyone’s ability to get how important it is to our ability to remain ourselves! Especially, for the combat vets whom James cares for, and even for the vets who didn’t see combat but had a brother who did, and loved us too.
Dennis, James’ God-given gift of writing with a purpose for Vietnam Vets is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. Even those of us who were not there read his chapters and feel like we are in some small way in that valley of hell with him hiding in that jungle but never actually seeing the horror he is seeing.
Thank you for your comments Dennis. I really appreciate it.
God Bless you.
Nancy
Nancy, I enjoyed this post so much. I love your comments underneath the letters. That adds the depth of meaning in it for me. What a lovely thing to share with the world.
Thank you so much Mary Rae. I am glad you like my comments between the letters. Frank speaks to us all in his letters so you will truly get to know him. He also reminds me of what I have written him.
Praying you keep coming back and reading because soon you will get to watch this amazing person named Frank, my husband, write letters from Vietnam and he will grow into a stronger, wiser, beautiful man. I’m just his narrator.
God Bless you,
Nancy
A hectic time but seems you handled it very well. Amazing the maturity shown. I wonder how many today could handle the responsibilities so well.
Thanks, for sharing these parts of your life.
Chuck, Thank you. Back in 1968 weddings were not as complicated as they are now. I thought about this as I wrote of these days leading upto our wedding.As an owner of a Florist, I realized how uncomplicated Frank and my wedding was compared to now
Today the pressure to out do others weddings and the high expense of it all is astounding. Weddings only take a short time and they are really about the devotion and love to one another. As a Florist, I always tried to calm my soon to be brides down and reminded them of what really was important.
Thank you for reminding me and your Beautiful Support.
God Bless,
Nancy
Nancy, this is beautiful. You are obviously doing the work of your soul. Thank you for blessing us with your stories. I loved hearing the backstory, which instills the depths of your gift. Much love, Mary Rae
Thank you so much, Mary Rae. I have always been fascinated with letters from the past. To actually read a letter written by someone who passed long before my time on earth is just amazing but to actually hold that letter in your hand and see the writing on the page opens up a window to the soul and emotions of the writer through the beauty of the grace of their handwriting.
I see the emotions in Frank’s writing as I have read then typed into these chapters. My plan is to share copied pages of these letters in the book.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Agree with you Nancy, seems ridiculous to take on debt to create a social spectacle when the money spent could be used to start the couple off on a firm financial foundation.
Expensive weddings are no guarantee for successful, happy marriages, in fact there may well be an inverse correlation.
Thank you Peter. I think that the main purpose of it all is the Beautiful vows said to each other of commitment, devotion, and love. Marriage is not an easy thing but one of the most Beautiful gifts and total sacrifices a couple makes to one another. It is much to easy now a days to give up.
God Bless you and thank you again for your comment.
Nancy
It was “a necessity” for us to be frugal regarding Wedding Costs. Had all the money tied up in new 300 acres of Wheat and harvest was a couple months off.
Pit-roasted a couple of our 100# pigs, Shirley, sisters and her mother made 100# Potato and Macaroni salad and a close friend “donated” his Country Western Band.
109 degrees in the shade and everyone had Fun.
Sidenote:
We lived off a major highway and people (strangers) just stopped by to see what was going on. One fellow was dancing with Shirley and asked “who got married”
Our children followed suit and had beautiful wedding focused on the promise and went down a frugal path.
Thanks for sharing this post and I hope younger people will take to heart
Thank you, Chuck. I love your share about your and Shirley’s Wedding. What a Beautiful Wedding in an Amazing Setting! Your description of your Wedding Day, lets me see it all in my mind. A lot of hard work went into your wedding which you all shared lovingly with others. The use of the resources you had and your hard work not only kept the cost down but also made your memories of your Wedding Day so Special.
Your children have such great examples instilled in them by you and Shirley. I am so glad they chose to follow your examples.
My prayer is for all generations to know that the vows of matrimony and commitment should be the focus of their Wedding Day which should be shared with friends and family at a reasonable cost.
God Bless you,
Nanc
Hey Nancy,
It took me longer than I’d hoped to check out this post from the others that’ll follow as I spend at least a few minutes more for every visit I make. I was instantly curious when I saw the title as part of my feed and decided I’d just send it on over to my wall until I’d had the chance to read it for whatever it spoke to, you know? That my friends might enjoy taking a look at…yet, surprisingly it didn’t work out that way!
The first thing was I’d be startled for realizing exactly what I needed to say! Whoa….wait, that ain’t how it’s supposed to work Den…but it was too late! I’d already shared to my wall with the five words that’d be absolutely ….appropriate! There I go getting ahead of myself! So, as I’d soon notice I couldn’t just leave it there. So I went to my wall and clicked the link. OMG! All I’d done was want to read this one little story from your DIY series! But nooooooo….! Instead I must’ve entered the proper sequence that intantly sent me hurtling around the rings of Saturn, or wherever it is that things you’d just put the finishing touches on end up!! Never to be seen or heard from again. But then , I must’ve clicked another sequence to throw me back only…it wasn’t your blog! This page I’d see just long enough to know , ” Yeah!….No!” A white page that had only a couple of black fonts followed by about as many red ones saying, ” you’ve entered a page which cannot be trusted…it’s been determined that this pages purpose is to mine your data….”Danger Will Robinson! Danger! Now, I knew what X marks the spot really signifies…”don’t bury your treasure here!!” I x-ed out and pretty much I wouldn’t risk it anymore til I ran it by the admin of your blog page. Now…I’m way beyond curiosity!
” You May Have the Answer…” were the words I wrote as an introduction to sharing one title of many, andthen only as a spontaneous reflection on whatever you’d written before I’d even have the chance to read it! Made me think that maybe the notes I make to myself sometimes are not necessarily (spooky snare drum roll begins to be heard, quickly rising, increasing in volume only to suddenly end as the report of a perfect rim shot fires!) …my own!!!
Well, as was predicted by your team, I’d find my way back to your page…phew!! I loved this Nancy…and for good reason!
I was instantly transported to another time of my life with a man who hired me to take care of his animals while he was out of town. As soon as I read your the name of your husband’s ancestor I instantly heard the most unforgettable sound of one of the animals I’d take care of for a weekend…a gorgeous speciman with all the feathers replete with every color that was part of the majesty of the irridescent blue peacock owned by mr. Stockwell! Steve Stockwell to be exact! taght my brothers and myself a thing or two about how to get along with fowl, as it were, foul as some birds are prone to be! He didn’t give them names that were like your or mine he said, because they were educational birds! The chicken he’d teach us to hypnotize…he called…” Chapter One”!, The Blue Peacock it was best just to keep an eye on because if he did get out of the enclosure it could be weeks of hearing ” Ah AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, Ah AHHHHHHHHHH al over our little valley , day and night, 24/7! He was “Chapter II”. Finally, the foulest fowl of the lot , the meanest bird ever if you paid any attention to him directly…the 47 pound White Tom Turkey he’d call “Chapter III”, but all us boys knew as ” Run for your freakin’ Life!!”
I just wanted to let you know Nancy, between the time I couldn’t read the story and this morning I finally did, I’d also repost a memory I’d post for the first time last year about my daughters’ great grandmother on my father’s side of the family. She was the first DDH, my father, a combat marine gunny in Korea, the second DDH and then of course…yours truly trying to find his way through with the help of all the history of her family that has come from Grandma Lulu (Dorise Parkes) always in threes…which is pretty significant I think for the number of stories behind the three generations that made the man you married, and for the love that apparently finds three ways into the hearts of people like you and me! What do you think, Nancy? Ware the words I’d introduce your story with…inspired? You may have the answer…
Wow, Dennis, you are quite a writer. You have a mystical quality to your writing which has me rereading every word not wanting to misunderstand what you are saying. Thank you for reading this post. We are inspired by so many people, things, and places in our lives.
I have really enjoyed reading about the three DDHs in your family.
I am so sorry if you had problems entering this website. I assure you that it is a safe website and up to date on security.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Didn’t realize how much clean up I’d leave undone…If you’d like me to edit it a bit I’m ok with that just to save yours a little more trouble than they bargained for.
I don’t edit comments on here. As you probably can tell I am not a great editor. Your comment was awesome and I did not notice the need for edits.
God Bless you,
Nancy
For readers, A Disclaimer: All edits, notwithstanding…feel free to employ the rule of thumb for my errors within… “..the First Shall Be Last and the Last Shall Be First..” – Holy Bible, King James Version
Or,
” Strike That!…Reverse That! ” – Gene Wilder, in Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory
You do not need a Disclaimer, you do not make errors on here. I am the one who needs the disclaimer my typing actually is awful.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Hey Nancy,
It took me just a bit longer than I’d hoped, to check out this post from among the others in your DIY Blog. Wanted you to know as for me catching them all, that’ll follow as I notice I spend a few minutes more on your page, for every visit I make!
I was instantly curious when I saw your title as part of my feed. Decided I’d just send it on over to my wall until I’d had the chance and the time to read it at my own pace for whatever it spoke to, you know? In hopes that however it is or comes about, the words I’d use to introduce your story would do it service. For you and my friends who might enjoy taking a look see…yet, surprisingly…as I’m here to share with you, it didn’t work out in exactly that way!
The first thing was I’d be startled! Realizing within seconds exactly what I needed to write to say! “Whoa…wait a sec, that ain’t how it’s supposed to work Den…”, I remember thinking but for the time that took, it was already too late! I’d written the intro already and then shared it to my friends and my wall. So were the five words I’d write absolutely ….appropriate? Well, there I go getting ahead of myself! You see, as soon I shared it, I realized there was no way it was an appropriate share! I just knew I couldn’t leave it hanging there. So I quickly went to my wall and clicked the link.
OMG! All I’d wanted to do was to read this one little story from your DIY series! But nooooooo….!! Instead, I must’ve accidentally entered the proper number and sequence of cookie acknowledgement as I’d instantly be sent hurtling through a virtual blackhole which would have cruising while trying to catch my breath around the rings of Saturn!! Wherever it is that things you’d just put the finishing touches to make right go… once only to end up in the virtual oblivion we all know!! Never to be seen or heard from again. But then I gues I got lucky. I must’ve clicked another equally random number of cookie boxes for the sequence to throw me back! Only…it wasn’t your blog nor was it my page! Nope…the next page I’d see would only be for a fraction of a second more than just long enough to know , ” Yeah!…. , ….No!” I’d warped onto a white page that’d only use a few Bold black fonts, followed by about the same number of even Bolder, red fonts saying ” Warning…you’ve entered a page which cannot be trusted…it’s been determined that this pages purpose is to mine your data :O ”Danger Will Robinson! Danger!
Now, I know what X marks the spot might really signify…”Don’t bury your treasure here, let us do it for you!” I immediately x-ed out and pretty much, out of sheer relief decided I’d had enough and wouldn’t risk it anymore until at least, I could run it by the admin of your blog page. Only then to find…Now…I’m way beyond an average level of curiosity!
Were the words I wrote as an introduction to sharing one title of many, and then only as a spontaneous reflection of whatever you’d written before I’d even have the chance to read it!?
Made me think that maybe the notes I make to myself, might sometimes… not necessarily be… (spooky snare drum roll quietly begins, quickly rising, increasing in volume, almost too loud before suddenly ending… as the sharp report of a perfect rim shot, fired!) …my own!!!
Well, as was correctly predicted by your team, I’d find my way back to “your page”
…phew!! I loved this one Nancy…and for every good reason you’d share! of your history as would be set upon you to learn about. A rea gift, if anyone were to ask how things happen as they often do!
For as you’ve done before…I’d soon be instantly transported to another time of my own life…this time recalling the man who hired me at twelve, to take care of his animals while he was out of town. I read the name of your late husband’s ancestor, his grandfather Lester Stockwell Henderson.
I heard the most unforgettable sound in that moment! Of one of the Birds I’d take care of for a weekend…all gorgeous specimans with all their feathers replete with every color that was part of the majesty of their genus All owned by Mr. Stockwell!… Steve Stockwell, to be exact! He would teach my brothers and I a thing or two about how to get along with certain types of fowl as it were, foul as also, some birds are prone to be! He didn’t give them names like yours or mine he’d say because, They were Educational ! The bid beige chicken a Hen… he’d teach us was friendly enough to hypnotize…he called her…” Chapter One”, The Stunning Irridescent Blue-Green Peacock, he’d say we best keep an eye on because, if he did manage to get out of the enclosure… it could result in weeks of hearing ” Ah AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, Ah AHHHHHHHHHH Ah AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! all over our little valley , day and night, 24/7
He was “Chapter II ”. Finally, the foulest fowl of the lot , the meanest Bird of ’em all…Especially, if you paid him any any attention at all…or dared to look to him directly in the eye…A robust, 47 pound, White Tom Turkey he’d call “Chapter III”, but also the one all us boys had come to know as ” Run for your freakin’ Life….!!”
I just wanted to let you know Nancy, between the time “I couldn’t read” your story and this morning when I finally did, I’d also repost a memory from my life. I’d posted for the first time only last year as remembrance to my late Aunt. It was about about my daughters’ great grandmother on my father’s side of the family. She was the first DDH, my father, a combat Marine Gunny SGT in Korea, the second DDH and then of course…yours truly the last born Third which is kind of funny…for there never having been a Junior my Dad would name as a son, as the reason why I got his initials! Trying to find his way through his own family history with the help of all history of of her husband’s family, my grandfather Mazel Dean and who’d marry the girl who’d hithiked her way across the country from New York, and who my late Aunt’s children called Grandma Lulu (Dorise Parkes)! Always in threes…my Dad would say, which is pretty significant I’d say for the number of stories behind any one of the three generations that’d made the man you married. Mostly though, I believe… for the love that apparently has the power to find three ways into the hearts of people who think they’d like to write… like you Nancy, and maybe like me! I’m dying to hear what you think, Nancy? And about the words I’d feel honored to introduce your story with…is this what you believe as inspired? “You may have the answer…” Loveyabye!
Dennis, my biggest inspiration to write has come from God. The books I have mentioned in my blog I read a few years before finding Frank’s letters and each book includes letters.
When I found Frank’s letters then reread, I realized that the content which was in them was not just for me but meant for all.
God has made it very clear to me that He has a purpose for the writing of this book. Do I know that purpose? No, but I don’t need to, I just go to the computer, type, and trust God completely to help me put the words up on the screen that He has a purpose for.
My Widow’s blogs have always been sharing experiences with others of things I have done while laughing at myself but the last two blogs, including this one, Soul and Inspiration, took me by surprise because of the depth of sharing the more serious side of my feelings.
I love your words of introduction for my blog.
God Bless you and thank you for your comments.
Nancy
Well then Nancy, I will claim them as mine! Yet only as long as you’ll also agree that I do so on behalf of “your understanding” of the Who, How, and Why Not? Of What it is… inspires the countless Souls, over the course of existence itself to write of a purpose as opposed to for a purpose. Of the One, the Only, “…Benefit Of The Doubt…”, of an
eternally curious heart, of Love “!
Dennis, I really love your comments on here. You inspire me to think about what you say before I answer you. Thank you for your comment.
Nancy
Your reception sounds a bit more fun. Ours was a party at the ranch and attended by a lot of stranger off the highway who saw the “party”
It was 109 degrees and people still had fun until the neighbor’s irrigation broke loose onto our property, through the barn and the yard.
The band had to shut down and the lawn and driveway were 12′ deep in flowing water.
Obviously putting “DAMPER” on the reception ~~smile
Oh my gosh, Chuck! Lol! Seems like we both got to experience water at our Wedding Receptions but what Awesome memories we have. Thank you for sharing your memories with me. Simpler times back then and more laid back to just “going with the flow” which it seems got fairly deep at your and Shirley’s Wedding Reception!
God Bless you, my friend,
Nancy
What is Going On?
Over the past 70+ years in my simple life, I have watched an insidious agenda creep into the American Society.
1. We have developed from being advocates of Character to those idolizing Personality.
2. Social engineers have done a successful job of convincing the population they “deserve a break today” whether they expended honest energy or not.
3. Education has been taken from local influence to a centralized bureaucracy, which is more easily controlled by the “power”
4. And most important Faith has been denigrated as being archaic and not progressive.
5. We have also reduced the ability of people to think for themselves.
Can it be changed?
I believe so but not overnight.
These are excellent answers, Chuck. It really seems like the only way people really talk anymore is through electronic devices. Even the telephone is becoming extinct with the young. I think we need to make our children and Grandchildren sit down and talk to us face to face otherwise their values and morals are going to come from a machine talking to a machine while on a social media without constrictions or control.
Advances in science have come very swiftly in the last fifty years or so and it has affected us all. People just do not sit and have real conversations very often anymore. You are right we can change it but it will take time bu do we have time?
God Bless you,
Nancy
Chuck, I agree with Nancy as to your answers. You seem to have a knack for picking out “things that have gone awry. One thing that we have to realize though is that this generation did not get to be “like they are” without help from “the generation preceding it”. I think that “every” generation has failed to realize that they have given just a little more slack to their children (who are the next generation). Not actually the fault of any one person or generation but a little bit “everyone’s fault”. My 16 yr. old granddaughter was asked to call her brother since we were going to visit them and when i asked her what he said, her reply was “he hasn’t messaged me back yet”. I asked why she didn’t just call him and again, another “no nonsense” reply was “I don’t like to talk on the phone. I was quite upset by learning this yet, I have heard that this is the “new normal” for teens. Had this been my child and not grandchild, her phone would have been taken away until she realized that “communication in all ways” is a necessity to have under your belt. That’s just hitting on one of the subjects but I could really get into the “downfall” of this generation with their morals. Or should I say with “no” morals. Which I blame on parents not stopping their children from “being followers” instead of pushing them to be “leaders”.. All in all. Great job on bringing to light some of the problems that exist with this generation.
Thank you, Arlene, for your comment and your thoughts about the questions in this blog. It also frustrates me that texting seems to be the only form of communication my Grandchildren want to use.
It is really hard to communicate with them even in the same room sometimes. They are not used to any emotion or emotional expression coming from actual face to face conversation and they overreact sometimes to absolutely nothing.
They are followers. They will pick one side of something going on and never entertain the idea of listening to both sides then coming to their own conclusion. Wondering if we taught them to always drink the “Koolaid”.
I really feel like my generation needs to step up and do more to try and fix these things.
Thank you again for leaving a comment.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Yes Nancy, it does seem as though they are “set in their own ways”. Right or wrong, they don’t care, as long as they are “doing it their way”. My granddaughter is 16 and comes to visit often, her Dad passed away when she was 12, don’t know if that has anything to do with it but, I doubt. I refuse to keep my cell phone on which “MAKES” her call me if she needs me. (pretty sneaky hey)? One thing she is good about is that she listens to me about quite a few things that are happening in today’s society. Including “politics”. She will listen to things I explain to her BUT, only if I discuss “both sides” of a topic. Her Mother (has a boyfriend) works 2 jobs and and he and my granddaughter do not get along. I have considered the fact that her Mother is not with her as much as she would like to be “part of why Gabrielle is like she is” but I’m not sure. I do know that she was not made to “do as they said” as my daughter did when my husband and I raised her and her brother. This could be a part of it but it’s all so confusing to me. I feel my daughter was too lenient with her and I also feel that this is a big part of the entire youth of today. Maybe parents feel bad because so many of them “both” had to work and so they allowed their children to (shall I say) get away with more than we allowed our children to. My children knew they did not “cross the line” but parents today seem to have “no line”. Sad, very sad especially since it’s the children who will be suffering in the end. One more thing that you mentioned about not communicating face to face seems to be something I have noticed also. I have wondered if because of this that is why our grandchildren (and all young adults of today) seem to be without expression. I sometimes tell my granddaughter that she has “no feelings” and she gets upset with me but, it seems to be true, or they “hide them”..
Arlene, thank you. Your insight so real and true. The absence of emotions about things in the young is a good observation but if you think about it this just may be part of the electronic world of communication.
My Prayers are with you with your Granddaughter. I think she has feelings but as you said she is hiding them.
Thank you again for your comment.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Wonderful Comment Arlene.
Re: “Which I blame on parents not stopping their children from “being followers” instead of pushing them to be “leaders”..”
My peers were encouraged to question evrything in Grammar school, high school and univeristy).
My parents were the worst always asking for “why”
Also I don’t remeber being “labled”
I was as succeessful as my defionition ‘allowed’.
No failures just the ability to learn how to do it better next time!
Thank goodness our children, grandchildren and now 8 great grandchilden have carried on the tradition of being INDIVIDUALS and not robots.
Of cours ethe downside is you might be considered “crazy” ~~smile
I totally agree with you, Chuck. Leaders are cultivated by planting the correct seeds of right and wrong then watching them grow through encouragement by teaching them to question for answers then research for their own answers to the questions.
God Bless you and Thank you,
Nancy
I enjoyed reading your post. I’m really behind and need to catch up on your other posts. I don’t know where my time goes. Keep up the good work. God bless.
Thank you so much Diane. Struggling a little here on writing next chapter of the book, so I did a funny blog instead. Hardest thing in going in that time capsule to write about the past, is trying to be able to come out and live in the present to make new memories.
My youngest Grandson is in from Saudi Arabia so I want to spend as much time as I can with him while keeping the tribe fed with chapters of my book. He is actually my biggest fan and always has been.
God Bless you and Thank you for you’re comment. I consider you an Amazing Friend,
Nancy
Love your sense of humor, Nancy. Keep up the good work. I haven’t seen a doctor for at least two years. The last one I had for a relatively short time before he closed up shop for health reasons. Before that, I hadn’t been to a doctor for about a dozen years. I really should get some blood work done so I know just where I stand in that department, but it isn’t easy to find a doctor who takes new patients, and especially one who will work with me with natural products rather than drugs.
Diane, I know exactly what you mean. I got lucky a few years ago and found a young Doctor who actually listens and helps. Of course, he is now accustomed to my sense of humor which is great but I still try to shock him sometimes just for fun. Lol.
You should keep trying to find a good Doctor. They are out there.
God Bless you and you are always in my prayers.
Nancy
Comment
Marion, your comment did not come through. Send it to me again.
Aww… what a fun and sweet story Nancy Lou. It speaks to your character of making play and fun out of a not-so-perfect time. Thank goodness the money came through!
Thank you for your comment, Mary Rae. We were so young and we didn’t realize how paperwork could get tied up in the Military. The rent that we were paying was an enormous amount because of the need for apartments near Fort Devens. I guess today we would call it price gouging. Of course, the Military pay would always be low wages but we learned to adapt.
I am typing on a new chapter today with two new stories, “Smoking Laundry” and “Big Fins”. I love to tell our Love Story this way.
Praying you will stay with me on this journey as I tell our Love Story.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Great post, Nancy Lou. I could feel your concern as your money ran out and your joy when the allotment finally came. I’ll bet those Oreo cookies and candy lipsticks (I’ve never heard of candy lipsticks before) tasted better than ever before or since! I remember the times I did my laundry in my bathtub, but I must admit, I never got in with it. I’m afraid I don’t dance well and I would probably have fallen right in had I tried. And I had the use of a clothesline right outside the door of my tiny apartment. Actually,for several years now I have been doing my laundry, a bit at a time, in my bathroom sink. I hang it in the bathtub (I have a tension rod that fits between the wall and the shower rod) and direct 2 fans on it to dry. It works quite well. Saves a lot of lugging (to say nothing of money) down to the laundry room.
Diane thank you for your comment. I miss my clothesline but down here on the Texas coast, it is really damp so you have to time it just right to miss the morning dew and evening moisture.
I always told Frank, “I can live without a dryer but I would like to have a washer.” He made sure after our Ayer, Massachusetts time that we always had some sort of a washing machine. The first washer we bought was over thirty-five years old when we were in Okinawa.
I still do some hand laundry too.
I missed talking to you on the Talk shoe show Monday. Praying you are well and it is not too hot where you live.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Another wonderful, tale, Nancy Lou. I feel the love in the words. Thanks for the video, too. It left me with a good feeling. Cheers!
Thank you, Mary Rae for your comment. We had so much fun. We were young and foolish but our love for each other was so real and deep. God always held us in His arms.
I love the song “I Got You Babe”, it truly reflects us.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Nancy, I simply forgot the time on Monday night. By the time I thought about the call, it would have been just finishing up. I had a very long, unexpected phone call mid to late afternoon, and I think that put me off my time schedule. I had every intention of calling before that. I do tend to get involved in things and forget everything else for the moment. It is not too hot here yet, but it is supposed to feel like 113′ F by Saturday. I’m not looking forward to that. I like the heat, but there is a limit. 🙂 I have been doing a lot of cleaning and moving stuff around over the past couple of weeks since Robyn moved out, and that has taken a lot of time and a great deal of energy. I have been feeling it in my hip somewhat, but it hasn’t been as bad as it could have been. I still have a lot to do as I hadn’t done a thorough clean-through for quite some time as I did not have the energy for it. But it sure feels good to have done what I have so far. It’s looking more homey, too, as I have made a few very simple changes.
Diane that all sound great, except for the heat. I was thinking it might be cooler in Canada but evidently not.
Hot here too.
I need to do some serious cleaning out of closets here. Wondering how I have accumulated so much stuff.
We missed you on Monday. You are always so much fun.
God Bless you and praying you stay cool.
Nancy
Oh, Nancy, you’ve done it again! What a lovely story. I just love how you end with an appropriate video. This one got me out of my seat trying to mimic this fabulous dancer. Hang on Sloopy (Snoopy) was one of my favorite songs of that time too. I can feel the affectionate, deep, abiding, and fun-loving kind of love that you two might have been feeling while singing this song. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your comment MaryRae. I love that song too and I laughed and danced watching and listening to it. Life was so simple back then and we had so much fun. Thank you for enjoying our story. More fun to come.
God Bless you,
Nancy
That is “Hilarious” I wonder if it was a person making the first decision or an AI gadget related to your FitBit?
Congratulation on following through.
Most just get MAD and let it be.
Chuck, I really think it was an AI but still that thangy needs to read the total typed title. Lol! Maybe it is my Fitbit sending messages to the Facebook AI. Surely my Fitbit knows it needs me, LOL! I enjoyed typing this blog.
God Bless you and thank you for keeping me out of trouble!
Nancy
Most interesting…I’m trying to wrap my head around his walking into your bedroom…..lol
Kim Lavoie, he was a little drunk and I was fully dressed. Lol. My bedroom was actually the first door off a hall that came out of the den headed for the bathroom in our home.
Frank had been to our home many times because he was best friends with my oldest brother.
Having four brothers, I always stayed dressed until all made it home. Of course, I could have shut the door but then I wouldn’t have been able to hear Dad getting on to them Lol.
Thank you so much for coming to my website reading and commenting. I really appreciate it.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Ahhhhh…the memories…I was a member of Bapist Youth Fellowship for a while. Like you we did a few hayrides, shared soft drinks….talked….the memories you have brought to life!
Kim, we had a lot of fun back then. I really hope that kids have good honest fun like that nowadays. I am so happy this stirs good memories for you. Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I feel very honored.
God Bless you,
Nancy
WOW!! What a description! Reading this was a great way to begin my day. The vision is one of a wild woman just attacking everything with a pair of scissors, hair flying everywhere! Everyone…Stand Back! Lol
Lol! Kim, I really wasn’t quite that wild but those darn little fine pieces of hair just seem to fly everywhere! I am so glad you enjoyed this blog, I had a lot of fun writing it. I love humor and see it in all things. Thank you for your comment.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Too funny, I remember years ago when I was a kid (that was many, many years ago) I thought I would try and trim the hair that was hanging into my eyes. As you so rightly say, one thing led to another and I created a disaster on my head and a mess on the floor.
My mother (who did not cut hair) had to take me on the long trip to town to get it tidied up before I could go to school the next day.
Thank you for your comment Peter. I have made some pretty big messes of my hair at times but thank God it always grows out. Lol. Thank you for sharing your experience with me.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Lol..LUCKY YOU DIDNT END UP WITH ACUTE ALCOHOL POISONING!
Kim that is so true. I had never drank at all before and not very much after that. Frank never let me mix my own drinks again. Lol! We were such crazy young kids. Coach nearly killed me at practice.
Thank you for your comment.
God Bless you,
Nancy
I know it could have gone all wrong.
Thank you for your comment.
God Blessyou,
Nancy
the memories are uncanny… I once mixed a strong whiskey drink for a new friend who unbeknownst to me had never drank before. She got it all down and passed out. A few of us carted her around for quite a while before she came to….. I could have killed her….
as the words to Alabama’s “dixie land delight” run through my head lol…you have a knack for this stuff imho
Thank you, Kim. I am so glad you are enjoying this book. We had so much fun and I hope I am able to describe it well.
God Bless you,
Nancy
So, so, touching…. I can only imagine what a whirlwind those days must have been….
Thank you, Kim. It was a crazy time for us but we were so in love that it all seemed magical.
I am so glad that my folks loved Frank. It was just all part of God’s plan for Frank and I. I thank God everyday for sending me such a Special Love.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Another beautiful share of a true love story. The world will benefit when this book is available. It could easily be a glue that binds True LOVE for many.
Thank you, Chuck. We didn’t have any rules in our love and we were totally unjealous of one another. We just laid our feelings of love out to each other freely. Neither of us were controlling of the other but in awe of what made each of us tick.
Thank you for your comment and continual encouragement,
God Bless you
Nancy
Rotfl!! Thinking back to riding on the hood of a car….that could have messed up his whole army experience….
Rofl!! A slip and a bit of misfortune could have changed a major part of the future
Kim, you are so right. Sorry, I was delayed with replying to your comment. My son had a heart attack and I didn’t check emails yesterday.
Frank was so sure that I could drive his car. Lol
Thank you for your comment
God Bless you.
Nancy
Memories…good bad and sad….
Yes, they are but memories seem to help us as we age to see how different we handle things now. What is important to remember and what is not.
Thank you Kim for your comment and Gos Bless you,
Nancy
My sympathies regarding your son…he’ll be alright?
Yes, he will be alright. He had a stint and some ballooning done but Hod was definitely by his side. He lives in Saudi Arabia where he works for a Saudi Co.
Thank you for asking and God Bless you.
I am having fun waiting for your responses after you read my chapters. Thank you for your comments.
Nancy
I can remember the feelings….coincidence! My MOS for my first enlistment wad 67N….turbine helicopter maintenance…UH-1 helicopter…..lol my AIT was at Ft. Eustis, Virginia
No, coincidence. You are remembering because Frank is laying it all out there in his letters. I sometimes wonder if it is the same in basic training. Back then we all didn’t know we had individual rights. Lol
Thank you, Kim for your comment.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Fire watch, charge of quarters, the seemingly endless harassment…all designed to break us down so they could remake us into soldiers. The drill instructors always had some menial task for us to do, just to keep us from relaxing…..I xan only imagine how hard it must have veen on you and all the other women who sat at home wondering what was going on with their loved ones….thanks again for inviting me to read your posts.
Thank you for reading Kim. Frank was the writer and you see it in his letters. He is told me everything that was happening to him and talked to me as if I was in the room with him.
The 100+ letters I have from him while he was in Vietnam are amazing. They will come up on the website after I finish Okinawa.
You will see that I am judt the ghost writer, he is the writer.
Thank you for reading and commenting. It means so much to me.
God Bless you.
Nancy
GBY
Thank you, Kim.
💝
Thank you, Kim. I am so glad you are reading and enjoying this book.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Yes, the possibility of being recycled was enough to make most enlistees suck it up and keep driving on….. barbed wire?? LOL
Yes, barbed wire! Lol! He use to call me “his cast iron kisser”.
He got so sick but he did not want to miss and be held back.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Yes…the testing, all the extra duties, all the menial nit picking garbage….and being both sick and homesick. His commitment to you in the midst of all that…..
Kim, Frank’s love for me and mine for him was the purest form of true love. Our hearts beat as one and our souls were so intertwined that they quickly became one.
God had a plan for us and I thank Him everyday for being part of that plan.
God Bless You and thank you for reading and commenting.
Nancy
I had that album…lol…just thinking of sitting around the barracks…lonely….I don’t know what was worse, sad songs or love songs when you’re in love and missing somebody..
Frank and I were really into music which I think all of our generation were. We had some of the best music which is still around.
Frank had made good friends and I had friends at home but the loneliness was awful.
Thank you for really reading and commenting on this book. It really means a lot to me.
God Bless You,
Nancy
You touch my heart, as you always do with your writing, Nancy.
Thank you so much Carmen. I am struggling to write this week of the past. My son is only 44 years old and I lost his Dad at 47. When I go to write the memories which come up are of loosing his Dad and the fear I have of loosing our only child.
I needed to remember to let God have my worries and concerns with absolute trust knowing He has my son in His healing arms.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Lovely as usual, Nancy. Having total, unequivocal faith is the key to life. That you have it is evident. How wonderful to have that kind of faith that sees you through all of the challenges that life throws our way. Love and prayers to you and your son, Scott. Hugs.
Thank you so much MaryRae. God has always been the strength that I lean on. I know that He has my son in His loving arms and has a Great Purpose for him.
God Bless you and thank you for your love and prayers.
Nancy
Well, I feel a bit like a voyeur at times lol….still, I know what I missed out on by not having someone love me as you so obviously do him
Well Kim, you are not a voyeur (By the way. I had to look that word up. Lol) this is a real Memoir with real letters and real people. I share it for all to read because I think it has a God given purpose.
Not sure what that purpose is but “someone” told me it has to do with the fact that the kind of Love Frank and I had for each other actually exist in the world.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
This is beautiful. I have asked God what my purpose is in this life also, and keep moving ahead as I feel led by the Spirit. Keep writing, sister.
Thank you so much KB. He leads us on to our purpose even if we are not aware of or never know the final outcome. You are definitely on the path of your purpose.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
What a love story. Beautiful, Nancy. I agree with Chuck that many will no doubt benefit from your story. When the book is published, it would make a nice wedding or anniversary gift from a couple, one spouse to the other.
Wow KB, what a beautiful thing for you to say. Words fail me as I try to respond to your comment. God has a purpose for this book. I hope and pray that it will be the for the purpose you have mentioned.
God Bless you and thank you so much for reading and commenting,
Nancy
Did Frank ever tell you about all the cadence songs? About the legendary sleaze “Jodie?” Thinking back to some of the guys in my BCT company and how they got the notion in their heads about their significant other’s…it truly is a testament to the love you two share that he never mentions that.
Kim, Frank never mentioned that song but now you have sparked my curiosity. Lol! Frank, as you will see as you keep reading, was very protective of me.
Thank you for reading and commenting. It means alot yo me that you read and comment.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Lol…the drill sergeants used to use limericks to keep everybody in step when marching…several of them involved a guy taking up with a wife or girlfriend…for example…ain’t no use in going home, Jody’s got your girl and gone…ain’t no use in going back, Jody’s got your cadillac…the DU would call out a verse, we’d repeat it, tben he’d xall out the next verse….there are hundreds of variations…lol
Lol, thank you, Kim. Frank never mentioned “Jodie” songs. Thinking he knew that I was true blue. I was more afraid he would change his mind about me, of course, that was a needless worry also.
Thank you for reading and giving me some info on things a basic training.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Yes, no greater love…..thank you for writing, and thank you Jimfor allowing your sister to add your letter and a piece of your life to her postings.
Thank you, Kim. Jimmy is my oldest brother of four. I am next in line after Jimmy. We have always been close. Before we started dating. Frank and Jimmy were best friends.
God Bless you and thank you so much for reading and commenting, Kim.
Nancy
GBY
Thank you so much Kim.
Nancy
Hot wired motorcycle….now THERE’S a distraction that can de stress all the wedding preparation. LOL
Kim, my Mom was so upset with my oldest brother, Jimmy. Lol. She never got upset with Frank even though they were equally involved in Mark seeing them hot wiring the motorcycle.
Thank you for reading, enjoying, and laughing.
God Bless You.
Nancy
Another heartfelt vignetter form a wonderful love story.
Can you imagine young people today have in to Endure the grueling and almost slave-like duties of being a grocery clerk? ~~smile
“I worked from opening to closing (twelve hours, including two breaks and a thirty-minute lunch) checking out 243 people and my end cash register money total was exactly correct.
And OMG:
“Oh, I forgot to mention, we had to know how to make correct change, there was not a machine telling us how much change to give the customer back. Also if our register money came out short, you were responsible, and the shortage came out of your paycheck.”
Thank you, Chuck for your wonderful comment. Funny how I don’t remember being enslaved but just making money to go live in Okinawa with Frank.
Responsibility was the name of the game which came with always doing your best plus.
God Bless You
Nancy
Great fun to read, Nancy. I used to cut my own hair, even give myself perms. But I have not cut my hair in decades as once I decided to let it grow, that was no longer necessary. The last time I went to a hairdresser for a cut and style was sometime in the late 60s – a very long time ago. I remember as a teenager going to get my hair cut. My hairdresser (who was also my Sunday School teacher and friend) would always say it didn’t need much trimming. But when she finished, there was always a very large amount of hair on the floor. I agree that when you do it yourself those hairs just go down your neck and start prickling, and everywhere else. I’m glad I don’t have to worry about that any more. I don’t even seem to get split ends that need trimming. Love your humor.
Thank you so much Diane. Thank you for sharing your experience and commenting.
Yes those stray pieces of hair are real travelers.
Thank you for liking my humor too.
God Bless You
Nancy
Thank you for posting this. It radiates love and devotion. We need more of such in today’s world.
Thank you for commenting KB. Frank and I were soulmates. Our hearts and souls were totally entwined. We were totally devoted to each other and to God, who took care of us always.
God Bless You,
Nancy
What a roller coaster of emotions must have been taking place. For both of you. But you survived, and thrived afterwards. Praise the Lord.
Yes Ma’am. We were so connected in the way we loved each other. Our hearts and souls were tightly entwined and once together then separated it felt like one body being severed in half but we had the constant connection through thoughts and letters.
Thank you, Fiane for your comment.
God Bless You
Nancy
I’m enjoying getting to know Frank in some small way. I love your posts and am sorry I am so far behind in reading them. I just spent a few hours deleting at least 1200 e-mails from my inbox. It’s hard to deal with that and keep up with everything else. I still have 500 unread, but they are the ones left that I want to read before deleting them. So I will keep coming back when I can to try to catch up soon.
Thank you, Diane. Frank was such an Amazing person. God must of loved me alot to send him to me. You will get to know him more and more through his letters and my memories of him. I am so happy that you are reading and commenting.
God Bless You
Nancy
Thank you Nancy, your lovely story brings back memories of my national service in the military, my initial training started in June 1969, just a couple of months after you got on that plane to Okinawa. I remember well the grocery stores of that time with manual cash registers.
Peter the funny thing about the cash registers was that we became very quick at hitting those keys while checking those groceries. Of course, we had to use our brains to make change but I am so happy I have the knowledge we from back then. Minds need to be worked more now.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I think the happiness of the day comes through loud and clear in your writing….salud!
Thank you, Kim. First chapters of the book could use a little work. I was so unsure of what I was doing while I wrote them. I feel the flow in writing now so praying I am improving.
I am so happy you are reading and enjoying.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
WOW!! Quite a time! LOL humming the tune “memories”
I was hoping you would like that chapter, lol. I was one wet bride. We were known for many years in Bay City, Texas as the couple who got thrown in the Swimming Pool.
Thank you for commenting Kim.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Bless you, too
Thank you, Kim
Some of the greatest times seem to come from just being…no plans, just let it take care of itself… 😉
Kim that is so true. Frank was a spur of the moment kind a man. I was the OCD planner but he taught me to just go with the easiness of one moment at a time.
Thank you for commenting and God Bless you, Kim.
Nancy
LOL..at least you headed to the great white North in the spring! I know you were excited to be getting back together, but, it must have been more than a little frightening to leave the security of family…
I was too young and excited to get back in his arms again to be frightened. Those 12 to 13 days that we were separated seemed like an eternity. We were so connected in our hearts and souls.
I don’t remember ever feeling insecure except when I was not by Frank’s side. We were both very independent except together and then we were solely dependent on each other.
Thank you for your comments Kim
God Bless You,
Nancy
No one knows how to count back change anymore. They put the amount the cash register tells them to (or something close to that amount) in your hand. But do they need to count it back if the amount is right? (Though it’s interesting to watch today’s cashiers trying to figure out how to make change when you’ve given them an odd amount and they don’t key it in correctly. In Florida, you could be standing there for days…
As to responsibility, I think we are less responsible for small things (remembering phone numbers) but maybe that frees us up to be more responsible for more important things. We can hope at least.
Barbara, I hope so too. I had a young man now my grass today and I asked him if he knew how to make change. He told me he did.also I gave him several instructions to follow before I went in the house to type. He followed every instruction to the T. He is sixteen, fixed his own truck. and his lawnmower plus other yard tools. I am so impressed by him each time he mows. He told me he doesn’t play video games at all, he works to put up money for college. There is hope.
Thank you so much for reading my blog and commenting.
God Bless Zhou
Nancy
Were all of your neighbors US Military or was the neighborhood a mixture?
That concrete house sounds like it was relatively “cool”. Looking forward to more!
Our neighbors were a mixture of Okinawans and US Military. Funny though only Okinawan were across the street in front of our home. Behind us and to either side were off base military. I should have mentioned that.
The horses were fairly cool but the humidity on the island was high, so with out AC the walls inside would sweat and mold quickly. I bleached walls alot.
Thank you for commenting with great questions Chuck.
God Bless You,
Nancy
If you ever do this in a book I will want a copy. Until then I will keep reading.
Thank you so much, Robert. I will make sure you get a copy. Thank you for coming here to comment and your continuing support. I will keep on writing and posting.
God Bless You, Robert
Nancy
I agree with Barbara that not having the responsibility to know things that a computer can do for us frees us up to do other things – like maybe enjoy life more? Technology may be seen as hindering responsibility but I don’t see it that way. For me, it might even have turned the tables. Working at the computer all day is enjoyable knowing what it can do for me. I can put out a lot more work on it than writing by hand. Research is a breeze now. But… and… it feels great to get off the computer and do something with my hands. lol… I feel like my thoughts are rambling so I will go… thanks for the thought-provoking article, Nancy Lou.
Thank you MaryRae for your comment. You never ramble but speak from your heart which zi love. The blog was meant to get others opinions on responsibility. I love what the computer has done for me too. I am of a different generation and it is very important for me to know we have instilled the younger generations to be responsible.
I personally thing it is born into us.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Lol….memories of “neighborhood stew” when a bunch of us would clean out any leftovers and share with each other….thanks to those “huge” army paychecks…
Thank you for commenting Kim. Sorry I am slow getting back to you. I was out of WIFI range.
Yes. we had many potluck dinners with friends, especially in Okinawa.
Oh, yes those checks were so huge and once a month but we ate best the first of the month. Lol
Thank you for enjoying what I am writing.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
Ahhhh…crazy newlyweds….lol….so, you were McGivering before it was a thing!
You got that right. Nancy Lou thought she was an inventor. Lol
I actually made that fan again for the picture. Still works! Lol.
Thank you for commenting and reading Kim.
God Bless You, Kim and praying you have an Awesome Day.
Nancy
Bless you too, Nancy…thanks for sharing
Thank you, Kim
Lol….chlorine and ammonia…chloramine gas!! That’s nasty stuff….
Yes it is and we nearly killed everyone in the laundry. We were so crazy but those sheets were really clean. I don’t remember if they detieriated quickly or not.
Thank you for reading and enjoying.
God Bless you Kim,
Nancy
More memories…not enough money but enough friends to make it all work! GBY
Yes, we had some of the best friends. Having Money was never a real important thing to Frank and I but good friends were.
Thank you for reading Kim,
God Bless You
Nancy
Oh… my… goodness… that was hysterical, Nancy Lou. Thanks for sharing that story. The YouTube song is beautiful. Hugs, darling woman.
Thank you, MaryRae. That is one of my favorite stories. We always had so much fun. Of course, we were foolish at times but we were young. Lol.
God Bless You, MaryRae
Nancy
To have such a love is a treasure. My God, I cry with every post you share. To miss what was and can never be again except in memories. I miss my husband so much and Thank God, my children also have beautiful memories. He would be so proud of them. They are an extension of him. Thank you Nancy.
Thank you, Marion. I don’t mean to mean to make you cry. You and I have been Blessed to have the most Beautiful Love. I promise you that your soulmate love is always by your side. God has allowed this and it is one of the most Amazing things.
I had no intention of sharing this as I wrote it but God decided it should be shared.
God Bless You, Marion
Nancy
Losing someone we love is never easy. Memories haunt us forever. Even remembering the good times can trigger sudden sadness for what we can never have again. —-KiKi
That is so true KB. I choose to cherish each memory and sometimes I cry but the true love we shared together is worth the tears
God Bless You,
Nancy
WOW…….just….WOW
Thank you, Kim. That was a scarey day for me.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I can well imagine…..all the way around.
Exactly, Frank was so upset with the man. Frank was so even tempered an twice I saw him upset in our time together, that was the first time and neither time was he upset with me.
Thank you for commenting Kim. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Sometimes when I read your posts, I smile with memories of discovering my own soulmate, and at others I cry for your loss. This one, however, brings me comfort that despite existing on different planes, you and your Frank are still together. Wow, Nancy, this post leaves me with chills and yet warmth, knowing you and he have still discovered ways to communicate and to bring one another solace.
Carmen the way he communicates with me by touching my hair has been truly Amazing. I have even asked him yes and no questions. We are totally one soul and heart. God knew that I needed him to stay by my side.
I actually think that this happens for all people but they are not receptive to feeling it.
Thank you so much for your comment
God Bless You
Nancy
Lol…mI worked at a paper mill in Maine for 33 years. We were part of a group of mills that included the old Riegel paper mills in Fitchburg and Lunenburg. It was always fun to “break in” a new worker…..glad you enjoyed the folks while you were there
I totally enjoyed working with them. They were always so very nice to me. I was there “Texas”. I am so glad you are enjoying read these crazy stories about us as a young married couple. Of course, the craziness never stopped. Lol
God Bless You Kim
Nancy
What a delightful read! $30 for a ‘family’ car, albeit with little no floorboards! I wonder if young couple today can ever experience such wonderful Lack of things and an abundance of Love?
Chuck, I certainly hope they experience the abundance of love. Somehow I think the lack of things made our love into what it was. We just didn’t need stuff, just each other. We actually thought this was the coolest car ever. Lol.
What can I say about Ralph? He was our very first child and we loved him so much. Soon he would have some siblings but that is another story.
Thank you for your comment and always being there for me. I don’t know what I would do without your friendship and help.
God Bless You, Chuck
Lots of love to you and Shirley,
Nancy
Sounds a little like chaos, but much good came out of the chaos! I’m trying to get caught up with your posts, but am so far behind it will no doubt take me a while. I got back from my holiday on Saturday but didn’t turn the computer on until today. There were 830 e-mails waiting for me, so I have just finished plowing through them.
Wow! I would probably give up on that many emails. I pray you had a Great time on your holiday. My son and his family have been here from Jubail Saudi Arabia and we have been on the run for weeks but having so much fun.
Thank you for reading and commenting on my chapters.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
Great memories and beautiful pictures.
Thank you Diane. We had so much fun that day.
Thank you for commenting and reading.
God Bless You and I am glad you are back home. I have missed talking to you.
Nancy
Wow, what a lot of added excitement! I hope your suit fared better than your shoes. Great fun, though. And great memories.
Diane the suit was fine but the shoes were pretty crispy and ruined. The laughter in the crowd was unbelievable. I still can’t believe we made it to Frank’s folk’s home without getting found.
Thank you again for reading and commenting.
Nancy
I have missed talking to you, too. I guess there is no call again tonight. Maybe next week.
Yes,I saw that. Looking forward to talking with you.
Nancy
We had a wonderful time. Wish it could have been longer. It is absolutely beautiful there. I will be putting some photos on my blog when I get them resized. The weather was great. The only problem was that I had a great deal of pain the whole time and that made walking not so very pleasant. But I survived. I think it was because I didn’t have my turmeric pain tea. There are just too many ingredients, and not all dry, to take away with me, so I had to do without.
I am glad you had fun but sorry you had some pain. I can’t wait to see your pictures.
Nancy
I have often found that doing something on the spur of the moment is much more fun and memorable than making all kinds of plans. But of course there are times when plans are absolutely necessary. Sounds like you had a wonderful honeymoon – much more fun than some of the very expensive trips many people take.
Frank would always be spur of the moment. He loved to just say, “Let’s go Lou”, then we would pack up and get in the car.
I loved the carefree nature that was so much apart of Frank.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
Yes, I agree with Chuck, a delightful read. Reminds me of my first car, an Austin Healy Sprite. The soft top used to fly off if I got up to 60mph. Did many makeshift roadside repairs on that car.
Peter that is hilarious. Cars that had little old quirks were so much fun.
Thank you for sharing and commenting Peter.
God Bless You.
Nancy
Another thing: I wonder how in the world you cashiers were able to memorize the prices of items on sale, when the prices were constantly changing! Also, the plane trip you describe had to have been quite an adventure, and the brawl that broke out truly scary. So heartwarming the way you describe the closeness of your family. Thanks again for this post!
We figured out a game to play with the names to be memorized of sales. The sales items stayed for a week si not too much changing going on.
Yeas the plane trip to Okinawa was a real adventure at eighteen years old but I don’t remember being afraid except during the fight with on the plane.
I was very close to my family and Frank’s family. My younge adds t two brothers were only 10 and 12 when I left for Okinawa.
Thank you for your comment KB.God Bless You,
Nancy
You know Nancy, you and I have something in common as it goes to our dogs…my dog is named “Frank”! I wanted him to have a simple name I could yell easily. The story of how he came into my life is kinda cute as well. His mama, a pug/chihuahua mix had somehow managed to get knocked up in doggie jail! My sister was desperate to place the puppies about to be born because she wasn’t even “supposed” to have Diamond in the house she was living in at the time! My sister felt it was important to admit that nobody had any idea who the Daddy was but I knew it could of been any of the usual suspects down at the pound. Well, I agreed to take a puppy on one condition…I would get the pick of the litter! My sister called to tell me when Diamond had her litter which if the last two were any indication, could’ve been as many as six or seven! Nope! Diamond gave birth to one puppy, which meant I got the pick of the litter whether I liked it or not! I’ve got Frank on loan to a friend at the moment, she’s an elderly lady who gave us a place to stay for a minute in all the hubbub of an eviction. I visited last friday and both are doing well and appreciative as I. You’d like Frank I think. He was trained not to lick faces and instead will hop into your lap stretch his paws around you neck and press his little face against yours! A friend forever who knows… if you love me, you love my human too!
I thoroughly enjoyed your story and appreciate the song you ended it with as well. I didn’t cry but I did have a total recall of the chorus to a song from my youth your story of Ralph, and the song you ended it with conjured up for me… ” Don’t be concerned…it will not harm you…it’s only me pursuing something I’m not sure of…Across my dreams, in depths of wonder..I chase the bright, elusive Butterfly of Love…” Thanks for sharing Ralph, Nancy…Frank appreciates it, and so do I.
Dennis thank you so much for this beautiful comment.
I remember the song you have referred to. It is a beautiful song.
I loved Ralph and so did my Frank.
I am so happy that you have your Awesome Frank.
God Bless you and thank you for your comment Dennis.
Nancy
Oh Darn…we so miss those exciting days of a house full of PrePrepubescenct progeny of wonder. ~~smile
I miss those days too. Parents who have had teenagers have to be the quickest, smartest people ever because to figure out what a teenager is thinking takes a sixth sense.
I miss those days of raising my son.but I do not miss those tennis shoes! Lol
God Bless You,
Nancy
ole bondo looks like a chevy corvair….. thanks for the memories, of visiting married friends off post and getting away from the barracks if only for an evening, of driving around in old beater automobiles, of being in a near constant state of broke….. and thoroughly enjoying every minute!!!
Kim, we did have fun. Having money was not the key to us having fun. The single guys did take us out to eat in places we couldn’t afford.
I have eaten Kobe Beef once and it was in Okinawa when the single guys surprised us on our birthdays which were 4th and 6th of October.
They told us they were taking us out to eat and to our surprise it was at a high price Okinawan restaurant.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless you, Kim
Nancy
yup….. the little pleasures, the little things that bring so much joy in remembering
Kim, you have caught up with me again. Lol. I have had lots of company here but trying to keep writing some. Thank you for reading what I write. Unknowingly, you are inspiring me to get the chapters up.
God Nless You, Kim,
Nancy
Well…if my guardian angel has taught me anything about the most amazing thing, Nancy…it’s to make sure to use the right email address before you hit the submit button! I don’t know if you’ll ever read what your story just inspired me to write, but perhaps that’s the way it was meant to be! I doubt you’ll ever get it yet, have no doubt whatsoever that if you do, it’ll remind you of Lilacs!
Dennis, Please write it again. You have so sparked my curiosity. I want to be reminded of Lilacs.
Thank you for commenting on this post which is my favorite.
God Bless You, Dennis
Nancy
I wish I could…I spent quite a bit of time trying to integrate the most amazing thing, guardian angels, and the mysteries we experience while by ourselves. I never once used flowers in the context of my comment yet made the mistake of using the email address I use as a privacy filter. You may remember the April Stevens and Nino Tempo song “Deep Purple”, well…a very dear friend started calling me Purple…and whenever I think of those people I love, well…my outlook goes to “all the shades of purple”. In keeping with the mysteries of Love you’ve shared, I suppose I wasn’t meant to tell of my story at all…but only to help you remember… why you want to be reminded of Lilacs.
This to me, would clear up a lot of mysteries as they relate to Love, and that would truly one of the most amazing things ever, for me!
This is your story to tell Nancy, and you’ve titled your story well…maybe, just maybe one of your chapters is meant to be called “I Want To Be Reminded of Lilacs”? Write it Nancy…your “why” may allow the rest of us to want to be reminded, as well. Loveyabye!
Dennis that is very Beautiful. Thank you for sharing the Lilacs. I have only one chapter that has not been written call “God’s Grace”. It will deal with loss and grief. Thinking it will tell of the Lilacs and remembrance of what they mean.
God Bless You, Dennis
Nancy
Shows how frustrating life can be sometimes, even when the answer seems so simple! How did things turn out for you? I guess I will have to wait for the next post to find out?
Actually, I was seen in the ER. My insurance company was not happy and very upset when I called them about it all and they are still actively pursuing getting these Urgent Cares surrounding me educated about what referral means on my insurance card. The referral is only for specialists.
The Insurance company calls me once a week to update me. I am very humbled and totally impressed with Aetna Advantage Medicare. Awesome you ladies working for them.
Thank you for your comment KB
God Bless You and keep on sharing your postd. You are doing Awesome.
Nancy
Holding my lover, with the other…. 🙂
I thought you would like that song add.
God Bless You,
Nancy
So touching…yes, I know of lilacs, just not in the sense of my own loves. A friend and his girlfriend (also a friend) had to get married. One day, before the wedding we were riding around drinking and saw an old abandoned farmhouse with several lilac bushes around it. They had just bloomed and we stopped and filled the back seat and trunk with white and light purple lilacs. We took them to their apartment and scattered them all around the living room and waited for Roxanne to come home from work….thanks again for yet another memory of a happier time!
Kim, you are so welcome.Thank you for your comment and sharing that Beautiful story. I know Roxanne must have been so surprised and appreciative of such a Beautiful gesture.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
I didn’t know this about lilacs. I have always loved them. We had a white lilac tree in our back yard for years, but it got too old and was cut down. Perhaps this is why, in another century, when women came out of mourning and wearing black, they often changed into mauve. It was considered acceptable. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for reading and your comment Diane. I had to do so research at several places for this .
blog.
I have always loved the shades of purple. After I posted this blog, I noticed the last ch as Peter I posted, Frank had a blue purple shirt on.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Funny! Guess I needn’t regret that I wasn’t blessed with children. 🙂
Lo! The problem is that other children can come over to your house.
I am glad you liked my blog. Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I’m starting to play catch-up on your widow’s blog even though I am still not caught up on your love letters posts. I still find mistakes in my cash register receipts though they have scanners and registers that tell how much change is due. I usually use my debit card, so change is not relevant, but sometimes they have even missed charging me for an article. I have been charged wrong prices probably because the either reverse the numbers of the code entered, or have simply not remembered the code correctly. In the grocery stores, they are required to remember the codes for fresh produce. I’m afraid I wouldn’t fare too well in that area. I tend to reverse numbers. So I’m not sure whether things are more efficient today or not. One thing I think is that cashiers back then may have been on the whole a lot friendlier than today. Though I don’t have a lot to complain about in the store I mainly deal with. But I have had some pretty unfriendly people serve me in stores at times. But they are in the minority. Probably if stats were available, the percentages of responsible people compared to irresponsible people might be similar. It just shows up in different areas of life. I think I’m rambling and I had better move on to the next post. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I think we were friendlier back then because we were expected to be and we were raised to be curious, respectful and friendly.
The cash year, at my store, just punches in numbers off of stickers on fruits and vegetables but for somethings that do not have stickers, they have a list of numbers to punch in.
Thank you for your comment.
God Bless You, Diane,Nancy
Wow! How creative was that? You sure did find a way to solve your problems. Maybe not very conventional, but, hey, they worked! Good post, Nancy.
Thank you, Diane. The picture of the fan in the story is a replica that I made while typing the story. I had to do it one more time and it still works! Lol! I am glad that you are reading and enjoying.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
When I read what you had in the pillow case along with the bleach, I cringed. Thank heaven nothing bad happened. But it did surely leave you with a fun memory and lots of laughs. That car was something else. 4 flat tires. Wow! But you always made the best of things and that is something most people do not know how to do. Loved your stories.
We loved that car but we were to broke to get new tires. Finally, we had to give it to a guy who the renter got to tow it away. I can still see Frank and I in it driving over that bridge. The memory of it runs like a video in my mind.
Thank you for reading and commenting Diane. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Thank you for sharing that Nancy.
I don’t remember ever seeing lilacs growing in Africa, although I am sure they would have been quite comfortable in the Western Cape province of South Africa which has a Mediterranean climate and is home to a huge wine industry.
There is a big lilac bush in our garden here in Ontario, it is a medium shade of purple. I did not know that there were red and white lilacs.
Peter, I did not know of the different colors either. I imagine some of the colors are decided by the type of soil and nutrients in it.
I am so glad that you have a Lilac blush. I don’t have one but after learning about them I truly want to get one and plant it in my yard.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Peter,
Nancy
Two of the advantages of bringing my two boys up in Africa were that a) It was warm all year round except for fewer than 10 days when there might be light frost in the cooler parts. b) It was customary to be barefoot most of the time indoors and out.
So children and teenagers on farms and any property with a garden, spent most of their time outside without shoes. They did wear shoes for school and sport but because no pairs of shoes were worn all day and with the sanitizing effect of good clean dirt and grass between toes we did not have the green fog problem.
Peter, that is fantastic. It seems some of my Grandsons have more of a problem with the “Green Smog” than others. Of course, my Granddaughter’s shoes could be just as bad. Lol.
It is really humid and moldy on the Gulf Coast, so some of it may have to do with the climate here.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Peter,
Nancy
Hello Nancy!
Thanks for your lovely article on lilacs, love, and color. I love purple and magenta. Lilacs are pretty and dainty to look at. Growing up, I always found the smell stifling. I hated their smell. I haven’t smelled one in a long time. I hope my nose has changed its mind after all these years. 🙂
Blessings, Mary Rae
Thank you, MaryRae. I absolutely knew nothing about Lilacs but now that I do, I am intrigued by them. I am not sure they will grow in Texas but I plan to but a Lilac Bush and give it a try.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Lilacs have always been a favorite and now I know why. I also like Purple Iris, which we have many in our garden.
I love Purple Iris. When I owned the Florist, I bought lots of them in many colors but the purple was my favorite. Thank you for your comment, Chuck.
God Bless You and Shirley,
Nancy
And thus, he was assured…
Have you been told you are loved today? I was! Chuck now knows…and now, I do as well. You see, Nancy…Lilacs have been around my life always. The subtle difference in their shades always appealing to my eye, even as I’d learn their fragrance was most appreciated from distance! (about 6-12 inches works for me…)
Here, I’ll thank Peter Wright of South Africa and Ontario, for helping me to to find assurance regarding the mystery I’d hoped your ” I Want Yo Be Reminded of Lilacs” might reveal. While Lilacs are not particularly suited to a Mediterrainian climate…African Violets and purple Bougainvilla, will always be!
I’ve heard many times from folks how difficult it is to “keep” an African Violet. Yet, my mom’s violet had thrived in her windowsill for nearly ten years before she and my dad moved to New Mexico! I’ve been told by a trusted friend that my guardian angel is male, yet…now, I’m assured my angel’s a she…Mystery solved! If Soulmates are One cleaved from Two…then my guardian angel are “Soulmates for Eternity” of the deepest purple, fragrantly, flowered love. My guardian angel is both my parents!
Thank you, Nancy…et al., so much for that!
The thanks goes to you, Dennis. You opened my eyes to want to know about Lilacs. I didn’t have the answers but I was praying God would bring others to comment on what they think. I have had many African Violets that did fairly well and loved them but Frank’s mother was a true master at growing the most beautiful African Violets.
I think the color purple any flower that blooms is very special and emits love, whether it be from a friend, a parent, a child, or a spouse. Of course that is just my opinion.
I am so happy you got the answer to your question from Peter. He is a deep thinker like you and I thank you for helping me get an answer to mine.
Although, different answers to the same question our needs are different just like the different colors of lilacs and God has a way of answering our questions in different ways.
Have I been told I was loved today? Not verbally but through a sweet touch by an Angel.
God Bless You, Dennis,
Thank you again,
Nancy
Ah….the adventures….the fun of being young enough to not let a simple thing like a typhoons cause any undue concern….lol
Kim, Frank and I had so much fun and seemed to get ourselves into the strangest situations but we always figured out how to somewhat solve them. Lol
We were young and so much in love that we thought we could do anything.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Kim
God Bless You and I appreciate your friendship.
Nancy
I love how you felt so protected by Frank
You are so right Caroline, I always felt protected by Frank. He made me feel so safe and he gave me confidence in myself to face any challenges that might come up.
Thank you for your comment Caroline.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Lol….just when I was thinking Nancylou was going to blow a gasket she showed why Frank was the luckiest guy in the world!
Thank you, Kim that is one of my favorite stories. Thinking the silence was a bigger punishment than if I had spoken. I see this all so clearly in my mind. Frank knew the power his dimples had over me and he actually writes about it in a letter he wrote to me from Vietnam.
Stay with me, so many fun stories to come.
God Bless You, Kim.
Nancy
Looking forward to reading them…gby
Thank you, Kim that means a lot to me.
God Bless You,
Nancy
the beauty of meeting different cultures and working through the language barriers….meeting and making friends who are thrown together by circumstance…. wonderful memories
Thank you, Kim. Living in Okinawa was a Beautiful experience and one I will never forget.
Thank you for your comment and reading what I am writing.
God Bless You. Kim
Nancy
Delightful stories of true love that stood the tests with which time and circumstances challenge us. You are so blessed, and thank you for blessing the rest of us with your memories, your slices of life, so beautifully penned. I loved the water fight! How much longer before you publish?
Thank you so much KB. I am in the process of finishing up Okinawa in one more chapter then we go home and after a 30 day leave, Frank returns to Okinawa for two weeks before direct transfer to Vietnam while in Okinawa he wrote me four letters. That will finish this book.
I am working hard to get this book finished and praying I have given everyone a true look into our hearts and souls.
Thank you for reading and commenting KiKi.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Your book will touch many lives. So much to identify with and hope for in our own lives.
KB, I so hope for people to come away with a true picture of our soulmate love. True love takes a lot of hard work, unselfishness, understanding, commitment, acceptance, devotion, trust, and faith in each other. God is love and I know He loved us, helped us grow our love for each other, and He was always loved by us.
I also believe from our births he planned on our soulmate union and I believe He has one planned for everyone.
Money can not buy a lasting love of any kind. Material things never meant much to Frank and I, they were just things. We just enjoyed being together.
Frank was never jealous of me nor was I of him because we had total trust in each other.
God Bless you, KiKi and thank you again for reading and commenting.
Nancy
Love how no matter, you two had fun and games
Thank you, Caroline. We always had fun. We couldn’t stay upset with each other because in seconds we would both start laughing.
Thank you for reading and commenting. It means so much to me.
God Bless You, Caroline.
Nancy
Another great memory. That apartment building looks classy. And it was certainly more convenient for you. It’s good to have such fun memories in your home. God bless.
Yes, I was a fun building to live in. We had a lot of great times there. Thank you for commenting and reading.
God Bless You, Diane.
Nancy
What a beautiful, tender ending to what was a very nasty situation. God certainly blessed you with a wonderful husband and you have so many precious memories to think about. Thank you for sharing them. God bless you.
Thank you for reading our story. Frank was the greatest man and husband. He loved me just the way I am and there was nothing about him I didn’t love. You would have loved his smile and the way he laughed.
God Bless You, Diane
Nancy
I get more and more impressed with your love for each other..,your understanding of a young service man and his need to spend some time with his co workers…..
Thank you. KIM. We had a true love and we had a playful love. I couldn’t stay upset with him and he knew it and I knew he knew it but oh what fun I had trying to get him to think I was upset with him. Lol
I never minded him being with the guys and having a beer or four. I just wanted him to let me know a head of time so I knew he was okay.
Thank you for your comment.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
What can I say?
Again, you have shared an example of LOVE we seem to be so devoid of today.
If men would get off the concept of False Manhood (the Viagra Syndrome) and learn to be MEN our society would be stronger.
I totally agree with you Chuck. Nothing says more about a true man than his ability to shed tears from deep emotion and totally say what it is in his heart to a woman.
God Bless You,Chuck. You have all of the best qualities of a true man.
Nancy
Sounds like that job just “happened” to come along at the right time. God does know when we need something and is always faithful to bring the answer. Your pay was pretty good. I started to work in December 1966 at $1.00 per hour. My take-home pay for a forty hour week was $36.00. By the way, there is a typo in the following sentence: It actually looked like mild with a little coffee and sugar in it. I do think you meant ‘milk’, not ‘mild’. 🙂 I have made some pretty funny typos, too. Great story, Nancy.
Thank you, Diane. I fixed the “mild” to milk. You are so right on the typo. I need all the help I can get with typos. Lol.
Yes, our pay was low but then again at Fort Devens Commissary we paid 10 to 15 cents a pound for hamburger in 1968.
I would still go back to the simpler times.
Hod Bless You, Diane
Nancy
Fun story, Nancy. You did seem to get into a lot of scrapes. 🙂 But you know how to see the funny side most of the time. Except for those drunk bivouac “tramps”. Great story.
We were always getting into something. I always see the funny side first but you are right this drunk bivouac tramps were lucky they didn’t touch my husband. It still makes me upset just thinking about them. Lol
Thank you for reading and commenting Diane.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I am sure God was smiling. And He is still smiling as you share this beautiful story with us. Being so open about your love both to each other and now with your audience is a rarity. I can feel the depth of your love for one another as I read, and it is precious. Thank you for opening your heart and sharing your stories. I think KiKi is right. Your book would make a great wedding or anniversary gift. God bless.
Thank you do much Diane for your heartfelt words. I want so much to convey how much we loved each other.
I think the time we soent really talking to each other is do necessary in marriage.
When I get to the Vietnam letters you will read about how much Frank missed our talks but then again you will also read that as he writes to me he is actually talking to me as if I was sitting in the room with him.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
Wow! That was some plane ride. I don’t wonder at your being scared. But you had me laughing when you yelled at those soldiers. You certainly got their attention. Good work!
Those soldiers nearly scared me to death. Lol! Frank tried really hard to get in touch with the soldier who came to my defense but he never found him. I always think he was one of God’s soldiers sent to protect me. Of course, my Dad was part of God’s plan too.
Anyway. I made to onto Frank’s arms safely.
Thank you for your comment Diane.
You are fixing to get to some fun reading in the Okinawan stories.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Another great story. It’s a good thing the two of you were able to adapt to different situations and places. Some people would find that very difficult. I love the way you just went with the flow and did what you had to do without grumbling about conditions. By the way, that meal looks very tempting. That would be something I would enjoy.
I loved Yakisoba. It was such a great dish. Frank and I were on a wonderful journey and just had each other. We didn’t need more than that.
Thank you again for commenting.
God Bless You, Diane
Nancy
Hilarious! I’m glad you didn’t get your feet all cut up. I’m loving your stories as I am getting closer to being caught up with them.
Me too. We had so much fun just like to kids which we were playing games with each other. We couldn’t stay upset with each other. Lol!
Thank you for reading. I am totally enjoying your comments.
God Bless You Diane,
Nancy
Another fun story. That sounds like some car! But it got you where you wanted to go and saved wear and tear on your feet. 🙂 It must have been an interesting place to live.
Okinawa is a Beautiful Island! There are still paths for rickshaws and they still use them. We saw so many old ruins. One side of the Island was the China Sea and the other side the Pacific Ocean. Totally different but both beautiful. The Island was 70 miles long and 2 to 7 miles wide. At the 2 mile wide area you can see both the China Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
Thank you again for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Diane
Nancy
A really funny story. I’m surprised Ralph didn’t have any kind of stomach or intestinal problems. Thank heaven that GI was able to laugh at the situation and especially that he had another pair of shoes to replace those devoured by Ralph. I’ll bet he never made the mistake again of letting Ralph in while the shoes were lined up at your door. I’m sorry about your Bible, though. Shoes you can replace. A gift like that cannot really be replaced.
Thinking Ralph had an iron stomach. Lol. I still have the bible which is in the picture. None of the pages are damaged which is what counts.
I am so glad you are reading and commenting. I love reading what you have to say.
God Bless You, Diane
Nancy
I’m sure thinking you could do anything was the perfect mind set to have that enabled you to actually do those things. I’m glad nothing worse happened than the door coming off – something that could be fixed. Had that snake or those stealy boys got close enough the damage may not have been repairable. Glad you kept safe.
I am so happy nothing else happened during the storm. We got soaking wet that day.
Thank you for commenting, Diane
God Bless You,
Nancy
It’s funny that before I even started to read this story, I noticed those huge dimples in the photo and planned on mentioning them. Then they became a big part of the story. You were so forgiving, and that comes with the love. Another great story. Just 4 more to go to catch up. That is if you don’t get more posted before I get there. 🙂
Thank you, Diane. I could not stay upset with him and I didn’t mind him being with the guys. I just needed to know he was okay. Our love was true and so deep.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
What a wonderful, memory-making Christmas. I’m sure everyone appreciated your hospitality and open home. Those baskets were a beautiful gift – God’s gift to you for your generosity to others.
Those baskets are so special to me. Everytime I look at them, I thank about that Papasan and his big smile. What a Beautiful person. I still use those baskets every Christmas and I tell my Grandchildren the story of the Papasan and the Baskets.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
Never a dull moment! I doubt either of you were ever bored, especially with each other. It is wonderful to see how two people can love each other so completely and openly. You don’t often see this in couples. I remember working with a young lady who was planning her wedding. She made a statement that took me aback. She said if it didn’t work out, they could always get a divorce. Where was the love there? Where was the commitment? I fully expected that one day they would be divorced. I never did find out as it was after that when I got sick and lost my job. It’s wonderful to read your stories and feel the foundation of love that they were built on.
You are right about no dull moments. Beauty of it was that we it didn’t cost us a penny. We were very open about our love and others around us knew how much we loved each other.
Divorce never entered our minds and would have been considered a failure to us. Our communication with each other was one of the keys to our successful marriage.
Thank you for your comment, Diane.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Wow! That really was a roller coaster ride. How sad about Ralph. Pets are just like members of the family and when they are gone, they leave a big hole. I’m glad you had the kittens to fill some of that hole. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for you to have to find your way by yourself all the time knowing that your time with Frank when you finally got home would be so short. A very emotional time, I am sure. God bless.
Yes, it was a very tough time for us but nothing could prepare us for what was to come. Ralph was so special to us, I will never forget him.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Diane
Nancy
That is one powerful love story. The Lord was truly with you. But how do people go through times like that without God? I can’t imagine. And I can’t imagine how it felt to know you would be apart for a whole year. It sounds like an eternity and I imagine it must have felt like one. But the assurance of Frank’s deep love for you held a power of its own coupled with God’s love and made you both overcomers. You have built together an enduring and strong legacy for your son and his family. And I pray that these stories will inspire other couples to love with that same kind of love.
Thank you so much Diane. God was so important to Frank and I. We loved Him so much.
That year would have been impossible for us without God’s help and the strength He gave us.
We had become inseparable by as one heart and soul blessed by God.
I will add three more letters from Okinawa tomorrow which will end the first book.
God has a purpose for the writing and sharing of our love story and I pray I am honoring His wishes in every word I write.
Thank you for reading and knowing how much Frank and I love each other which is an eternal love.
God Bless You, Diane
Nancy
So sorry to have to read about Ralph….the memories of how the airlines used to work….lol
Ralph was a real sweetheart. It was so hard to lose him.
Yes the airlines were crazy back then but saving that $50 was a must.
Thank you for reading and commenting Kim. I really appreciate it so much.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Chuck and Diane pretty much said it all…..so touching…..
Thank you for reading and understanding, Kim. That was a very hard day for us but with God’s help, we made it. The uncertainty about what our future together held was too much.
God Bless You, Kim,
Nancy
Unchained melody…that certainly fits….Funny how time has erased the memories of the delays involved with written mail and changing duty stations…that must have been rough on you.
It was rough on me but it was really rough on Frank as you will see in the first letters from Vietnam. Even after He mailed me his address it would take it five days to get to me then my letter would take five days to get back to him.
The most Beautiful miracles happen because we were so of one heart and soul. When I would mail him a letter then check my mailbox and the answers would be in a letter on the same day.
Thank you for reading and commenting Kim. I really appreciate it so much.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Your posts and Frank’s letters bring back vivid memories of my own army service in Rhodesia at the same time, waiting, waiting, waiting for letters from home. Although I was only a couple of hundred miles from home, not thousands like Frank, it still took up to 2 weeks for letters to find their way through the system and out to the bush.
So much will happen in our exchange of letters. Sometimes the mail planes were used for different purposes.
I can only imagine how long it took mail back in the days of the only means of travel being a horse.
Thank you for reading and your comment Peter.
God Bless You,
Nancy
It must be comforting to be able to read these letters while at the same time sad that Frank is no longer with you. There is no room for doubt as to the fact that he loved you. As Chuck has said, it is very unusual for a man as young as Frank was then to write so openly and sincerely about his love and devotion to you. That is a wonderful memory to hold in your heart. Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to reading more. God bless you, Nancy.
Thank you so much Diane. Frank was never afraid to tell me about his love for me. I am typing in more letters tonight and I know him do well that I know what he was thinking as he wrote them. I have smiled as t his humor and felt a sadness at his loneliness whil er he was in Vietnam.
The last letter in the group I am typing is very special
Thank you for reading and commenting, Diane.
God Bless You
Nancy
It’s not often one gets to see the inner workings of another person’s heart. It is a privilege to read these once private letters. Thank you for sharing them. I pray that they will touch and change the hearts of many who need an example of what a good husband looks and sounds like and what a good marriage should be like. God bless.
Diane thank you so much. God has a plan for the sharing of these letters and I know that plan will be revealed as these books go out into the world. I do not know God’s plan. My only concern is that I always do my best to please God. True love in marriage takes commitment, sacrifice, acceptance, and loving God. Frank was truly an Amazing man. God must love me a lot to have sent me such a beautiful loving husband.
Thank you for your comment and reading about our love.
God Bless You,
Nancy
This chapter Ms.Henderson is…(as you have exclaimed many time yourself, in other posts) just pure “awesomeness “!
As a matter of fact Lou, I’m thinking you actually may have coined what may very well be anong the best one word expressions, ever!!
And yes, I’ve no doubt there’s gonna be a million billion people out there claiming otherwise…but, we know better, don’t we? Especially since what they can’t prove, you and Frank can…as I simply say thank you both for the ” beautifulness “, of your love!
Truly great writing Nancy!
ddh
Thank you so much Dennis. I truly did not think those letters would ever get to Frank.
We missed each other so much. Frank’s letters are absolutely priceless but you will see that as they are posted. I am going the easy part of writing now because he is doing most of it.
God Bless You,Dennis,
Nancy
What can I say? These are very beautiful letters and I feel privileged that you are sharing these intimate conversations with us. I continue to be amazed that a man as young as Frank was then could express himself so fully. God certainly blessed you with such a husband, and He also blessed Frank with just the wife he needed. You were a team. You were one. And that is beautiful, more than many people can testify to after more years of marriage than you had at that time. God bless you, Nancy, as you continue to share and eventually put your book together.
Thank you so much Diane. This was a hard one for me to post. I struggled with it because of it’s truly intimenance of our struggles to have a child but that is also a part of our love story and quite possibly part of the reason God has compelled me to write our story. Marriage has struggles but when there is commitment and true love those struggles can be overcome.
After praying about this post. I went back to the typewriter and finished it. God truly wants me to be totally open while I write our story. I still don’t know His purpose for these books but that is not for me to know.
Please keep me in your prayers and God Bless You,
Nancy
I will do that. God bless.
Thank you so much Diane.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Another exceptional post. Love is all over and through it, and it’s beautiful. God bless you as you continue sharing that which is closest to your heart.
I just came to the realization (where on earth have I been, anyway?) that I am not following you. I am going to fix that as soon as I submit this comment. How did I miss that?
I thought you were following me too. Thank you again Diane for reading and commenting.
I dudn’t think I would ever get an address to send my letters to him. I was getting his letters and could feel his loneliness but I couldn’t get my love for him to him.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
Another beautiful slice of life shared by two people in love. I so appreciate your husband’s ability to share his feelings. That is a trait too few ‘men’ are able today to share with all of the BS about what masculinity is “supposed” to be.
Looking forward to more.
Thank you so much, Chuck. You know at the time, I was used to us sharing our deepest feelings openly with each other. Frank was never afraid to tell me how much he loved me. Wow, I was so blessed.
God Bless You, Chuck,
Nancy
Nancy, I agree with Chuck about Frank’s ability to verbalize freely how he felt for you. We need to see more of this today. If husbands cherished their wives as Frank cherished you, there would be far less divorces. Paul admonished men to love their wives as Christ loved the church. That’s a tall order, but I think Frank did a pretty good job of living up to it. God bless. Looking forward to more letters.
Thank you so much Diane. I am typing another chapter now and feeling very very loved with each of his written words as I type them. I was so blessed by God to have had this Amazing man in my life.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Another great example of Frank’s deep love. I never enjoyed the popular music when I was growing up and after, but Unchained Melody was a song I did really like. Not sure who sang it, but what I remember is not the version you have here. I believe it was a woman singing it. But for some reason that song got my attention. (There is an interesting site about the writer of the lyrics here https://www.dansher.com/unchained/unchained.html) There were one or two others, but very few I liked. My choice was classical, even as a teenager. It was good that music meant so much to both you and Frank. There is something healing and fulfilling in music that can release the emotions like most other things cannot do. Thank you for sharing these letters. God bless.
You are so welcome Diane. I will look up who wrote that song. It was Frank and my favorite. He mentions it again in this next chapter. Frank loved music and he knew all of the words and singers.
Thank you for the information and for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Diane,
Nancy
Just remembered that it was Jane Morgan who I remember singing Unchained Melody. I don’t know how that came back to me. Wonder of wonders. 🙂
Thank you, Diane. I will look her up and listen to it by her.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Another winner. It is really encouraging to read these letters and know that Frank did come back to you and you had that opportunity to love each other close up and forever. I pray that others experiencing separation from one another for whatever reason will take comfort and learn how to love even while apart, how to express that love to solidify their relationship. God bless you, Nancy.
Thank you so much Diane. We had been separate for short times before but the ideal of Frank being in a War zone made the fear so hard but our love only grew.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You
Nancy
I guess I will say it again. Frank Henderson epitomizes Manhood. He truly understood what men should be and how to share. You were truly blessed and thanks for sharing. I have directed several young men to your site.
Thank you so much Chuck. I appreciate all you have done and do for me.
Yes, Frank was a true loving, beautiful man. His love for me was real and gives me unbelievable strength everyday. Being truly loved by him and truly loving him is the Greatest Gift God could ever give me. I am so blessed.
Thank you for reading and sharing with others.God Bless You.
Nancy
If your posts make me any more sentimental, I am going to have to stop reading your blog Nancy.
When I was doing my army service at the same time as Frank, we had a radio programme called Forces Favourites on a Saturday afternoon. A woman announcer with a lovely voice read messages from wives, girlfriends, children, parents and played songs they requested for us. Her name was Sally Donaldson, she did it for years. Sadly she is no longer with us.
Some of those songs especially the Beatles one, Scotty, and Unchained Melody that reminded Frank of you had the same effect on me and my fellow soldiers.
If we were not on patrol, we would huddle around a small transistor radio in our base camp or out in the bush trying to hear our names through the hiss of static and the raucous (and envious) mockery of our mates if our messages were too soppy. A typical ending was …..with licks and kisses from Brutus the dog.
Your post and Frank’s letters transported me back to sitting under trees in the heat of the Zambezi valley nearly 50 years ago.
I agree with Chuck, Frank set a wonderful example for young men today. Your blog should be compulsory reading for all high school boys – and girls.
Thank you so much Peter. Frank was a special man. Everyone always told him he was an old soul in a young man’s body.
The music brings back so many memories for me. We loved music and it played in our home all of the time.
It has been very nostalgic for me to play these songs as I type his letters.
I pray this book will be an inspiration to what it takes to really work at Marriage. It takes true devoted love to each other, sacrifice,commitment,patience, understanding, and trusting in God.
Thank you so much for reading, commenting, and your encouraging words.
God Bless You, Peter
Nancy
AH… the marvels of snail mail! The ability to take a break and return to writing in a totally different mood… the discourse as letters passed each other and reflected different thoughts and emotions. So touching…
Yes, one day could change a mood. Frank and I were both fighters for our love and marriage. We totally depended on each other regardless of how far apart we were. We would get tough on each other sometimes in letters but it was to help each other pull out that extra fight inside to overcome depression. Thank you for reading and commenting Kim. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Lovely letters from a very loving and true man for his loving wife, each suffering from their empty aching arms, waiting for the wonderful time when they holdtheir true love closeto each other’s heart, they are seperated by space, but their mind. soul and hearts and thoughts are constantly upon each other, love , Caroline
Thank you so much for reading and commenting Caroline.
You are so right our love could not be separated by any obstacle.
As I reread and then type these letters into chapters, I feel his love surround me and I feel him here by my side. I thank God everyday for sending this Beautiful Man to love me with all his heart and soul. My love for Frank has never wavered but grows more everyday. He is my love for eternity and owns my heart.
God Bless You and thank you again,
Love Nancy
I still Marvell at Frank’s willingness to be so open with his emotions and his ability to occupy his time. What of you? How did you cope? What was your support system in his absence?
I worked everyday during the week then in the evenings came home and wrote to him. All of my friends were away at school. His parents and mine were close but I could only confide in him. I barely ate except on weekends at our folk’s homes. It was hard because they were concerned for me and instead of a wife, I became a daughter again which I couldn’t do.
By the end of March I had lost down to 112lbs. I had our two cats and a puppy.
At work I was fine but the nights were terrible. I was so afraid of losing him. I confided in him but realized it upset him so much if I was depressed or crying that I learned to leave that out of my letters. I would fail miserably at times trying to do that as you will see through out these letters.
Frank’s Mom was awesome at coming over and we sewed together making curtains and other things but she never tried to talk to me about Frank because she knew I couldn’t. She just tried to get my mind on other things.
Thank you for your comment Kim and for reading. I hope I’ve made some sense in explaining how I coped.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Thank you for sharing your heart with us, Nancy, you who were a loving and faithful wife and to us, your readers, a wonderful friend. —-KiKi
Thank you so much KB. I was so fortunate to have married my soulmate.
We had a very deep true love for each other.
I really appreciate your friendship.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Beautiful. Like Kim, I am always amazed at not only Frank’s ability but his willingness to pour it all out. He was an amazing man. By the way, I am still not getting e-mail notifications of your posts. I just keep coming to see if there is anything new, and I find 2 new posts. I think I’ll leave the other one for tomorrow as I have to get up at 6:30 in the morning. God bless you.
Thank you so much Diane. He really was truly Amazing. God so Blessed me. Not sure why you are not getting emails. I will try to find out why. Try subscribing again, if you don’t mind.
God Bless You and sweet dreams,
Nancy
I guess I figured as much. I saw the young guys who were so insecure that every letter they received was used as justification to convince themselves that their wife was being unfaithful….poor kids! If the wife said everything was fine that meant they were not needed. If everything was messed up that meant it was omly a matter of time before she was going to find someone else….there seemed (to me) to be precious few who could simply accept that “she” was making due best as she could and was hanging on until deros day. You were a special one who was married to a special one
Thank you, Kim. I could tell how hard it was for Frank to see what was going on around him with other husbands with wives at home and guys with girlfriends at home.
Evidently lists of Dear John letters happening.
Frank knew how much I loved him and I would always be faithful to him but things happening around him messed up his mind plus the loneliness and depression.
He will write then get upset with himself and write letters of apology over and over.
Thank you for reading,commenting, and your Beautiful compliments.
God Bless You
Nancy
Nancy, I just re-subscribed, and the thank you page came up, so it was processed. It’s funny as I do get the notifications for the comments. Who can understand technology? 🙂
Awesomeness. I don’t understand it for sure. Thank you for resubscribing.
God Bless You,
Nancy
That was a good up-beat letter to end this chapter with. Frank’s letters are filled with so much emotion, something most men do everything they can to hide. I don’t know where this idea came from that men should not show emotion. It’s crazy. I understand their emotions are different than a woman’s and are expressed differently, but my goodness, to keep emotions bottled up is not good for man or woman. It probably saved Frank from becoming more deeply depressed than some of the soldiers. God truly blessed you with Frank and blessed Frank with you.
Thank you so much Diane. Frank never thought he could express him self with pen on paper but thinking he did an Amazing job. Even reading now, I feel his tremendous love for me coming through from each letter.Hard to believe he was writing these things at 21 years old.
God Bless You and thank you so much for reading and commenting.
Love Nancy
Like Frank I often had run ins with tbe higher ups. Makes me smile to think of his rebellion against the haircut and the monkey on a stick crap of a promotion board. Being surrounded by security allowed the “careerists”the opportunity to play those Mickey Mouse games instead of letting proficiency determine rank….. For his sake Im glad you learned how to communicate in ways that didn’t overly (impossible to completely do it) upset him. It must have also done wonders for you also
Thank you, Kim. Yes, Frank was beginning to rebel a little. I would fail miserably at times writing to him about the emotions I was feeling but it was because he was my only confidant. I hated when I was weak and upset him. He wanted me to confide in him but his helplessness to help me overwhelmed him plus the length of time it took for our letters to reach each other.
His fear was losing me and my fear was losing him but our love for each other never wavered but became ever stronger.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Crazy stuff to be dealing with at age 21. He was so lucky to have you back home waiting for him, engaging him, giving him something to hold onto.
Much love,
Mary Rae
Thank you, MaryRae. Frank was a strong loving man and had a strong belief in God along with right and wrong. As with all of us the gray areas of right and wrong we face in life are the hardest to deal with.
He decided to make a statement to them but was given his rank change because they knew his value to them.
As I type now, I reread his letters and realize he vould have written them at age 47. His thoughts and beliefs never changed. He was gifted by God with an old soul.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, MaryRae.
Love Nancy
“It amazes me that at his age he could think so deeply.” This says exactly what I am thinking about Frank. It is amazing how deep such a young man could be. We need more like that today. It is so encouraging to hear of that kind of love in a marriage which lasted through the years. You were committed to one another, and you didn’t let anything come in between. I don’t know if I told you about this, but I remember working with a young lady who was about to be married. We were sitting at the lunch table at work, and the statement she made really shocked me. She said, “If it doesn’t work out, we can always get a divorce.” My first thought was that she would probably be divorced before the marriage went very far. That doesn’t show real love, at least not to my mind. Without that foundation, I don’t see how a marriage could last. I have no idea what happened to her, but I often wonder where she is today and what her life is like. Thanks for sharing these beautiful letters. God bless you.
Thank you, Diane for seeing and really knowing Frank. He was always like a true ray of sunshine, a true leader and a deep thinker.
I remember watching him leaning against a fence after he had mow the yard looking like he was in deep thought. I asked him what he was thinking and he told me that he was thinking how great it was to be alive and being so much in love with me. Our love was so deep and committed to each other.
I can not imagine how anyone would not work at making their marriage work.
I wonder about your young coworker too, by starting out a marriage without commitment. I pray she figured it out before she married. Marriage is a sacred thing between God and the two people getting married. Those vows should be forever binding.
God Bless You,Diane and thank you for reading and commenting.
Love Nancy
I feel the emotions riding high in these letters. You never have to read between the lines to figure out what Frank is saying. Everything is completely open. I have shared it on FaceBook and Twitter. God bless you, Nancy.
Thank you so much Diane. I love haow he talked about the months of the year. He was encouraging me through. He was so open about everything. I realized in two of those letters that he was not getting my mail but being strong through it. Although being so far apart we felt each others feelings. Thank you so much for sharing and commenting.
God Bless You, Diane
I love you,
Nancy
I am really looking forward to each new post to learn a little more about Frank, and also about you. Those collection agency letters are hilarious. God bless you.
Thank you, Diane. We were beginning to settle down a play with each other a little. I love those two letters, they really express the way we were together. I have finished all of April letters and those collection letters begin May. May is hard one because our third Anniversary was May 8th.
Thank you again for reading and commenting. God Bless You, Diane.Love,
Nancy
What a lovely chapter of a beautiful and undying love between two young people. Thanks so much, Nancy, for sharing these most intimate moments between a husband and his wife. In addition to his love, Frank expressed his feelings in their many dimensions: his depression, loneliness and sometimes anger at things when they did not go his way. There was, however, that common thread of love interwoven throughout. You shared an honest snippet of your lives then, unembellished and not sugar-coated.
You did not tell us much about the kitty-cat, though. I suppose s/he kept you company, and both you and Frank enjoyed the kitty’s filling a space in your heart till hubby came home again.
Loved this!
—KiKi
Thank you so much, Kiki. Yes, this is all an unembellished account of our love. frank’s letters are full of every kind of emotion that a person can feel. I wish that everyone could see these letters because the handwriting really shows his different moods.
We actually had three kittens, Candy, Homer, and Kitty. Of course, they all slept on our bed beside me while Frank was in Vietnam. They were all unique and had different personalities. They would curl up next to me while I wrote a letter to Frank every night. I don’t know what I would have done without them.
When deciding to share our lives and these letters, I decided to share them honestly, unembellished, and as they are because this is a true love story and a true look at marriage with all of its trials, sacrifices, total commitment, and devoted faithful love. Frank and I were not special but we were determined to totally commit to our love. I really believe that all marriages can achieve this same kind of love.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
A belated Happy Birthday! Hope that ankle is OK. I’m glad you still had a good time with your family, though.
Thank you so much Diane. It is doing really well. Still swollen but no pain. I did have a Great Birthday.
Thank you so much for coming here and wishing me a Happy Birthday.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Nancy, I have to agree that the first letter is a beautiful letter, and so special to you. So often people say, “I love you,’ with little thought behind it. It becomes so ordinary and loses much of its meaning. But with Frank, it doesn’t matter how many times he says it, you know absolutely that he meant it emphatically. It’s easy to tell that he not only wrote beautiful letters, but that those letters came from a beautiful soul and spirit. You were blessed in having such a husband. Thank you for sharing. God bless you, my friend.
Thank you so much Diane. Sometimes as I type these letters that Frank wrote to me, I wonder if God had a purpose for them even then as Frank wrote them. Of course, they were for me back then but I know that God has another purpose. I am beginning to see those effects in some age groups of people. I am just honored to get to type Frank’s words.
God Bless You and thank you for commenting.
Love,
Nancy
I love it! It’s hilarious. I’m so glad that those tasks are done for me as I live in an apartment. But these new-fangled toilets look as though you can’t even take the tank top off with the push-button flusher. I used to be able to at least re-hook the chain when it detached itself, but I don’t even know what it looks like inside the tank now. I haven’t needed to have it fixed as it is a fairly new toilet. They put new toilets in the building often enough they probably never need fixing. They take out perfectly good toilets to put in new ones for no logical reason. But then, we have had three new owners in less than two years–two this year–and there’s no explanation given for that either. Talk about confusing. We have to get our tax receipts from more than one landlord. Crazy! Not sure I would want that outhouse here in winter when you would have to plod through a couple of feet of snow. It would be pretty chilly, too, at below freezing temperatures. It would be OK for you, though. But a four-seater? I’ve heard of two-seaters and even that is questionable. Makes you wonder what they did back then, doesn’t it? Thanks for sharing this light-hearted post to bring a laugh at the end of my day. Actually I should be in bed by now, but wanted to read your post first. And then there’s the problem of trying to shut my computer down when it keeps freezing on me. So I’ll say good night. God bless you, Nancy. Looking forward to your next “fix”. 🙂
Thank you for reading and commenting Diane. I had so much fun writing this blog and laughed the whole time.
Yes, things are a changing. I,’m sure the winter would definitely be a challenge up there.
Praying your computer decides to behave for you.
God Bless You and I am really enjoying your blogs.
Love,
Nancy
Well done, Nancy. These letters show a depth of love that many people have never experienced. Thank you for sharing such intimate thoughts and words. God bless you.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Diane. I am praying through this openess of sharing these letters, that others will understand how to truly be open in speaking and writing their love for each other.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
What a sad thing for Frank’s friend. Like you, I don’t understand how a wife could do that to her husband when he is thousands of miles away fighting a war. I can see how that would shake Frank.
Yes, it shook up Frank and I am sure many others. It still irritates me when I think about it. Praying Frank’s friend found peace and someone to Love him as he deserved.
Thank you for commenting and reading our love story, Diane.
God Bless You.
Love
Nancy
Good for you, girl! I can understand how difficult it must be for you at times, but you never wallow in self-pity because of it, and I admire that in you. And you can always find humor in situations that otherwise might devastate you. And the Lord will sustain you, and carry you when you need that, through anything you have to face in life. That is so comforting, isn’t it? He never let’s us down or leaves us on our own. God bless you.
Thank you, Diane. God has never let me down and He has sent Beautiful friends in my life to encourage me. You are definitely one of those friends. Your writings encourage me on so many levels.
God Bless You!
Love,
Nancy
Thank you, Nancy. It is a privilege to be your friend. I am so happy to be able to encourage even one person with my writing, and am very happy that you are one. God bless you. Love you. Keep up the good work.
Believe me, your writing will encourage so many people. You have such a beautiful unjudgemental way of writing God’s truths. God has Blessed you, my friend.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you for sharing your letters. Each is so honest and open. I think it is beautiful that two people in love can share their ups and downs. It proves only that one is human. I’m sure these letters from your beloved Frank sometimes stir deep emotions in you of the times when you were apart, and when you were eventually together again as well.
I think it was very healthy as well as manly that he shared his anger, depression, and yes, sometimes rebellion while in the armed services. It is not a natural state for any person, and to adjust to it from day to day must have been a great struggle for him at times. Thanks again for sharing you deeply personal journey. —-KiKi
Thank you so much for reading and commenting KiKi. Frank’s moods could shift so quickly while he was in Vietnam. He was never a moody person except then. I was so glad that we could write to each other and express our feelings openly. Frank worried so much about me being alone without him to protect me from harm. Of course, I worried about him being in a safe place. Frank had been in the Army nearly three and a half years and he was just sick of being told what to wear and do. They were so confined in the compound where he was with little to do after their twelve-hour shifts.
God Bless You, KiKi and thank you again.
Love,
Nancy
Oh, what sweet words between the two of you. I love reading the words of your true love for each other.
Thank you so much, Kirby. I am so pleased that you are reading and have left a comment. It means a lot to have an Awesome Author read our love story. Frank was the writer, I am the ghostwriter. He was such a deep thinking person with a laugh that lit up the room. You would have loved him and he would have read all of your books. Thank you again for reading and leaving a comment.
God Bless You, Kirby,
Nancy
Dang Nancy…squeezed my heart there. My Lovely goes away for a week and I’m a basket case so I know that feeling. When love grows like that she’s taught me that it’s me learning to love me….what a gift…beautiful writing…
Thank you so much for reading and commenting Dale. I am so glad your wife has taught you that you have to love yourself. I believe that God really gave you a Beautiful gift when he gave you your wife.
God Bless You Both,
Nancy
You have such a talent to describe reality and the wonderful feeling of true love. I have shared your story with several “younger” people and they are hooked
Thank you so much Chuck. This was a difficult chapter for me to write.
Thank you for sharing and all you do.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Another great post, Nancy. Frank sure was surprised with that pocket watch. Isn’t it fun when you can totally surprise someone with a gift they never expected. Makes you feel you have done the right thing.
Yes, it does and his Special Surprise for me is even better. I have no ideal how he kept it a secret so long. Lol
Thank you for reading and commenting Diane. I think there are two more chapters up after this one. I hope you have time to read them.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Beautiful! There is such a wealth of emotion in these words. I agree with you that it isn’t the same in a text, e-mail, etc. Written letters have almost become a thing of the past. It takes time to actually write a letter. With all the short forms in texts, it doesn’t take much thought or time and probably doesn’t carry as much meaning either. You are blessed to have these hand-written letters from Frank.
The letters still hold the emtions they were written with. I have them all typed but I still prefer to type from the written ones. I can feel him and see him in the writing then and now. He could do the same then. This is such an emotional journey but one I will do strongly.
Thank you so much for your Beautiful support Diane.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
I just realized that I missed this post. I, too, think it most wonderful that you could be completely open with each other, even on paper. Too many people let things fester inside and that leads to all sorts of problems. I don’t wonder at him being depressed at times considering the atmosphere and situations he was in. But you can see just by reading that the fact that you were totally stable in his life and he knew you were there for him was what kept him from falling into a pit of continual depression. God bless you, Nancy.
Thank you for reading it. You are so right, I was his anchor. I don’t know what others did without a someone at home they could totally talk to.
God Bless You, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
Oh my gosh!!!! I’m tearing up and holding back a sob that wants to burst out!!!!! Ok, now tears rolling down cheeks. Mercy!
This was beautiful.. Perfect.
❤️
Thank you so much Theresa. You’re words mean so much to me. You and Lloyd knew us so well and we all had so much fun together.
Thank you for commenting and your Beautiful support.
God Bless You Two and I love you very much,
Love,
Nancy
Thanks for being so honest as you share these letters and your thoughts and memories of that time. It takes courage to do that. What an emotional time. And what a blessing that you were both able to express your feelings to each other. So often people keep these things hidden inside and begin to either withdraw or simmer. You both had a healthy outlet for your emotions and I’m sure that brought healing and peace. God bless you.
Diane, I think it is important for me to share our struggles to have a child. So many other couples share this same struggle. Frank tried so hard to keep me from being upset about it. When we were in Okinawa we did a lot of talking about having a child.
When I think back on those times now when it was just the two of us, I realize that God gave us a true blessing of time to be with just each other.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
I finished the post, Nancy, and I am breathless. i was breathless all the way through. Your story, and your words, are magical. I cannot stop reading. I predict that you will touch, before the end, tens of thousands of people.
Thank you so much Kirby. Your words mean so much to me. God has been been so gracious to me in my life and He gave me the most Beautiful soulmate to love me and share my heart and soul with for eternity. God has allowed Frank to remain all around me.
The book I am writing, God has a purpose for. I do not know what that purpose is but I know that God does and that is what really matters.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
God Bless you, Kirby.
Nancy
Nice to read your posts again. To read his letters and note he has gone from calling you Lou to Nancy again, and knowing his location and job over there its not at all surprising that the NVA would do anything possible to add stress to their lives
Thank you for reading Kim. He was very upset in the last letter but in the chapter I am typing now he apologizes over and over. The NVA were all around them but he won’t tell me that for a few more letters which I found out by rereading ahead.
His best buddy had left so he openly confided in me.
Thanks for noticing he has gone calling me, Nancy again. He is very serious when he does that.
God Bless you, Kim
Nancy
Thank you for posting another letter from your dear Frank. Reading your posts, it is as if he is still very much the soldier who cannot wait to get home to his beloved wife. These letters, poignant and honest, reveal his innermost feelings and frustrations, but also his undying love for his wife, which is timeless.
I can visualize some tears, too, from time to time as you revisit that very special season in your life that you were blessed to share with him.
Blessings,
KiKi
Thank you, Kiki for your comment.
Yes, he was a good soldier and his undying love for me and mine for him was what truly got us through those months.
His best friend had just left and he needed to talk to me very openly about his feelings in the last letter.
In a letter in the chapter I am working on now, he will apologize over and over, then in a letter to come he will tell me more about what was going on around them.
Tears do flow often as I type but I really think his written words are important to others.
God Bless you, Kiki.
Love,
Nancy
More wonderful insights into Frank’s heart for you. I imagine he was a very conscientious man in all areas of life. It is beautiful that he allowed himself to feel those emotions, but even greater is the fact that he was free to write those feelings down even when he thought his words were not adequate. It says a lot about him. By the way, I finally received a notification for this post–the first in quite a while. I must check to see if I have missed any previous posts. God bless.
Thank you so much Diane. I really appreciate your comment. Lots going on around Frank but he is letting it out in his letters and I am do glad he did.
Frank’s letters show how much he loved you and what a good man he was.
Reading his letters reminds me of the frustration I felt doing my military service at the same time. I was lucky, after my initial 9 months training I was only away for 6 weeks at a time.
Thank you for sharing Nancy.
Thank you so much Peter. I l9ve the padlock and key letter. Frank was a very deep thinker and he never thought he could express himself on with pen and paper but he certainly could and did.
Thank you so much fir reading and commenting.
God Bless you,
Nancy
BTW… you do know that Ray LaMontagne spent a lot of years in my neighborhood? I used to coach at Buckfield Jr/Sr high school when he lived there.
Really? I did not know that. I love his songs. How cool is that?
God Bless you,
Nancy
I wasn’t prepared for this. Stunning. So heartfelt. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much, Phil. Frank is writing some fantastic letters. He is opening up to me more and more. After he came home on R&R, he just knew that I needed to know everything. Sometimes men are afraid to be this open but he knew that it just made us deeper and deeper into being one with each other.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Frank Henderson was a Man’s Man all the way. His ability to LOVE and express that Love unabashedly is fantastic.
I hope many young men and women will read these letters and learn you don’t have to be a Viagra Guy to be a Man
Thank you so much Chuck. Being a Man’a Man is truly being sure of yourself enough to openly love and openly express emotions without fear of doing so. Frank did not fear telling me how much he loved me or telling me about his emotions.
Knowing his heart and soul so deeply totally molded my heart and soul to him for an eternity.
His stregth as a real Man was his openness of his heart and soul.
No way Viagra or Cialis can achieve manhood.
Thank you for realizing and seeing in Frank who he really was.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
More revealing letters. It must have been really difficult for Frank to keep on working with those hemorrhoids. That takes determined stamina. I’m glad he decided to get help. I find myself doing the countdown thing to when he would come home. 🙂 God bless.
Thank you for helping me countdown. I feel myself back in time doing the very same thing. Frank always hated going to the doctor. I can count on one hand how many times he actually did.
He was very tough with pain but this was too much.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
I am waiting anxiously for your new books to come out. I am so Happy for you. You were given a Beautiful talent by God to inspire others through your writing. You are so Blessed by God.
Love,
Nancy
It just keeps getting better. 🙂 I believe with Frank that it shows a great strength for a man to be able to convey his feelings of love. And besides that, it is very healthy for body, soul and spirit. There are many people who would do well to follow his example.
Thank you so much, Diane. Frank was such an old soul in a young man’s body. God blessed me with Frank. I think that all men whatever age should realize that the manliest thing they can do, is to speak and show their love openly. It totally endears them to their loved ones and makes them men among men.
God Bless you, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
So many feelings expressed from Frank. His excitement about coming home to you in full privacy is prescious.
Thank you, MaryRae. He really wanted to be alone with me with no distractions. We had so many decisions to make about our future and we really needed to do that alone together. In a future letter, you will read that decision was not very well accepted by others but I convinced him to make a slight change in our plans that remedied the situation. Not sure how I will approach that letter but have time.
God Bless You, MaryRae.
Love,
Nancy
I’m impressed by what a good writer Frank was.
Thank you so much Phil. He was an excellent public speaker too. He was really opening up in these letters and I am so glad that I have all of these letters.
Thank you for reading and commenting. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You and I can’t wait to read more of your writing.
Nancy
It is hard to hear the depression in Frank’s words, but so good to realize that he was able to overcome by talking it out. His love for you just oozes out everywhere. The ability to see the humor in a desperate situation is a gift from God and no doubt it kept him from completely losing it in those terrible circumstances. I am watching out for that one special letter when he tells you he is coming home. I am sure you are reliving this as you write and share. God bless you.
This was a tough chapter, not only because he was depressed but I realized he really did not have a close buddy left there to talk to. He had such an Amazing ability to pull himself up by his boot straps and get himself together.
The letter of him telling me about his love for me and describing me as he saw me down to my delicate hands, really caused some serious tears here. I was so blessed to have Frank in my life.
Thank you for reading and commenting Diane. I appreciate you so much.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Yes, his descriptions reveal a very caring, sensitive and creative nature. A wonderful thing for a man to possess. I doubt if many men would even think this way let alone unashamedly put those thoughts down on paper. You were blessed to have such a husband.
Awe, thank you so much Diane. Praying men will read Frank’s letters and realize how open they should be with their feelings with the person they love.
I will never stop loving Frank. He is my heart.
God Bless You, Diane.Love,
Nancy
Oh, Nancy…this post is so exquisite and fully bursting with love, emotion, and passion from you both. What a gift to this world! Thank you for sharing this intimate relationship between you and Frank.
Thank you, MaryRae for reading and commenting.
God so blessed me with Frank. Our love for each other was so real, pure and deep, an eternal love.
God Bless you,
Love,
Nancy
That’s quite a poem. He knew how to craft with words, and the words flow so well. His feelings come across so strongly in his letters whether he is depressed or happy. Nothing withheld, all in the open. That is a healthy way to live.
Thank you, Diane. Frank loved to write me poems and notes which he would leave around the house for me to find. They are among my most treasured possessions. I have kept all but this one and one more which I found in the letters, in my jewelry box for years.
Finding a note or a poem from Frank left in places he knew I would find them was priceless.
Frank’s letters are getting longer and he is really putting his thoughts down now. The next two letters are on both ends of the spectrum but both priceless.
God Bless you, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
So touching…glad he got out of the dumps, if only for a while. Breaking 100 days was a milestone! DEROSing became something palpable…… On another note, I’ll be writing about my experience with the same typhoon. 🙂
Thank you, Kim. Yes, Frank was disappointed by not getting a drop but he was resilient in pulling himself back up by his boot straps.
I bet thyphoon Edith caused you all many worries too.
It is really a neat experience to talk to you knowing you were in Vietnam the same time Frank was.
God Bless you, Kim and thank you for your comment.
Nancy
Nancy that was Beautiful! Well told, right from the Heart! I love what you are doing! I think it truly is important to get this out to the world of people to understand the communication that can accelerate love from the heart.
Thank you so much, Helen. It is so wonderful to have reconnected with you at Stewarts. We will get together soon. You are an awesome person and friend.
Frank was such a deep thinking person.
Thank you for your beautiful words of encouragement and commenting.
God Bless you, Helen.
Love,
Nancy
Thanks for sharing your Mr. Christmas. Fabulous Man!
Thank you for reading and commenting Chuck. Frank was a very special man and I was so blessed to have him on my life.
God Bless you,
Love,
Nancy
This is so close to home. We went “artificial” (not intelligence) a few years ago.
The second year set up was easier.
They are easier to maintain. ~~smile
Yes, they are but the new artificial trees have changed a lot. The one I had for so many years wad just beautiful. This one will have to grow on me, lol. I am nearly through spreading out the limbs then I will decorate. Great Grands are gonna love it. I hear Elyse, my two-year-old Great Granddaughter, has already been banned from touching her tree. They actually had to put up a fence around it. LOL!
Thank you for your comment Chuck and all you do for so many.
God Bless You and Praying you have an Awesome Day.
Love,
Nancy
Don’t you just love ordering stuff online? I never cease to marvel that my cleaning products from Amazon come with the huge air-filled bags surrounding them and my toilet roll and tissues and paper roll all come in nice large boxes filled with aforesaid huge air filled bags. Sigh one would think that in this age of recycling and whatnot that there would be a better delivery system that would not consist of multiple boxes. Loved reading this today and I smiled because I have been there.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I am always amazed at how much packing is in boxes I receive. I am so glad that this post made you smile which is what it was intended to do. I like to find humor in all things around me and then I write about it.
God Bless You and praying you have an Amazing Day.
Love,
Nancy
Yes, Christmas trees have become products or commodities now more than representative of family love and get togethers. I’ve seen the ones advertised on TV that tries to retain family fun and goodwill but it is mostly consumer-related now. I waS trying to understand how you cut yourself on bubble wrap. But I think it was in cutting the bubble wrap that it became a problem. Maybe your Santa will come from Outer Space this year…
Love,Amy Thank you for sharing youro traditions with your readers!
I actually cut myself on the clear tape wrapped around the bubble wrap, lol! It really was only a nick but since I write humor I might have blown it out of proportion some. I am praying to not have any Alien visits for Christmas but If I do I will just give them a candy cane.
Thank you so much for reading, sharing, and coming here to comment.
God Bless you and praying that you have an Amazing Day.
Love,
Nancy
WOW!!!!! ……. just….WOW!
Thank you so much Kim. I am humbled by your comment. You have definitely warmed my heart.
God Bless you.
Love
Nancy
So many emotions, so much covered in those letters. I’m so happy he managed to rerurn to you in some semblance of normalcy.
Thank you, Kim. He never only allowed himself to change. He was a very strong person and processed what was happening around him but refused to let it change him.
In these last letters he is really opening up to me. His best friend who he trusted and could talk to had left. Frank had been shielding me trying not to upset me or make me worry but then he realized so much he had shielded me from, I could read between the lines in his letters anyway. His total openness to me only made me trust and love him more, if that was possible.
God Bless you and thank you for your comments. The “Wow, just Wow” comment made me cry because I knew you understood his words.
Love
Nancy
Thanks for the laugh. I have had artificial trees for years as I was told when I moved in here nearly 42 years ago that we were not allowed to have a real tree. I had a 7′ tree for quite a few years then decided to go with a 4′ on a table. Two years ago I could not find one of the 3 pieces that fit in the slots to make the stand, so had to improvise with a piece of wood I had, and it worked fairly well except that the tree was a little tilted. I used the same solution last year. But then I found the other piece, so this year, if I haven’t lost it again, I will have all the pieces. I bought my tree from the store and it had only white lights. I already had a strand of 400 colored lights, so I just string that on the tree as well. It is well lit up by the time I get through. I still have that to look forward to this year as I have not started any decorating yet. When I had the 7′ tree I didn’t have anywhere to store it, so I left it up in the corner all year (minus the Christmas decorations of course) and put birds and nests on it.
That’s a great ideal, Diane. Believe me, I have thought about just leaving mine up all year. I have been so busy that I am just now taking the time to write a new chapter in our Memoir. I can write the Widow’s blogs really quickly but the Memoir takes a lot of thinking and recall. I have been trying to share a lot on my author Facebook page to entertain everyone.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I really appreciate it.
God Bless you,
Love,
Nancy
This is a great story. I could envision the whole process. It reminds me of two houses here in London where they used to compete as to which one had the most lights and decorations. They were amazing. Every year there would be more and more lights and displays set up. I don’t know what happened a few years ago but they weren’t there the last time I drove by. Normally the street would be lined with cars stopped so everyone could enjoy the displays. There must have been thousands of lights between the two houses. I can’t imagine the time it must have taken. Almost the whole surface of the houses was covered with something.
Thank you, Diane. Frank loved Christmas. I still haven’t put the outside lights up but it doesn’t take me long. I don’t do the roof. I just do the multicolored lights in his honor. The inside of our home takes me a week to do and I don’t even get everything out anymore but Meme’s Red has to come out for the Grandkids.
God Bless you,
Love,
Nancy
Is it because we are older that some of these seemingly simple chores are NOT!
Absolutely, positively true. Lol!
Thank you for your comment, Chuck.
God Bless you and praying you have an Amazing Day.
Love,
Nancy
So human, to have our conversations with and without the focus of our love, being there. Like the lyric from the song Sister Golden Hair by the band America…” I’ve been one poor correspondent and I’m way too hard to find, but that doesn’t mean you ain’t been on my mind…” we try. When I was married, it was well after my time of letter writing.
Your story reminds those of us who’d rely on the written word how valuable the struggle to share our true feelings will always be for its small moments successfully shared.
Life is often nothing more than a successful struggle to build something that lasts. Those who really live, I think, have figured out that love is that foundation on which to build. Whether our love is shared with another or with the whole world the struggle is part and parcel to finding out whether or not it’s true. On the road to forever we, everyone of us have only just begun.
Loved this chapter, Nancy. You and Frank, continued…
Hello Dennis. Praying you are doing well.
Thank you so much for your comment. You have such a Beautiful way of putting words together that require us all to take a moment to let them soak in to receive deep caring meanings. Your understanding of life is very special. You are so right about love being the foundation for building a strong foundation.
God Bless you, Dennis.
Love,
Nancy
Many of us are looking forward to the continued story of two people committed to each other and family
Thank you so much Chuck. There are so many fun stories to come and our love continued to grow deeper and deeper.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Fabulous share with provocative questions. ~~smile.
Appreciate the mention, Nancy. Thank you.
Year and years ago I used to join a New Years Water Ski (No Wet Suits) in So-Cal.
I have wrinkles today and….
How cold was that water in Southern California? Is there a difference in the secrets of lake water and Pacific Ocean water? Lol.
Thank you for sharing and commenting.
God Bless you, Chuck.
Love,
Nancy
How lovely, Nancy. Your writing is like a warm embrace. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Thank you for reading and commenting MaryRae. That day held so many different emotions for us.
God Bless you.
Love,
Nancy
I was in the middle of typing a comment last night when my computer crashed again. I hope I get finished this time. Loved your post. Sounds like something I could get myself into. But I’ll bet you have never been driving down the highway and headed at a 45′ angle to land in a ditch a few feet deep and a couple of feet deep in snow to find yourself facing the direction you just came from. That happened to me because of black ice. And I just sat there holding the steering wheel as though I were still driving, and wondering how I was going to get myself out of there. It was dark and I didn’t even know exactly where I was. I don’t own a cell phone, but several cars stopped and one man had a cell phone and called CAA (connected to AAA in the US). The tow truck was there and had me out within 15 minutes. So you are not the only one to get in a fix. 🙂 It was good you had someone to help you out of yours. Thanks for my laugh for the evening. God bless. Love ya, girl!
No, I have never driven in black ice but I was in the car with my parents and siblings when Dad tried to take a curve a little fast and we ended up nearly running into a mountain beside the road. Lol! I was raised in Levelland, Texas which is in the Panhandle of Texas. We had lots of snow there when I was a child. I can still smell the tires spinning on that snow. They smelled like they were melting.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Praying you figure out why that computer is crashing.
God Bless you, Diane.
Love,
Nancy.
Frustrating is too mild a word to use for those things. I have had things that didn’t even have written instructions, just diagrams that made no sense at all. When I found the computer desk I wanted a few years ago (a big one with file drawers and a huge hutch) I discovered you had to put that darn thing together yourself. And since the desk was to go in my bedroom, where on earth would I find room to put all those huge pieces and then try to put them together. They are too heavy for one thing. I discovered I had the option to pay the store an extra $50.00 to assemble it for me and deliver it in one piece. It was well worth it. It is so heavy I cannot even move it to dust behind it. It has become a permanent structure. I really don’t think this has anything to do with age. I have had this sort of thing happen years ago and it wasn’t any different than now. I don’t think there are many items any more that you don’t have to put together with “some assembly required”. God bless. Have a great weekend.
You are so right, Diane. So many things require total assembly. I really do not like things out of particle board. They are way to heavy and most of the time do not hold together well.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless you.
Love,
Nancy
Thanks you for yet another laugh, Nancy. I love your humor. Since laughter is like medicine and brings health to our bodies, I want to laugh as much as possible. It is good to see the funny side of things and it makes life much easier, especially the harder times we go through. It’s kind of like the difference between an oiled wheel and one that hasn’t been oiled for a long time. God bless.
Thank you, Diane. Humor is my best friend and I look for it in all situations. I love to laugh at myself and share the funny things I do. Thinking when others read they laugh because they have done something similar that they can relate to. Humor absolutely makes the world go round easier.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Fortunately my desk has held together well and is very sturdy. The drawers at least are actually made out of real wood. As for the rest, I think a lot of it may be pressboard covered with veneer. It was expensive, but worth it. I have had it for quite a few years now. It looks as though it will probably last for many years yet.
That is Awesome. I think the strangest thing I have bought recently was a real wood Cherry table with chairs. The table and all of the chairs had to be put together. That was a new experience for me. Lol.
Just sitting here thinking back to standing in a sentry tower….trying to find the frame of mind it would take to see the sadness of war on everything it touches. Yes, trying times indeed. Thankfully he had someone to look forward to coming home to. Bless you Nancy Lou
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Kim.
Frank was having very deep thoughts in that guard tower looking out across the A Shau Valley. I am sure the valley was a beautful place before it was ravaged by war. I understand there are many ancient buildings and ruins in Vietnam and many were destroyed while taking the youth and lives of many young men.
Frank would always remember what he saw during his time in Vietnam but he would not let it change him in a negative way but make him a better person.
God Bless you, Kim
Love,
Nancy
Another brilliant slice of Reality. I encourage younger people to read the words and between the lines. True Love and Commitment are fabulous Life experiences.
And many have forgotten this:
“Having served a year in the unpopular Vietnam War/Conflict made it hard for soldiers returning home to get a job because of the unfair baggage that the war attached to them.”
Thank you, Nancy for sharing with us your story
Thank you so much for your comment, Chuck. Thank you for remembering the plight of the Vietnam Soldiers returning from war and the difficulties they faced trying to get a job. It was such a very unpopular war fought by so many young men, many who were drafted not having a choice and others who join because they wanted to serve their country but then to find out they were basically thrown out with the dishwater to fend for themselves in a foreign land to only come home to so much disrespect for their service.
God Bless you,
Love,
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
In 1972, I was 12. I do remember the Vietnam War. My cousins on my father’s side had POW and MIA stickers of servicemen. This is my default memory. I read earlier excerpts between Frank and you, and how the year before he was longing to be with you. So glad you got to be together.
We share a slice of Texas. I lived in San Antonio for 8 years. I am so familiar with College Station and Texas A & M as I had many friends who attended the Aggie college. Really enjoyed reading about your first days together as husband and wife. Thanks for sharing your story and love.
Amy
Thank you so much for reading and commenting Amy. We loved Texas A&M. We were actually there when they opened up enrollment to women which made the number of students enrolling nearly doubled every semester for a while. We had so many fun experiences there and I can’t wait to write about them in chapters to come.
God Bless you, Amy.
Love Nancy
Wow! Another great read, Nancy. You make your story come alive. (Just corrected a typo but not sure that I shouldn’t have left it–Instead of “alive” I started to type “alove”.) I can relate to your preference of using the back roads and different routes there and back. If there are several ways for me to get somewhere, I’ll find them and eventually use them all it it’s a place I go to often. It is so much pleasanter and peaceful. The scenery is much better than on the major highways and, of course, the traffic is much less and sometimes almost non-existent. Once again, your love for each other shines brightly through your story. Thanks for sharing. God bless you.
Thank you so much, Diane. I am now back to writing fun stories without any more letters to share but I feel Frank surround me as I type. I am so glad your computer is up and running. I can’t wait to read more of your blogs.
God Bless You, Diane.
I Love You,
Nancy
Love the humor, Nancy. Keep up the good work.
Thank you, Diane. There is never a dull moment around this house. Lol!
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Love it! Are you going to put your Widow’s blog posts into a book too?
At some point in time the Widow’s Blogs will be published in a book but first I would like to make sure the Memoir is all published. The Widow’s blogs come to me quickly and are for some reason easy to write. My love for humor and seeing it in all situations allows me to never run out of fodder for the Widow’s Blogs.
Thank you for commenting and reading. God Bless you, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
Quite the ordeal to winterize! Those armadillos sure are strange creatures. I remember years ago when I was in Florida one of them actually walked between my legs. I just stopped and waited for it to get through and carry on. At least it wasn’t a huge snake. Armadillos I can handle, but snakes are an entirely different story. Here we have to be careful of skunks. We seem to have a large population of them in the city. Hope the weather doesn’t get too cold for you. We have been having the same kind of fluctuation of temperatures here this winter. One day it was over 50′ and the next I think it was below freezing. It has been snowing since last night, but not heavily and it isn’t a huge accumulation. Hope it doesn’t become huge. Keep snug and cozy. God bless.
Right now we are just getting lots of strong wind, no rain or snow. House seems warm, so just working on catching up on website and Facebook.
God Bless you and stay warm.
Love,
Nancy
I’m still trying to play catch-up and it was good to read your blog again. Love you, too. God bless.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. Catching up is hard sometimes.
I love you.
Nanct
That’s a good way to live. The more fun and laughter the healthier and happier we will be. God bless.
Yes Ma’am. God Bless you.
Love,
Nancy
I understand. Some of my blogs come very easily, and sometimes I just cannot seem to get it quite right. Fortunately I have a reserve from an old blog I had which is still up but I haven’t posted there for years. I just copied and pasted the posts into a Word doc. and draw from those that are still relevant. It’s good when I’m a little crunched for time. God bless.
Well, they are all Awesome and I really enjoy reading them. God has definitely given you a gift for inspiring others.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you. I can’t hope for anything better than to inspire others. Thanks for your support.
You betcha.
Love
Nancy
I am so very thankful to have found your blog! I am a new widow of two weeks but I have experienced grief for years as I have watched my husband slowly disappear from me because of a brain disease. He is my soulmate and I do feel his presence encouraging me each day. Thank you for sharing your life. ❤️
Thank you, Judy, for your comment and sharing a part of your story. You will always feel him by your side,
Soulmate love is eternal, and you will be united with him again.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Judy, if you ever want to talk, I am here for you. Sometimes it is nice to talk to someone who has been where you have been and shares the same kind of loss. Grief has so many faces, the loss of a child, parent, friend, brother, sister, etc. We share the face of grief from the loss of a spouse.
I am here for you.
Love,
Nancy
Our only child was born March 4, 1986. We named her Elise Victoria, which at its root means, ” God’s victory “.
Thank you for sharing yours and Frank’s story of God’s Beautiful Gift…and the love that continues to grow your family.
Thank you, Dennis. I know that you know what a Special gift a child is. Our only child was born October 15, 1973 and he has given us five grandchildren(four boys and one girl). We named our son, Matthew Scott. Matthew means “Gift from God”.
Thank you so much for sharing and commenting. God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Another beautiful slice of a Life of Love.
Looking forward to more.
Thank you so much Chuck.
So funny! The kind words about Highway 77 Cafe are right on! We love stopping there and do so every chance we get! From those delicious rolls, to chicken fried steak, to the veggie plate, to ALLthe yummy desserts…..you cannot go wrong! Throw in the friendly owners and staff and you have real Texas Hospitality! Love your humor….so glad you did not have “a date” for the preacher!!
Thank you so much for your comment Betty. You are so right, HWY 77 Cafe is the best homemade food anywhere. I love that they have all of the Veterans pictures up on the walls. I have driven through Red Bud many times going to Hico, Texas where I was born and I have always thought Red Bud was a beautiful little town.
I can’t wait to pay Red Bud and HWY 77 Cafe another visit.
God Bless You All,
Nancy
Too much emotion in audio? Not at all when it’s a story of love, Nancy.
See…love’s meant to be shared.
I just had a friend write, ” I just came to cry over love’s result.” And after reading it my heart added,”…whether coming or going!”
Just between you and I…I think it’s clear that when James recently wrote a reply to a conversation we’d saying that he’d love to hear a chapter read by you…he really did mean “you” because while tears are she’d in both love and war, true love is not a war story and the tears that fall for love will always come and go! Keep doing your audios and let the emotions rise and the tears fall where they may…
Your friend,
Dennis
Thank you so much Dennis. I was totally surprised by the emotion that came out of me as I read this chapter. Sure, I cried when I wrote it, but I was not expecting to see it all so vividly in my mind as I read the chapter. It wasn’t my writing but the memories embedded in my mind.
I will try to do more of the chapters and shoot for an audio book.
God Bless You, Dennis.
Love,
Nancy
Beautiful! You had me in tears before you even got to the airport entrance. You did a great job. God bless you.
Thank you so much, Diane. I was totally surprised that reading it would pull up such an emotional response from me. As I read it pictures of Frank’s face looking at me helpless to make me stop crying flooded my mind. The uncertainty of whether we would ever see each other again overpowered us. I still can’t listen to the audio without crying.
God Bless You and thank you for listening and commenting.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you again Diane.
I’m really behind in reading your blog. I’m still not getting notifications. I love your story here. I can feel the excitement in your words. God bless.
Thank you so much Diane. We were so happy to finally be out of the service and start our lives together with new freedom and no more separations.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless you,
Nancy.
Great post, as usual, Nancy. The barracks turned into apartments reminded me of the residence I lived in when I was in nurses’ training. Winston Hall was originally a temporary army barracks but still in use in the 60s. Not very temporary. I spent my first six months of training living there until they finished building the new residence building attached to the hospital by a walkway. And being stuffed into a Beetle reminded me of a time many years ago when Mike and Davina, part of our youth group, had a Beetle. They would take the kids home, and I remember one night there would have been at least as many as you had in your car. Maybe a couple more. Those were the days. 🙂
Yes, they were fun times. We had a blast at College Station. Of course, just like when we were in the service, everyone around us was in the same financial state. Looking back, it was very simple times.
Thank you for your comment Diane.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
A beautiful story. I was an only child, born after my parents had been married for 13 years. Although back then they didn’t have all the tests you would have gone through. But I am so glad that you were given that precious gift of a child. God bless.
Thank you so much Diane. They were just beginning to find ways to test and treat infertility. There are so many new treatments today. We never had another child but we were so thankful to God for our little miracle baby.
God Bless You, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
Love your story. I am trying to get caught up with your posts. I just got a notification for Taking Our Baby Home, but it is getting late and I think I’ll leave that for another day. I am really enjoying your ongoing story. God bless you as you continue to share your love story.
Thank you so much, Diane. Working on getting notifications steady. A glitch. I really appreciate you reading and commenting.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Another excellent word picture of your experience. You still had a place for a little humor, too, even through the discomfort and embarrassment. I do love your way of describing your experiences. God bless.
Thank you so much Diane. You loose a lot of your modesty when you have a baby.
I did edit out some of this chapter. Figured I didn’t want to scare some new Moms before labor.
God Bless You,
I love you,
Nancy
Another great story. I have been reminded from your “baby” posts of the time I spent in the nursery caring for newborns when I was in training. An unforgettable time in your life. God bless.
Absolutely! Scotty’s Nurses were totally in love with him. The one who walked us to the car cried when she handed him to me.
Thank you again for reading and commenting Diane.
God Bless You,
I love you,
Nancy
Well, it looks as if I have finally caught up on your posts again. I love the part where Frank took the book, ripped it up and threw it away. I’m sure books can be helpful at times, but no two babies are alike, even in the same family, so parents usually need separate strategies for each child they have. It’s so much fun watching babies grow and learn to do different things. They are so precious. God bless.
Thank you again Diane. Yes, Frank and I were not having any of that heartbreaking for no reason crying.
Frank was an Amazing Dad, Husband, and Person.
God Bless You,
I love you,
Nancy
LOL…you are too funny, Nancy. I’ll bet you looked adorable with that rainbow color accordion bow in your hair, like in the photo above. What a strange thing to be disciplined for. I guess because you caused a disturbance to the peace in the classroom. Oh my goodness, to make your classmates laugh, what an offense! Keep tearing it up, Nancy Lou. You’re the best!
I definitely disturbed the class. That Bow was one big dude up on my head. Thank you for reading and enjoying then leaving me a comment.
God Bless You, MaryRae.
I love you,
Nancy
Great story, Nancy. I love the way you weave the humor in with all the rest. I always love reading your stories. They are certainly never boring! 🙂
Thank you so much Diane. What can I say? We were a humorous family. We had so much fun in College Station but the fun is just beginning in Ls Peyor, Texas. Lol
God Bless You and thank you for reading and your comment. I really appreciate it.
I love you,
Nancy
Omg, such a beautiful post, I could vision the bond between you and Mr. Frank. I pray that I have a love and bond that is strong as yours and stands the test of time
Thank you so much Lisa. Marriage takes a lot of work through total commitment and open communication. You will have this bond.
God Bless You and thank you for reading and commenting.
I love you,
Nancy
This should be read by every young couple starting out on the new venture of marriage. I love the humor and love the two of had mastered.
“I covered our son’s ears as he talked to that ramp then I cleaned and patched up his leg with gauze pads and medical tape” is CLASSIC
Thank you, Chuck. Frank was a little upset with the ramp. Lol! So many wonderful memories are coming from La Pryor, Frank’s first teaching and coaching job. Seems like yesterday…
God Bless You.
Much Love to You and Shirley,
Nancy
Nancy, I must apologise, I haven’t been to your site for a while. I am not sure why I was directed to this post but I am glad I was. I think God wanted me to read yourlovely story about what must have been a trying time for you and Frank.
Your memory and ability to recall and then write about that period of your life is amazing. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you so much, Peter. I am happy that God directed you back. Please don’t apologize. I get crazy busy too, and I am not the writer that you are. I am just a storyteller with a purpose from God to tell Frank and my story. God has a purpose, and He has strengthened not only in memory but in opening up my heart and soul to write this Memoir.
God Bless You, Peter.
Love,
Nancy
I’m a couple of days late for this, but I’m trying to get caught up after a very full week. Happy Anniversary to you and Frank. I know you had many fond memories to think on throughout the day. May God bless you with everything you have need of from day to day, moment to moment. It has been a pleasure getting to know you through your writing and on the phone, and through you getting to know Frank. I look forward to meeting him and you together in heaven when that time comes. Love you!
Thank you so much Diane. I had a very Beautiful Day of remembrance. I always reflect back on the fun times he and I had together.
He would love you and I am sure already does from Heaven.
It is always so much fun to talk with you. You are a true inspiration to me.
God Bless You.
I love you,
Nancy
Wow! I have never seen poison oak, but where I have been going for vacation the past few years and where we went when I was a child it rife with poison ivy. I learned at an early age to recognize it, and fortunately never came into contact with it. My mother, while digging in a little garden at the cottage where there must have been some poison ivy growing at some time in the past, ended up with it on her hands. We ran into a man a couple of years ago on one of the trails up there who had contact with poison ivy in April and in August his limbs were still a terrible mess. I hope you can manage to stay clear of your enemy from now on. God bless.
Thank you for commenting Diane. Yes, I usually stay very clear of it but this must have been hiding in the bushes when I hedged them. Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Summac a very abundant down on coast of Texas because of the wet climate.
I thought it was time that I came back to catch up at least in part with all the unread posts. Wow! That was quite the ordeal of waiting what must have seemed an interminable time. At least you got to the hospital on time. 🙂
Yes, it was an ordeal but well worth the wait. It was amazing times.
Thank you for commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Wow! If that had been me, I would have been long gone and never returned. I hate spiders of any kind, but especially big ones. There isn’t room anywhere for me and them to stay together. What a mess to walk into. What would you have done if Frank’s parents hadn’t kept Scotty? What a nightmare.
I am the same way, I hate spiders. Wood spiders are huge too. I was so glad that Frank decided to do spider duty. I had enough to do chiseling that toilet. Lol!
Thank you again Diane.
Love Nancy
You have a never-ending supply of great stories, Nancy. I love this story.
It is one of my favorite stories too. There are still so many more stories to come. I have got to get back in there and write.
Thank you again Diane.
Love Nancy
Love it! Your stories get better and better. I think I am finally caught up again until you post more. Except for the Widow’s Blog of course. I have no idea what I have been missing there. But I will be checking it out either later tonight or another day. God bless.
Thank you so much Diane. There are lots of towns and stories to come.
God Bless You, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
Yea! I’m getting notifications again. 🙂 Another great post with lots of laughs. The joys of travelling with a small child. I would have been on your side if I had been in the car with you behind that car weaving all over the road. I would want to stay as far away from it as possible. Thank the Lord everything turned out fine.
Yes, I figured out a way to get out notifications. A Niki at AWeber has been a real helper. There is still a Glick in getting the blogs to them, but I figured out a way to go around that. Where there’s a will there is always a way. LOL.
I am so glad that you enjoyed the chapter. We did so many fun things and I love sharing them.
God Bless You, Diane.
Love,
Nancy
I got two notifications for this one only the first one was missing the link. There was a link and I almost clicked on it until I read that it was to unsubscribe. Whoops! Not the thing to click on. I did that on another blog once, and had to sign up all over again. I was trying to copy and paste part of your first paragraph here about how your brain works or doesn’t, but I can’t get anything to highlight long enough to copy it. It’s not your blog, but either my computer or the mouse. I am getting really frustrated with that mouse when it doesn’t behave well for me. But I did enjoy reading your post. I’m glad I now know the difference between fiction, non-fiction and memoir. 🙂 If I could get that smiley face any larger, I would make it really big. Gee, I think it’s time I went to bed and stop this rambling. Actually I got that backwards. I would need to stop the rambling before I go to bed. Oh, dear. Have a great weekend, Nancy. Love you. God bless.
Diane, thank you. After I hit the send button, I realized immediately that I forgot the link. This is a new way to do this for me but I should have used my head a little. LOL! Not sure I really know what the difference is between Fiction, Non-Fiction or a Memoir, but my mind sure wanted to think about it last night.
God Bless You and thank you for your Comment.
Love,
Nancy
Nancy, thank you for allowing a glimpse into the heartfelt words used to explain your raw feelings of love for your husband. The use of emotion is frowned upon except within closed family circles. Having listened to this portion of your memoir, I think it puts names to the love shared between two people in a military family. As a Vietnam Veteran, I have recalled many of the past emotions I experienced in leaving the comfort of family – or at the combat loss of a brother in in my unit. I did not have a spouse or love interest when reporting for U.S. Army enlistment, which destined my travel to the Far East. However, I shared discussions with many who left newly married brides at home. (Only some NCO’s and Senior Officers with whom I served, could have held a bond with their spouse your emotional recording displayed in this excerpt.) Truly, you have nothing for which would be considered inappropriate. In fact, this reading adds to the writing – and, makes me want to read the remainder of your memoir. Memoirs in print are the most difficult to have published. Most will not read the memoir written by us ‘unknown commodities.’ Only through personal connection do we have the desire to know more. I will purchase your series solely based on having listened to this recording. Thank you for baring your soul.
Jay, thank you so much. I was not expecting to react the way, I did. The memory of that day is etched into my mind so deeply. As I read the words that I had written, I could see it in my mind like a movie. I was no longer a sixty-nine-year-old woman, but a twenty-year-old wife who was trying to say goodbye to the one person in the world who owned my heart and soul, and who she might never see again. Of course, the emotions were not only from that time but from having lost him twenty-six years later.
I try hard not to let my grief of losing him to come out in my writing of our story because it was not part of our life then. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes the grief surfaces.
God Bless You, Jay. Your comment will always be Special to me.
Nancy
What a fabulous comment, Jay.
Those of us men who have stumbled across Nancy and Frank’s journey are amazed at the reality of this couple’s love for each other.
Frank is truly a role model for true masculinity.
Thank you, Chuck. What a truly Beautiful comment. It strengthens my journey to hear your heartfelt words.
God Bless You.
Nancy
touching…. I to this day can think of many people who either didn’t or haven’t learned the lessons of teamwork. It is refreshing to read of someone who stuck to his guns and made a difference.
Thank you so much Kim. The Senior ended up getting a scholarship from a College whose scout had been to every game and witnessed all that occurred. The Scout told Frank he had taught that that young man a life lesson which would change the young man’s life.
Thank you for reading and commenting Kim. You and Frank shared so many of the same life experiences.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I think you are pretty much on. Fiction can range from science fiction and fantasia, in which the writers create their own worlds and sometimes laws of physics, to tell a story, to historical fiction set in the past with fictional characters to such as Maureen McCullough, who wrote a series “The First Man in Rome” in which she viewed Rome from the POV of many historical characters in general historical to occasionally fictional situations, to explore how these different people were motivated, to take them out of the text book and make them real people. Non-fiction can range from how-to books to historical or scientific treatises, emphasis on accuracy. Memoirs are basically recollections of the events and people that shaped your life, and since Frank happens to be the person who most shaped your adult life, he and his letters certainly belong in your memoir. Which is also historical, since it recreates the turbulent years of the 60s and 70s very nicely.
Thank you so much for your comment Lew.
I like your explanation so much more than mine. So many books are now written as fiction and they contain actual well researched facts with the exception of names.
I love the way you do research for your books then build a story around your research.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Golly Gee Wilikers, dagnabit…what an invasion…just read your blog. Try this to attract dragonflies, who eat mosquitos. Not sure what to do about the other invaders except your trusty Cutters method…lol. I’m cohabitating with the wasps, but their nests are on the rafters of my deck. They don’t bother me and I don’t bother them. I did hose them down last year, but as you say in your blog, they build back fast. We seem to have come to an agreement… smile.
https://livelovefruit.com/10-plants-that-attract-dragonflies-for-mosquito-control/?fbclid=IwAR2HVWh3WfnYceFHWAVKZ3aL6BiXQZbkzyT0wPTTnGkURZG0zqB0GqEBI0E
Thank you for your comment, MaryRae. I have heard there is a plant that also repels the mosquitoes from around your home. I really need to look into something else. The Cutter only lasts until it rains again.
I hope I made you laugh.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Another great story. It’s funny that you are talking about teamwork, and tonight I started to watch a movie about a football coach who instilled in his high school team that the only way they could win was by working together. It is based on a true story. I think it’s called “When the Team Stands Tall”.
Did you delete something between the last two paragraphs? You have this line: “Frank, Scotty, and I drove to Hico, Texas, to spend a few weeks with her” but I can’t figure out who “her” is referring to. Did I miss something? 🙂
Thank you so much Diane. That her should have been my Grandmother. I guess somewhere it didn’t take. I fixed it. Seems no matter how hard I edit, I miss some things. In Hubbard, Tx another young man will learn a life lesson from Frank then they will meet again years later and the young man will thank Frank.
Frank was a true teacher of young people and he wanted them all to succeed in life.
God Bless You,
Nancy
OF COURSE the skeeters are huge…EVERYTHING in Texas is bigger…lol….glad you are holding your own against the invaders
Thank you, Kim. We really do have two different size Mosquitoes. Lol. I am sure where you live, you are fighting the same battle. It seems this is the year for the insect, but I am hearing people are having lots of different kinds of snakes too.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Your ability to describe reality always brings memories to my mind.
Thank you.
This post relates to many past experiences, especially from my days in the Southern Califonia Desert with Crickets.
Thank you, Chuck. Your story about crickets reminds me of my Grandmother’s home in Hico, Texas. We use to walk downtown at night in the Summer and the sidewalks and windows would be covered with crickets. Thank you for sharing your memories.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Nancy try these around borders .They are easy to grow.
Marigolds, an easy-to-grow annual flower, emit a smell that deters mosquitoes. … Marigolds are also a popular addition to borders and vegetable gardens. According to NYBG, not only can they keep away mosquitoes, but they also dissuade aphids, thrips, whiteflies, Mexican bean beetles, squash bugs, and tomato hornworms.
Thank you so much Stephen. I will definitely try the Marigolds. I had forgotten about them. Frank and I use to plant them in our vegetable gardens to keep away insects.
Thank you for commenting.
God Bless You
Nancy
Wow! You have been at war. Where I lived years ago I had a picture window with an awning. The wasps used to make their nests up in the corner and they just kept coming back. I also had a clothesline on a pulley because the ground dropped at one point and I had to lower and raise it to use it. The wasps nested in the pulley and drop out when I used it.
If you get an invasion of ants at any time, I have read that they do not like cinnamon so if you get them indoors, sprinkle some where they come in and they will go right back where they came from. There may be other insects that don’t like cinnamon too. Others don’t like peppermint.
I remember a couple of different years when June bugs covered the sidewalks and filled the small trees at dusk. It was horrible.
Here’s hoping you don’t get any further invasions of anything of that sort. But at least it gave us opportunity to laugh. 🙂
Diane, I have heard that about cinnamon, too. I am so glad this post makes people laugh. I see humor in all I do. I really think humor is our best coping skill.
Not sure if the Cutter will repel the Web Worms like it does Mosquitoes, but time will tell.
Thank you for reading and commenting. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Thanks for the chuckle. 🙂
The post about Marigolds was spot on. Another suggestion is to set up some bird houses for Purple Martins. Mosquitoes are their main dish.
Thank you for commenting. I love birds and birdhouses. I will definitely try this. I love to do things in a non chemical safe environment way.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Another heartfelt memory of a gentleman who knew HOW to LOve. The two of you were so blessed.
Thank you, Chuck. There is nothing like being completely loved by someone and completely loving them. He loved me just as I am and he was my heart and soul. We were so blessed by God to have shared this Special kind of love for each other.
Thank you for your comment.
God Bless You,
Nancy
You have breathed life into a family tradition. Are cedar chests still being treasured as in the past, or are memories just on cell phones or up in the cloud?
That is a very good question Chuck. So many things are now kept online. Our pictures, books,etc.
I still think being able to open my cedar chest and actually see and touch my treasures from the past is so special.
I have bought a cedar chest for my oldest Grandson and his wife. I think because I want them to have the same feeling when they open their cedar chest.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Good post. As usual, you got me right in the feels.
jlc
Thank you, Jerry. I have was for some reason pulled to write this. I have never given a voice to an inanimate object, but thoughts kept running through my mind about what the Cedar Chest might have thought or heard if it had human emotions.
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate you.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I love the way you have written this from the viewpoint of the cedar chest. I have never had my own cedar chest, but when my mother moved in with me, that was one of the special pieces of furniture I wanted to save. I also have a chair that originally was my grandmother’s and which my mother had had for years. God bless.
Diane, my cedar chest was my Mom’s. She gave it to me when I was in High School. I redid the exterior as a project for a Homemaking Class my Sophomore year. The cedar chest had been scorched in a fire when my parents home caught fire when I was three years old.
I have a unique rocking chair too.
Thank you for commenting and sharing Diane.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Hmmmmm….if the walls could talk…. now we know what the chest would say. This was a most enjoyable read. Bless you for saving, and sharing the mementos and memories.
Yes, if the walls could talk, LOL! This blog was a different form of writing for me and a fun write. Thinking, I am going to broaden this cedar chest’s world. I am having so many thoughts of where this could go. This blog was actually a set up for the explanation of how I found the letters, but I see so much more now.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Kim. Your opinion is very important to me.
God Bless You,
Nancy
This is an intriguing monologue from the keeper of the treasures. What a unique perspective!
In knowing your story, we now revisit it from an entirely different viewpoint. I love this!
Your writing has reached depths I’m sure you never expected!… because of your obedience in saying yes to our God when He said….write your story!!
A great read of a very moving story!
Thank you so much, Theresa. From rereading and typing from Frank’s letters, I genuinely know that inanimate objects hold energy and emotions. I thought it would be different to write from the point of the cedar chest as to what it might have heard and known. I have never written anything like this before, but I love it. I am in the process of expanding on the blog using it as an outline giving more insight into its journey.
God Bless You, and I love you,
Nancy
Wow! That was quite the house and quite the move. As you were talking about the heat, I was feeling it as it is very hot here today. Have you got any photos of the inside of the house?
I do, but mostly outside and will share as stories are written.
It was a Beautiful home.
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Is it just me or does a moving van unload a lot faster than it fills up? LOL….. this one brings back memories of the days when air conditioned vehicles were reserved for the ‘well to do’… car too hot? Roll down the windows and open the vents!
No, it’s not just you. Uploading a van requires skilled placement of stuff stacked right. Downloading just requires tossing boxes out to someone, but not my boxes marked “Do Not Toss or Drop” Lol
We really never had an air-conditioned car until we bought a new pickup in 1977 and even then we drove around with the windows down thinking the air-conditionerate the gas up.
Thank you for commenting, Kim.
God Bless You,
Your Partner in Crime,
Nancy
Oh, Nancy, this is wonderful! How original and creative. Very touching. What a cool vantage point to write a memoir/story. I look forward to reading more.
Thank you so much, MaryRae. Writing The Cedar Chest is so different for me, but it is exciting and fun. If inanimate things could talk to us what treasures they could tell us about their journies. Thinking so many objects around us hold energy from what has happened around them.
God Bless You, and thank you for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
You have made a great start, Nancy. This story has wonderful possibilities. Looking forward to upcoming chapters as you write. God bless.
Thank you so much Diane. I rewrote several times then it began to click as to where it is going. True life happenings will be embedded in the chapters and you will hear from the cedar chest as to its thoughts and feelings on those events.
Thank you for your comment and God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
I must simply echo what has been written before me…I think it clunked a bit at first, but, you really got into it in short order. A novel way to hit the high points of your life? I look forward to the next chapter!
Thank you, Kim. You are spot on, on the first part. It wanted to just speed through the creative part but thought I could give the reasons the cedar chest knew words. LOL. After that, it got easy because now I know where it will go.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
Love it! It’s a great way to share your experiences. Keep it coming.
Thank you so much Diane. I think I am finally in a mindset as how to do it. I am really having fun with it.
God Bless You,
Love Nancy
So many memories in that wooden box. Love the delivery method of sharing life experience.
Thank you, Chuck. I am really enjoying using my memories and imagination to write from a Cedar Chests point of view.
God Bless You,
Nancy
absolutely LUVVIT!!!
life of a small town coach and family…..
Thank you, Kim. I love that you Luvvit, Lol.
As you know from experience, you have to love Coaching to be a coach. Frank absolutely loved it and I loved watching him love it.
God Bless You, Kim
Nancy
Great story, Nancy. I love your spirit, spunk, and grit.
Thank you so much, Mary Rae. I love the same things about you. We are definitely sisters in spirit, spunk, and grit. I wish you lived close by because we would have an amazing time together.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Eye catching…literally! LOL… a wonderful story…wonderful memories too, I’m sure….and yet another time when silence, (this time on your husband’s part) was golden.
Absolutely, Kim. He knew that I had to go to the meeting and handle it by myself, but his love for me would not let him stay home. I am so thankful that he did not have to defend me. Frank had no patience with someone intentionally hurting my feelings, and I felt the same way about him. Our love for each was so deep, but we allowed each other to grow as a separate individual and become independently strong. Thus, as his widow for twenty-two years, I have been able to thrive. Of course, I know he has that Angel help me power now. LOL
Thank you for commenting.
God Bless My Good Buddy,
Nancy Lou
So endearing your story of love, young love, and all that made it work. You knew how to seize the day and did it. Your stories have me falling in love with you both. Thanks for sharing your story, Nancy Lou.
MaryRae thank you for reading our story and commenting. We were so young and so much in love. We really didn’t think there was anything we that we couldn’t do together.
God Bless You, MaryRae,
Love,
Nancy
Thanks for reposting this on Facebook. An inspiration for sure.
Thank you, Chuck for reading. When I saw it come up as a Memory post in Facebook, I knew why, it renewed my purpose.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Wow! That was some job to accomplish. I could never have handled anything like that. I can’t even imagine it. You two sure worked well together. Too bad it wasn’t more profitable for all the work you put into it, but at least you didn’t have time to get bored through the summer. 🙂
Diane,
We had so much fun. The place was always full and we got to meet everyone in town.
I had never seen a pool drained. They usually left them full of water, then you added a powder that would shock them back to clear.
Painting that pool was a lot of work. But we had fun doing it.
Thank you for commenting. Congratulations on your new book and study guides. You are Amazing.
God Bless You My Friend,
Love,
Nancy
Fantastic ‘testimony’ of commitment and reality. Your way of spinning a story is priceless.
No wonder everyone loves your books!
Thank you, Chuck. We worked really hard that first week at cleaning up that pool, but we always had fun. Frank was such a Special person and I thank God everyday that Frank chose me to love.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I have lived in several houses with swimming pools and on farms with dams, reservoirs and big tanks so your story reminded me exactly how black water filled with rotting leaves and dead animals smells.
Sounds like you worked hard that summer but had a lot of fun.
We did work hard, but, as you said, we had so much fun.
I had never experienced the comete draining of a hugh pool like that. Usually they left the water in them then shocked them with chemicals first thing in the summer.
We used rollers to paint the interior of the swimming pool.
Frank and I really worked hard together at everything we did.
Of course, we didn’t make much money that summer, but the experience was priceless.
That was quite the move. It must have been really scary for you with Scotty–and for him, too. I’m glad it didn’t make him afraid of the water after that. With kids it only takes a second for something to happen. It sounds like it was a pretty bad wound, but I’m glad it was no worse than it was.
It was very scary for all of us. I am so glad I was watching him when he jumped in, otherwise, I am not sure what would have happened. I knew immediately that something happened. Moving down the road was the worst move I have ever made. Nothing got packed except what I packed that night and stuff was everywhere. LOL
God Bless You and Thank You for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
WOW..Fabulous share.
What stands out so much is the maturity and caring expressed by those teenagers.
That behavior might be harder to find today.
Chuck, you are so right. They instantly took charge of the situation and responded with so much maturity. I will never forget their love for us when everything got so scary and intense. Praying that teenagers today still respond in such a way.
Thank you for your comment.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Texas gals seem to be ‘fearless’.
One question.
Was the rifling through the PU truck the “watchman’?
If so that was a poor decision on the Police department
Chuck, yes the watchman was rifling through the truck. From his weaving walk down the sidewalk, I think he might have been a drinking watchman. I guess he was rifling through the back of the truck out of boredom.
The police made a huge mistake by not telling me they had left the watchman and I am so thankful the deer rifle was not loaded.
Thank you for your comment Chuck.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Wow! What a scary night. I’m glad nothing worse happened. I can understand how it is still so vivid in your mind. And I’m glad your dad had bought Scotty that dog. What would have happened without that warning system?
So true, Diane. We loved Snowball, and she was an excellent watchdog. I shudder to think what would have happened if the police had not arrived and the man had not been a watchman for them, but I do believe that God was with us all and we would have handled it.
Life is full of so many uncertainties, and we never know what tomorrow may bring. One thing I did know that night was that we could not stay there. I could not take any more suspense.
God Bless You and Thank You for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
Wow! What a great lesson learned. You both definitely had the right attitude in dealing with issues. If more people took that route, there would be a lot less divorces and a lot more love in marriages.
Thank you, Diane. Frank and I never ridiculed each other. We had such a deep communication between us. We didn’t always agree, but we didn’t put each other down for having a difference of opinion. Love is actually helping one another to become the best they can be. Ridicule is a destroyer in my eyes and never helps anyone.
God Bless You and Thank You for commenting.
I Love You,
Nancy
Ahhhh…memories. the way things used to work with day care! And to think back to the days of doing the monthly checkbook reconciliation and writing checks and putting them in the mail hoping the next deposit would happen before the checks cleared! LOL
Thank you for your comment Kim. Don’t tell anyone, but I still write checks and mail my bills. Lol. Thinking Big Brother online is not reliable. Lol.
I really don’t know if I made a lot of money doing daycare, but I had a lot of fun and it gave Scorty playmates. I was a stickler for them eating right. I was going through pictures and I have a picture of four of them together.
God Bless You My Friend.
Nancy
Love it! You sure did know how to have fun together. I think that one of the missing links in families today. They have forgotten how to have fun together. Laughter is like medicine and very healing. It is life-giving and that is always a good thing. Thanks for sharing and giving me a smile tonight.
Thank you so much Diane. We had so much fun. I think you are right families need to put down the cell phones and communicate verbally and play games, laugh and have fun.
God Bless You and thank you for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
most of my best memories of Christmas, and Thanksgiving too, were about family, (my brothers and sisters) getting together (as many as possible) and telling and retelling stories about family events. If and when something exceptional happened it invariably became part of the following year’s stories…. thanks for the reminders
Thank you, Kim. Isn’t it amazing how much fun we all had together at Christmas gatherings. I’m so glad I had siblings and we were all jokesters. Precious memories.
God Bless You, Kim
Your Buddy,
Nancy
That was quite the experience–one you would never want to repeat.
Absolutely not. Lol. We looked so funny in those patches. We couldn’t quit laughing at each other.
Thank you for commenting Diane.
God Bless You,
Love
Nancy
Another wonderful slice of a fabulous marriage and great people
Thank you so much Chuck. Frank was such a Special man and touched so many people. This was such a wonderful memory and as I wrote it played through my head like a movie and touched my heart deeply.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Another excellent chapter which reveals more of who Frank was and who you were together. You have some wonderful friends to remember and a lot of fun. Great memories for you and a great story for us to read.
Thank you so much, Diane. This is a very Special chapter. Unbelievable how much those kiddos loved and appreciated their Coach Henderson. Frank loved teaching and coaching. His dream before he died was to go back to teaching and coaching.
God Bless You and thank you for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
Reading this and thinking how difficult it was to make the next move….. The bond that develops between coaches and players……
Kim, I know you know that bond and how Special it is. Moving around as a Coach is the main reason Frank got out of paid coaching. That is except for Little League Baseball, soccer, & anything else he volunteer for.
Frank dud not want to move Scotty from town to town after Scotty got into school.
Thank you so much for your comment.
God Bless You, Kim.
Nancy
A fitting tune! LoL Armstrong steering, unsynchronized transmissions….and running daycare too! I remember a bus driver who used to do his route with his kids sitting right behind him…. Times have changed…
Kim, I loved that ole school bus. It was cantankerous, but so much fun. I got to take Scotty and Lisa with me too. Not sure how many times it died and I had to restart it with the help of an older student, but I am sure it was a lot.
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy Lou
That was quite the vehicle! Rather you than me, is all I can say. 🙂 I don’t even like driving a van. You are much more venturesome than I am. But I can see you had fun with it. God bless.
Diane, I thought that It would surely do me in, until I drove it for a while then it became so much fun.
I would love to try it again, but they don’t make’em like that anymore.
Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Heart rendering. I hear in your voice…something I can’t pinpoint. You’re “there”, sad, heart broken, hopeful, in love, reaching back and connecting with the thread that can’t be broken, even still.
Thank you so much Theresa Rereading Frank’s letters always takes me back to that place and time. Thank you for listening to the Audio and commenting. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
impressive……simply, impressive…. Frank’s ability to put his emotions into words, your ability to express those emotions in your words…. impressive
Thank you so much Kim. I actually did the whole chapter but when I relistened to the song at the end by Ed Sheeran, I decided to try something different and the end of the chapter with Frank’s letter reached out to me.
God Bless You, Kim and thank you for coming here and commenting.
Nancy
Love your expressive voice so clearly sharing Frank’s expression of True Love. The two of you were so blessed.
Thank you so much Chuck. I know I was certainly Blessed to have Frank in my life. His love for me was so complete. While reading his letter as I made this audio, I could hear his voice coming from his words as if he was talking to me.
God Bless You, Chuck and thank you for your Beautiful comment.
Nancy
Frank was so lucky to have you as his rock. What he must have been going through no one wants to really know. It was good he had love on his side.
Thank you, Brianna. I was so lucky to have him in my life. He was a true blessing to me.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Another fabulous chapter. Came here from your Facebook post today, October 7, 2019.
Love the picture of the Laundromat TODAY.
Thank you so much, Chuck. It is so much fun to share pictures from the places the stories took place 51 years ago.
God Bless You,
Nancy
This is a sample comment used by Thank Me Later. It is not displayed on any blog posts.
Nancy, I really felt the love you two shared in his letters. I also felt your sadness in leaving him at the airport. Your book is a testament of true love. Thank you for sharing your life with me. I Love you.
Helenb
Helen, thank you so much for reading and your comment. You are such a wonderful friend and I love you very much.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Love the Cedar Chest! a great way to tell a story of Memories. Keep on coming with your original way of sharing.
Thank you so much Helen. I can’t wait to write more of this book. Thank you so much for your comment.
I love you sweet friend.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Well, it’s about time you got back at the keyboard! Great chapter! Glad all that cammo training came in handy lol I really love how he included you in these adventures rather than take off alone.
Kim,
You’re too funny. Yes, I am back st the keyboard instead of running around Massachusetts.
Frank and I were not only husband and wife but best friends. He took me everywhere with him. We had so much fun.
God Bless You. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Your Buddy,
Nancy
Love it! Never a dull moment with you two. 🙂 By the way, where did your “like” button go? I went to click it and couldn’t find it.
Absolutely true, Dianne. We were always up to something. Great times.
Not sure about the like button, but I will find out.
Thank you for your comment and God Bless You.
Love
Nancy
Like button has returned from outer space! 🙂
Yes, my socializer had been deactivated. Lol. I reactivated it.🥰
Everything you write pulls heart strings.You are very talented. I hope I’m still around when your love story is on film. Would be a great Hallmark movie. Best of luck my friend. It’s in God’s hands. I’m very proud of you.You are amazing!!
Thank you so much Peggy. You have been by my side on this journey from the very beginning. You give me so much strength and courage.
God Bless You my Sweet Friend.
I love you,
Nancy
I am continually amazed at the parallels of your life and my experiences in Maine! Yet another trip down memory lane. Keep pounding away at the Keyboard!
Thank you so much Kim. I am still typing. I think Good Coaching, which comes from the heart and a love for the kiddos, is the same every where. I know you did an excellent job just from our discussions.
God Bless You, My Friend,
Nancy
Lol…..no blisters? Or, did you rely on swimming pool experience? That floating septic tank must have brought back memories of cleaning out that pool!
It must have been nice to get back in the vicinity of family
Kim, yes there were blisters. Lol. It was good to be near family again. Lord knows we would never have gotten that trailer set up without Frank’s Dad and Brother.
The porches will be even more fun. So many funny things that Summer.
Thank you for your comment, Kim and your Beautiful support.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Lovely as usual, Nancy. I can’t wait until Frank gets home! lol.
Thank you Brianna. He was so excited in these letters. I also think these letters show how hard it was to communicate through letters because if the wait time.
Thank you again for your comment.
God Bless You,
Nancy
On this cold winter night, reading this memory warmed my body and soul. Thank you for sharing and Merry Christmas to you, our dear friend
Thank you, Chuck. It is a Beautiful Memory for me. Time passes us by so quickly. It’s hard to believe this memory was from so long ago.
Merry Christmas to you and Shirley. You two are very Special to me.
God Bless You two.
Nancy
It is too bad we learn to lose the wonder of childhood – to wonder at a new birth of an animal, to wonder at life itself. We become so used to things being commonplace that we need a reminder. Thank you for being able to remember and to share that wonder with us. You are a blessing.
A merry Christmas to you and to your departed family. Looking forward to sharing the new year with you.
Thank you so much, Jerry. Praying you and your family have a Beautiful Christmas.
My life has been Blessed to have you in it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I love this chapter
What a beautiful memory, Nancy. I’m glad I found your post on LinkedIn so I could read it. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Mine was quiet but good.
Diane, I had a Beautiful Christmas. It was quiet here too, but had all but three of my Grands and Great Grands on the 20th. My son and Daughter-in-law came in too.
God Bless You and so happy you are up and running again.
Love,
Nancy
Another great story, Nancy. You seem to have a bottomless well of stories, all of them great shares.
Thank you so much Diane. We had so many great times together.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Hod Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
I figure those porches outweighed the trailer lol….. Did Frank call you the queen of denial? I don’t blame him for relocating. It must have been hard trying to sleep through all the itching and other discomfort!
Those porches weighed a lot for sure.
Yes, it was hard to sleep with me itching and scratching, lol. Still to this day, I am not sure if he knew those vines were Poison Oak, but he wasn”t allergic to it so probably not.
Thank you for commenting Kim.
God Bless You My Friend,
Nancy
That was quite the ordeal! I can’t imaging–and don’t know that I want to–how you must have felt during the healing time. It’s amazing the power in a little plant. I have never seen poison oak, but have seen tons of poison ivy and have always managed to steer clear of it. It’s definitely not something I want to experience. Glad it didn’t take too long to heal. When I was on holidays a couple of years ago in a place where poison ivy overruns a lot os space, we met a man who had come into contact with poison ivy in April and he was still a mess in August. I felt sorry for him. I hope he eventually got clear of it.
Diane, I have been allergic to Poison Oak ever since then. I am very careful to never touch it or anything it has touched.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Love this story, Nancy. So much emotion running through it. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Diane. I actually went back today and changed the ending. After reading what I had written five years ago in the original manuscript this morning, I knew I had left out what God wanted me to say.
I will definitely read the original first from now on.
Thank you for reading and your comment.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I just re-read this chapter. Glad I read the comments, that saved me the trouble of asking what was wrong with the original lol….this is a great chapter, and, like so much of what you write, it invokes memories of times past. Thanks for sharing….
Thank you, Kim. I guess I just thought I needed to add the original ending. Probably didn’t make much difference but it touched me when I read it. Mainly because I was reminded of Scotty being a gift to us.
God Bless You My Friend,
Nancy
Oh, my! Nancy’s experience confirms what we see as “coincidences” are instead God’s message to us through our loved ones. It’s as if the cat knew its importance in Nancy’s emotional, mental, and especially, her spiritual health. Reading what the Siamese breed means and knowing what I know about her eternal love story with Frank, I felt the chills at first, but then a warmth, like a blanket of comfort over my shoulders as I read on and became mind blown. I believe there are powers greater than we know at work in Nancy’s life: the Almighty who wants her to know she’s not alone, and Frank, who constantly visits and leaves signs to reassure her. Nancy, you are indeed blessed, and your books tell the story of a love with no bounds.
Carmen, thank you. I knew you would understand this blog. God sends us Angel’s in all forms to bless us with his peace. Kitty Kat was an Angel in disguise and brought me so much peace, comfort and love.
God bless You, My Sweet Sister,
I Love You,
Nancy
Your ability to share life’s simple treasure is uncanny. Thank you again for leaving your readers with warmth.
Thank you for reading and commenting Chuck. God’s blessings are our best treasures.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Such a cutie!
Thank you so much for your comment, Velma. She is a pure joy to be around. She always hugs you and tells you how much she loves you.
I am not a poet, but the words just came to me, so I wrote them down.
God Bless You, and I love you.
Nancy
A wonderful way to start the day. We all need unbridled FUN in our lives. Thank you for sharing bouncing golden curls
Chuck, thinking unless we pause to see this world through a child’s eyes, we miss the serenity of the love and beauty that surrounds us. Seeing my Great Granddaughter running through the grass reminded me of being a little girl innocent of all the things that can taint us.
God Bless you and thank you for your comment.
Nancy
Beautiful, Nancy. I love how the process just kept on evolving into these four books not only for your family but for all to read and be blessed by. You have a message to benefit the world, and now it is available for anyone who chooses to learn from your experience of Frank’s love. God bless.
God works in mysterious ways to lead us on a path for His purpose. The glory is always God’s, we are only His instruments.
God Bless You and Thank You for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
That was some truck! I’m glad Scotty didn’t have any adverse reactions to the anesthetic or the surgery. By the way, I couldn’t find your “Like” button. Where did it go?
Thank you, Diane. All went well, and we thanked God for that.
Not sure about the like button.
Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it so much. It was so good to hear you are selling your books, and your congregation is behind you. God has a purpose.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
I love it, Nancy! It is very picturesque and rhythmic. It’s very well written. Maybe you are a poet after all?
Thank you, Diane. I rarely write poetry, but when God sticks something in your head, it is best to write it down. I am getting an excellent response to the poem, which surprised me. It is on my Youtube channel, and I entered it in some online places.
Spillwords did a beautiful job in their posting of The Cedar Chest. I like them, and they are so helpful.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
You cracked me up! Not often does an author make me do that out loud! Well done writin’ about that dang thang!
Thank you, Carmen. I see you noticed that I went back to my native tongue. LOL! Wow! I went on Google, and you would not believe what people do with that Dang Super Glue. Unbelievable.
Thank you for the comment. I am glad it made you laugh. You are a special friend.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Yes, Spillwords did do a great job on the Cedar Chest. I left a comment there too.
Thank you so much. You are a true friend.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Another delightful vignette sharing the reality we have all experienced in one form or another! Can’t quit laughing
Thank you so much Chuck. This was a fun blog to write. Unbelievable whatcsome people do with Super Glue.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Yet another wonderful poem! The joy, the miracle of childhood….😍
Thank you so much Kim. These Great Grandchildren are bringing out the poetry muse in me. LOL.
God Bless You my friend,
Nancy
What a delightful poem to wake to. We are all blessed with LOVE form so many resources. The video was fabulous!
Thank you Chuck. These Great Grandchildren are tugging at my heart and giving me a new kind of writing inspiration. I am not a Poet. Lol
God Bless You,
Nancy
Aww…love this story, Nancy. Well written!
Thank you so much, Brianna. I have never written true Fiction much less Flash Fiction. The picture they gave just spoke to my heart, and I couldn’t resist the temptation to write a short story. I just noticed the contest winner announcement day is May 8, 2020. I was shocked because that is always a very Special Day in May for me. Win or not, it was fun to write.
God Bless You, and I love you.
Nancy
Que Preciosa!!!! As much as you feel truly blessed to have him in your life I’m doubly sure he will also know the same feelings.
Thank you so much, Kim. I love him so much. He is so smart and actually very quiet until you get him one on one. He loves to read and is really into technology. God has given him so many beautiful gifts, and I can not wait to see what he becomes as he grows older.
Thank you so much for commenting, you are a very dear friend.
God Bless You,
Nancy
He’s a good looking boy! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and pictures. God bless.
Thank you for your comment, Diane. He is a handsome young man.
God Bless You,
Nancy
You and Frank certainly had some fun painting that house Nancy. I wonder how well the roofing was done given the distraction from the neighbouring garden?
Frank and I had a blast painting the house.
I am sure the roofing would have gone a lot slower had I not been up there. I never let those guys live that one down.
Thank you for your comment Peter.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Wow! You guys certainly knew how to make life “interesting”. Never a boring moment while accomplishing the work needing to be done. You’ve got more gumption than I have. Climbing ladders is not something I do, especially to get on a roof. But you sure had fun, and that means a lot and makes for great memories that you can now share with us.
Thank you so much for your comment Diane.
I did climb ladders back then but not anymore. I don’t like heights and it always took me a little while to get my footing on the roof.
We had so much fun together.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I remember when I was a kid we played badminton in our backyard, but the yard wasn’t big enough for a real court. Sometimes the birdie would end up on the shed roof. I was OK if I could climb near the top and reach out to get the birdie, but if I had to get off the ladder to reach it, then I was in trouble. I didn’t know how to back down on the ladder. And the shed wasn’t very high.
That was always my problem too. Getting back down the ladder. Lol.
Last time I went up on the roof, I had to get my Grandson to help me down.
God Bless Diane and thank you for your comments.
Nancy
One thing needs mentioning….said brother in law and his said wife were laughing til they cried, in the front seat. And in the cafe. And why is he your brother in law and I’m his wife and not your sister in law? Although I love being his wife. Just wondering! Lol ! And who was it that couldn’t walk or open the door? Never mind. Don’t go there! Funny and REAL stuff…..and that cafe is amazing! Love you, Nancy Lou!
Thank you for commenting Theresa. It would have definitely have been easier to just say Lloyd & Theresa, but I was putting this blog out to the world. Lol.
I love that Cafe. We need to make a return road trip soon. They have lots of Amazing little shops downtown too.
I love you,
Nancy
ROTFL!!!! great story, great memories, I’m sure….
Thank you, Kim. We did so many crazy things. I hope I got those names for riffing things right. Lol.
God Bless You My Friend.
Nancy
Love the story and your Audio is awesome!
Thank you, Chuck. I had a lot of fun with the audio. It took a few trys, but finally got it better.
God Bless You and thank you fir your comment.
Nancy
A darling story of a truck’s memory! Great Job Nancy!
Thank you so much Helen. It was a fun story to write.
God Bless You and thank you for commenting.
Love,
Nancy
Thank you so much for sharing your feelings. The audio is very enjoyable
Thank you, Chuck. I am enjoying doing so poetry and fiction while finishing the last chapters of Book IV of the Memoir.
God Bless You and thank you for your comment.
Nancy
Rosebud—not RED Bud—my step dad and late husbands pictures are on that wall.
Thank you, but the blog says Rosebud. I do not know where you saw RED bud.
I am so glad your husband and Step Dad’s pictures are on the wall there.
God Bless You and thank you for your comment.
Nancy
Thank you for sharing this poem. The audio is also a wonderful addition
Thank you, Chuck. I really appreciate your comment and you reading plus listening to my poem.
God Bless You.
Nancy
Great short story. I wonder if it has any real-life history? ~~smile
Thank you so much Chuck. Actually, it is really fiction. I thought about it today while sharing it with a friend and remembered when Frank hung around our home then approached me at the kitchen sink that day. I had been blind to him because he had a girl friend then looking in his eyes at that moment, I was hook, line and sinker in love with him and knew he loved me too.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I really want to meet “Myself”…
Coming or Going?
Absolutely! Lol! Myself is so unruly.
God Bless You,
Nancy
This was great Nancy. It made me laugh and there was a little bit of sadness in there for the truth it presents to Myself. I know all to well as a single person what it’s like to pull an all nighter binge watching a Netflix show. Myself and I need to quit ignoring each other and come to some kind of compromise. I’m exhausted! 🌼
Thank you, Terry. I thought it would be fun to write something funny.
God Bless You and thank you for your comment.
Nancy
Oh, goodness, I needed to laugh today. Thank you for providing me with a good one! Well done, and well said. I have a Myself that I call a dumb a$$ at least a dozen times a day.
Carmen, you just made me laugh too. I am so happy I made you laugh. I laughed while writing this blog too.
God Bless You My Sweet Friend.
Love,
Nancy
Thanks, Nancy. I needed that tonight. BTW, you were dancing to Wipeout. When I was Jr. Hi age, those of us on drums in marching band had to learn Wipeout and we used it for cadence. We didn’t actually march as much a strutted down the street. 🙂 Memories!
Now, if I can get Myself out of this chair and to bed, maybe I can accomplish something later today when I get up, if Myself will cooperate.
jlc
Jerry, I think it is great that you played drums, my son did too.
They played thos song over and over. I have danced to this sing but not lately. Lol
God Bless You
Nancy
Me myself and I… oftentimes separate people lol….do you often lose the argument with yourself? 🙂
Kim, I always argue with Myself and usually lose. Lol
Thank you for reading and commenting.
God Bless You My Friend.
Nancy
I never had a cedar chest. But after my hubby & lost everything in the Camp Fire (Paradise CA November 2018), I found one at a thrift store. It has a funky paint job on it, I believe it was used for a kids’ toybox. My hubby & I plan to strip it, sand it & put a nice coat of stain on it.
I want to be able to place any new memories we have in it. Cause the old memories are just gone. Turned to ash & hauled away in so many debris trucks to only God knows where.
I am so glad you found a Cedar Chest. I have had this one for 54 years and I painted it an antique blue because it had been scorched in a house fire when I was a child.
My Cedar Chest has kept my treasures in pristine condition
Thank you so much for your comment and reading my short story.
God Bless You.
Nancy
WOnderful!
Thank you so much Elaine and thank you for commenting.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I Loved both of your parents , they were awesome 🥰
Thank you so much, they loved all of you all too. Thank you for your comment.
God Bless You and Stay Safe.
Nancy
I remember “breaking those fevers” that way
Yes, that was the way back then. I think now they strip them down and put them in a tub with ice water.
Thank you for your comment, Chuck.
God Bless You and Stay Safe.
Nancy
For some odd reason I got chicken pox in 4th grade…with almost no fever. A week off from school and able to run around the farm! I was almost in heaven lol….great story, and more great memories, I’m sure.
Thank you, Kim. I remember the chickenpox as very itchy, but those dang German Measles were awful and made a lasting impression. The Mumps were no picnic either.
God Bless You My Friend and Stay Safe.
Nancy
Oh,beautiful, Nancy.
Thank you so much. Writing this blog brought back so many memories of being a child.
God Bless You and Stay Safe.
Nancy
I followed your link here. Thank you. I always wished I would have had your dad as my teacher (I was unlucky and got the other one). I thought he was a great principal. Any school system would have been lucky to have him. He was fair-minded, funny, and had movie-star good looks. I do plan to make me some potato soup – with lots of pepper! Maybe it’ll help if I come down with this new scourge.
Thank you so much for your comment Gat. Dad was a very gifted man. I wish that he could have taught you.
God Bless You and Enjoy the Potato Soup. Stay Safe.
Nancy
I had all those things, but in a rather mild form as I remember. And I had mumps only on one side. What I did have more seriously was tonsillitis. That did make me very sick and miserable. I even had a bad case of that when I was in nurses training. I would have been 19 at the time. I don’t remember anything like your breaking of fevers. Thanks for sharing this beautiful memory. God bless.
I am so glad you had the mild form of those viruses. While writing this blog, I was amazed at the viruses that have been eliminated with vaccines. Unbelievable.
Thank you for your comment Diane.
God Bless You and Stay Safe.
Love,
Nancy
Good poem Nancy. One problem–I can’t hear a word of your audio here or on the potato soup one. Haven’t tried the Life if Brief yet. Have a great weekend. God bless.
Not sure why you cannot hear the audios. I checked each one from my computer,iPad,and phone. They are working here. They are all on Booksie with audio too.
God Bless You and thank you for your comments.
Love,
Nancy
Love it, Nancy. So descriptive of the life of a leaf. Can’t hear this audio either. Too bad. My computer’s volume is as high as it goes, too. Keep those poems coming. God bless.
I emailed you the audio. I can hear it fine on my computer.
Thank you for liking my poem.
God Bless You, Diane,
Love
Nancy
Had to read this a couple times…powerful, thought provoking
Kim, thank you so much. It was a poem that came to me and God wouldn’t let me not write it. He has the power if we have true faith.
God Bless You, My Friend.
Please Stay Safe.
Nancy
Who can figure out technology? But it is strange that I can hear all of the YouTube videos loud and clear, so my volume, except for these three, is good. I was able to hear one of the other poems you read a while back. Weird.
I had Chuck check them out and he could hear them too.
I just put a new poem up called What If? with audio.
God Bless You and Stay Safe.
Love,
Nancy
Very thought-provoking Nancy. I discovered that if I use my headphones I can hear the audio. Strange because I don’t need that elsewhere. Oh, well, at least I found a way to listen. 🙂 Have a blessed Palm Sunday.
I am so glad you got to listen to the audio. Thank you for your comment.
God Bless You and have a Blessed Palm Sunday.
Love,
Nancy
Ahhhhh…the poor toilet! LOL….just sitting there doing nothing wrong and…BAM!
Dang thang! Lol. I still have it and it is now a flower planter.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Kim.
God Bless You and Stay Strong.
Your Buddy,
Nancy
Very imaginative. A great story, Nancy. It’s an attention-keeper.
Diane, thank you so much. It is for a contest that required two people in a conversation on a balcony. I am still doing some editing, but I wanted to get it out there to see if readers enjoyed it.
God Bless You and Stay Strong.
Nancy
This is beautiful and touches my Maw-Maw heart!
Thank you so much Elaine. It has been so much fun for me to write these poems for my Great Grandchildren. They are all so different but share a Special place in my heart.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Another Gem. Thank you for sharing your talent
Thank you, Chuck. This one was a struggle.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Simply perfect!
Thank you so much Chuck. I have had this on my website for awhile but decided to publish it.
God Bless You,
Nancy
It sounds quite familiar, talking to Myself. I do that too. I Hardly ever listen to myself, cause I don’t want to do what Myself says I need to do! That was quite a tickler to the ole laughter box. Thank you Nancy!
It is easy during these times to get sick of listening to ourselves, but our choices are scarce. LOL
God Bless You, Helen, and thank You for reading and commenting.
I Love You,
Nancy
Talk about intentions backfiring! Sounds like quite the mess. But I bet the kids had fun while it lasted. By the way, that saying about pride, that’s a quote from Solomon in the Book of Proverbs. Not sure of the exact address without looking it up. Great post Nancy.
Diane, they had so much fun with that silly string. I should probably have learned something from all of that but, of course, I didn’t. Lol!
God Bless You and Thank You for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
Ahhhhh….the difference between doing special things and the memories that come from everyday life! Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much, Kim and thank you for your comment. Everyday with Frank was special, but the vacations and holidays were even more special. He made life so much fun.
God Bless You,
Nancy
My apologies for taking so long to get to this post Nancy.
Thank you for your kind words and for being our guest, we loved having you on the show.
You truly are an inspiration and the hundreds of viewers and listeners of your episode show how much you are appreciated.
Peter,
Thank you so much. It was my pleasure to be interviewed by you and Kathleen. I am nothing without God in my life, and He is the real inspiration, purpose, and power behind the views of this interview.
God Bless You, My Friend.
Nancy
Sitting here, quietly reflecting on what I just read.. the loss, the faith, the strength….so much love….
Thank you, Kim. Without good friends like you and God, I do not think I would have made it through this chapter. Praying, I finished this chapter with strength, faith, and helping others realize that our physical bodies are only a vessel for our souls on earth, and our eternal life goes on through eternity.
God Bless You, My Friend.
Love,
Nancy
Precious friend,
My heart bounded with your pain and grief as I read your account of praising God in Frank’s passing, I could feel the strong bond of love between you two.
As Ecclesiastes 1 states, “there is a time to live and a time to die.” We must each endure God’s plan of returning those who are His children. Thanks be to the Lord for the 29 years you shared together and for the wonderful son God have you.
The Bible instructs is,
“ Whatever you do, do all for the glory for God.”
Thank you so much for commenting, Jan. God has always protected us and He has remained by my side.
God Bless You,
Love Nancy
Thank you so much, Jan.
I felt the strong emotion as I read and it brought tears to my eyes. I can’t imagine what it must have felt like for you to experience, but knowing the Lord was with you must have helped tremendously. I felt your pain, yet I also felt your hope. God bless you Nancy.
Diane thank you so much. I am glad that you came away with the hope. This chapter took me a long time to finish and I wanted to end these books with hope.
God Bless You,
Love Nancy
That brought tears to my eyes too, Nancy.
You wrote about such a painful experience so vividly while still giving hope and letting your love shine through your grief.
Your faith, love, and fortitude are an example to us all.
Peter, thank you. I want to let others know that our physical earthly body is not our real existence but only houses our soul. Our soul is our eternal life and the love we possess. God gives us a choice as to being good or evil, but He remains faithful in His love and compassion, waiting for us to come back to the goodness He has put in our hearts.
God gave me an incredible purpose in writing this Memoir, and I pray in some way that I have honored His purpose. Without God by my side, I could not have written this chapter.
God Bless You, My Friend,
Love,
Nancy
.
Nancy, I just wish I could have known him.A special love like you two had is so inspiring to others. Your story and faith and the gift to tell about it in such a way that makes a heart skip a beat is a true blessing.Love you Nancy
Thank you so much Peggy. I love you very much and I know Frank would have loved you too. Think you for being my best friend through all of these years.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Wonderful post Nancy! I can almost feel the personality of the chest when reading. Don’t stop writing, you have a gift and an insight that is needed in today’s world.
Thank you so much, Mark. Your words mean so much to me.
God Bless You, My Friend.
Nancy
Oh, what a heartfelt final chapter, Nancy. My thoughts and prayers go out to you. You are an incredible individual as well as a survivor who not only has made the most of a potentially crushing situation, but you have been able to share that experience so others can learn and grow from it. It an honor to read not only this but all the rest of your writing. Keep up the wonderful work.
Thank you so much, Jim. Your comment humbles me. I did not want to end our love story with Frank’s sudden illness and death, but it was only his physical body that left me. His love, spirit, and energy still surround me every day.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Such a beautiful chapter. I never got the chance to meet Frank but love that I have these books & stories to pass down to his great grandchildren.
Brittany, he would have loved you so much. He is around you watching you love Matt and babies knowing you are his Granddaughter now.
God Bless You and I Love You.
Love Meme
Oh, my, dear Nancy. Thank you for having the courage to put these beautiful words to paper. They have me feeling the pain it must have been for you. Thank you for being the living example of soulmate love and sharing that experience with us through your writing. It’s such a gift. I love you, my friend and am grateful for our paths crossing. Love and blessings.
Brianna, thank you so much. I am thankful that we are friends, too. We are kindred souls who believe in God and love.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
PS: I’ve been enjoying two doves for a few months now. I live on a 2nd story and can see them outside my kitchen window on the roof of the dwelling next door. It’s a stone cabin the landlords are refurbishing. In that effort, they’ve been sealing the area under the roof along the building walls. I asked them if they could find a way to build around a particular area where the doves hang out. They did and built them a wood house too! After reading your story, I’ll look at them differently. They are God’s messengers that all is right and that God is protecting me and answering all my prayers.
Brianna, this is so special. I have a Mourning Dove that has stayed around my house every since Frank passed. I know it is him protecting me and letting me know he is still here. You are such a Beautiful Person. I am so glad that you are in my life.
God Bless You,
Love,
Nancy
Another Gem! Keep them coming.
Thank you so much Chuck. I am enjoying working on some fiction.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Awww…so wonderful, Nancy! Yes, I agree with Chuck, keep ’em coming!
Thank you so much Brianna. I am so glad to be back to writing again.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Wonderfully written, Nancy! Well done 🙂
Thank you so much, Jim. Your opinion means a lot to me.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Smiling amidst tears. You did well.
Thank you so much, Theresa. Your opinion of my writing means so a lot to me.
God Bless You,
Love
Nancy
Smiling amidst tears. Well done!
Thank you so much Theresa. Your comment means so much to me.
God Bless You.
Love ,
Nancy
I love it…
Thanks
Thank you so much Chuck. I was not sure this was poetry, but a friend informed me that is is a form of poetry called stream of conciousness.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Beautiful Nancy
Thank you so much Elaine.
God Bless You and Thank You for your comment.
Nancy
Wonderful story about love! Heart warming.
Thank you so much Eva Marie. I am so glad you have subscribed to my website and I will enjoy hearing from you in your comments.
God Bless You,
Nancy Lou
I loved this heart warming story. Gave me a warm feeling. You two made quite the team back in the time. I can tell you loved each other very much!
Eva Marie, thank you so much. Frank and I were soulmates, and we thought alike. We had so much fun. Life was so uncomplicated back then.
God Bless You,
Nancy
You are not only a blessing to your granddaughters, but now also to your great-granddaughters. (To your grandsons/great-grandsons as well. Just differently.)
My mother says she doesn’t mind her wrinkles. At least they don’t hurt! 🙂
May the circle continue.
Thank you so much Jerry. There is nothing like communicating with a Grandchild. Their questions are so true to heart.
God Bless You,
Nancy
This was a delightful story about the grace of growing old. Life is a circle of events. And some of which can live a life time. This was heartwarming and delightful.
Eva Marie, thank you so much. I think growing old is just that, a graceful part of living and loving life.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Nancy, this story is beautiful. Made me teary-eyed. You have a warm way of writing that touches the heart.
Thank you so much. I really enjoyed writing this story.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Thank you so much for sharing this reality!
Another gem.
Thank you, Chuck. I really enjoyed writing this story.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Another priceless gem. You have such an uncanny ability to convey LOVE
Thank you, Chuck. Love entails the big gestures of gifts and the little simple moments that cost nothing. What I remember and miss involves those special simple moments together sometimes without words, but always feeling loved.
God Bless You,
Nancy
This was a fun read about that tang glue! I had to smile several times. I remember Elmers glue the best. We used it for everything
Thank you so much Eva Marie. Super glue has left some very funny memories with lots of people. Lol!
God Bless You,
Nancy
I loved this story I could picture you and Frank jumping on the bed.
Thank you so much. Frank and I were so full of fun and together, very funny.
God Bless You,
Nancy
So many memories wrapped into one story! You had a true love and still do! Just beautiful…
Thank you so much Eva Marie. Frank and I were true soulmates and my love for him grows stronger each day.
I love it! 😍
Kim,
Thank you so much, my friend.
God Bless You.
Love,
Nancy
Wow!! That is touching…
Kim, thank you so much. I am so glad I changed the name and ending of this story.
God Bless You, My Friend.
Love,
Nancy
Lovely story… Always heart warming..
Thank you so much Eva Marie. We were true soulmates, and we had so much fun together.
God Bless you and thank you for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
Wonderful story…So many beautiful memories..Xx
Thank you, Eva Marie. My Daddy was a very special good man. I loved him very much.
God Bless you and thank you for your comment.
Love,
Nancy
What a delighful story! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Eva Marie. Although we were really young, we had a fun time in Massachusetts.
God Bless You,
Nancy
What a delightful story. But I was worried about Frank being in that Hail Storm. I hate storms. Great story so heartwarming!
Thank you so much for your comment, Eva. Frank was so adventurous and I can still hear his laughter as he ran around picking up those hail stones.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Beautiful poem just flowed. Love all the imagery. Could picture it all.
Thank you so much Eva Marie for your comment. I am so glad you liked it.
God Bless You.
Nancy
Wonderful story told from the cedarchest view. Sad yet Happy
Thank you so much. A true story of the essence of my Memoir.
God Bless You,
Nancy
I loved this heart warming story while it was sad there was comfort in it. Such stories are to ne remembered.
Thank you so much, Eva. Our life stories all have sadness and joy, but having comfort in the way God stands by our side through it all is so important.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Another priceless Gem!
Thank you.
Thank you for your comment Chuck. This was a fun short story to write.
God Bless You,
Nancy
Thank you
Awesome Chapter. Frank’s wring is a testament to TRUE masculinity!
Thank you, Chuck.
Thank you
Thank you
You are a true gift. Sharing wonderful information. I am slowly adjusting to being a widower. The emptiness is tougher than I had imagined
Thank you so much, Chuck
Oh, Nancy, I love this touching short story! Your style of writing is so down-to-earth and very relatable and touching. I read your stories with such ease. Give us more! 😘💕
Thank you Vicki for the inspiration I really need to get back to writing. What am I waiting for.
Love,
Nancy
L❤️VE this touching short story, Nancy!! 😁
Vicki, thank you so much. You are such an inspiration for me.
Love,
Nancy
🥰 I love wind chimes!! But, I only own one. Lol
I have so many. The kids in the neighborhood call me The Windchime Lady.
God Bless you.
Nancy
What an awesome interview❣️
Thank you, Vicki. Time for another one.
God Bless You
Nancy
❤️ Beautiful
Thank you do much. You are inspiring me.
Love,
Nancy
Just beautiful!!! 🥰
Thank you so much.
Love,
Nancy
💕
Thank you, Vicki
Your friend,
Nancy
Such a lovely short story! 🥰 Your chest is beautiful! How old is your cedar chest, Nancy?
The cedar chest was given to me by my Mom when I was 16and it had been given to her by my Grandmother. I know it is over 80 years old.
I painted it blue after Mom gave it to me as a home economics project because it had been scorched in a fire when our home burned when I was two.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting Vicki.
God Bless you,
Nancy
Lovely 💕 What a beautiful treasure!
Thank you so much.
God Bless you, my friend.
Love,
Nancy
What a great way to tell your story! 🥰
Thank you. I am do inspired by you.
Love,
Nancy
What a loving and touching short story!
Thank you so much Vicki. Thank you so much for your comment.
God bless you
Nancy
Thank you so much.
I am loving your comments
God Bless You,
Nancy
Nancy
I don’t know if Frank ever mentioned me in his letters but I was accidentally stationed with him at Torii station. And when I got to Phu bai we were roommates until he went back to the states. He was older than me by one or two years but he was like a big brother to me. He was my protector and mentor. Probably the nicest person that I have ever had in my life. The first day that I arrived at Phu bai he took me under his wing and we were more or less inseparable. I was so happy to see someone that I knew. We were stationed at Torii together but not really close at that time. I probably even met you at some point while on Okinawa. When Frank got out of the Army he sent me a copy of his dd214. And that’s the last I heard from him . Today the day after Christmas2023 I type in his name and came a crossed your memories. I looked through the pictures and seen the his face . I’ve thought of him so very often. I think you only have a certain amount of friends in your life that you cherish and Frank is one of mine. Thank you so much for your love for my dear friend
Thank you so much Bob. I am so touched by your words about Frank. He was the best human being I have ever known.I hope you will read our Memoir and hear his voice again in the words of his letters. Please feel free to contact me 979 661-9777, so much I would like to hear about Phu Bai
Thank you, Nancy
This is so touching Nancy! Love it! 💜
Thank you so much Vicki.
God Bless You!
Love,
Nancy
Thank you, Donna for sharing my Chapter. I really appreciate it.
God Bless You.
Nancy