Praying Together

Monday June 2, 1992

I am up and busy early--laundry, trim plants on patio. Frank helps me with a perm. I have much planned for today, a busy schedule.

Sally, Frank's ex-wife, calls at 11:30. She wants to come at 12:30 to visit. I hesitate, but quickly realize her visit is much more important than the plans I had. She arrives at 1 p.m. and leaves at 4 p.m. We have a really great visit. We pray together, twice. She has a bite of lunch with Frank and I about 2 p.m. He only came home to eat 1/2 hour. Sally says she comes here for a lift because I'm so positive. As soon as she leaves my Gledhill tenants arrive with the rent. They stay 45 minutes.

We go square dancing--graduation night. We have a great dinner there!

Mom is so generous with her time, putting aside her own plans in order to encourage a friend, and not just any friend, but Frank's ex-wife. Mom was like that, always trying to be positive and encouraging to others even though she was the one battling a deadly disease. This is the first time I have heard her mention praying with someone. Up until now it seems like her faith and her prayer life was very private. I'm glad she had the experience of praying out loud with a friend, something I do on a regular basis with my Christian friends. Matthew 18:20 says "For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." I'm sure Mom felt God's presence this day.

Overwhelming Love

Thursday May 9, 1991

Sally came by for a visit for 2 hours today. She was very surprised at how well I looked. We talked alot about religion and feelings and faith. And we talked about her worries and concerns, especially in regard to her children. It was good.

I am eating quite well and holding my weight at 153. On January 1 this year I weighed 178. I had been weighing in the mid 170s for some years and it feels wonderful to be this weight. Actually, I'd really love to weigh 137 again, which is what I weighed 9 years ago when Frank and I married.

Tonight we went to Arlan Miller's square dancing class. It was alot of fun.

Frank and I have always cared very deeply for each other, but these days the feeling is almost overwhelming. We say "I love you" alot more and really show it.

Sally is Frank's ex-wife, mother of his 3 children Phil, Paul and Dolores. Notice how even though mom is the one who is facing death, she is still a friend to Sally and a sounding board for her to express her concerns for her children.

Mom battled her weight all her life, right to the end, and she passed that issue on to her daughter.

I knew mom really loved Frank and he worshipped her, but I did not know their love was so deep that it felt overwhelming. Frank confided to me after mom had passed away that she was his soulmate and he would never find another like her.