Faith Through the Journey

Married to My Best Friend-34 Years Later

November 14, 1981 was a day that my life changed forever–and in the best way imaginable. I was able to do what I had dreamed of for years, to marry the most wonderful man God had created, just for me, Curt Nelson. True, at the age of 25 neither of us knew what the years would hold, both wonderful and challenging, but we KNEW that we would do it TOGETHER and with the hand of our loving God guiding us. It’s probably a good thing that we can’t see too far into the future or we would turn and run, or just hide somewhere and never come out and face life.

We have been tremendously blessed over the course of our marriage, in spite of the fact that we’re very imperfect human beings (especially me!). Our lives have been full of challenges on many fronts–raising children, relocating far from family, separation due to job responsibilities, losing beloved parents, and the thousand other obstacles and “opportunities” that comprise life in general. We’ve also enjoyed many hilarious moments as a family, as well as graduations, weddings and grandchildren.

As our life together began, neither of us knew just how far-reaching the scope of Crohn’s Disease would impact our lives (one of those things we’re glad we DIDN’T know!). Over the course of our lives there have been procedures and hospitalizations, almost too many to count, medications, complications, and six major surgeries. My wonderful husband has been there through all of it, by my side and never backing away, being my advocate and even making sure that my IVs have been done properly. His has been the last face I’ve seen before the anesthesia is administered, and the first one I’ve seen as I’ve awakened, telling me how good I look even though I’ve had a half dozen tubes and lines inserted and KNOW I really don’t look all that good! There were lots of days I probably would have given up if it weren’t for the love and encouragement of my wonderful husband.

Thirty-four years later, I know with certainty that God gave me the best gift of my life, second only to my salvation through Jesus Christ, when He blessed me with Curt Nelson as my husband and partner in life–until death do us part!

Remembering Dad

It’s been 13 years since my dad went to be with Jesus. The lives of his family changed that day, with his physical presence no longer available by phone, e-mail or visits. We lost a great adviser and felt that loss very keenly. But, anyone who knew Bob Whitcomb knows that he was never at a loss for words, whether those words were humorous or filled with the wisdom he had gained over his years of walking with the Lord.

Thinking about Dad was painful for some time, until I realized that the best way to honor my dad’s memory was to live in the way he taught us to live. He taught us to love God, love our families, work hard and serve others. The older I get, the more I appreciate all that he did teach us by both words and his own example. Much of my parenting has drawn upon Dad’s loving wisdom and discipline, and now that I’m a grandparent, I understand what he meant when he said that if he’d known how much fun grandchildren were, he would have had them first! He would have loved his now 7 great-grandchildren, watching his grandchildren become parents.

This year I had the privilege of going to Israel, and throughout the entire time there my dad was in my thoughts. He was a great Bible teacher, and the places we saw were the very ones he taught about for so many years. One of Dad’s “hobbies” was building anything from an entire house to picture frames, and he would have found the ancient architecture in Israel fascinating. He would have been trying the whole time to figure out exactly how they constructed things!

Our last stop on our tour of Israel was the Garden Tomb, the place where Jesus may well have been buried and from where he was raised from the dead. We shared communion there, and then we began to sing “Because He Lives”. I lost it then, overcome with the emotion of the week and the location, but also because that was sung at Dad’s funeral. Thinking about the words to that song reminded me again, especially there, that the resurrection of Jesus was the reason we have hope of being in heaven. Dad is already there because He believed that Jesus not only died for his sins, but that He was raised from the dead and is even now preparing a heavenly home for all who believe that most-important truth.

“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow; because He lives, all fear is gone! Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives!”