Absence Makes the Heart Grow

Today My Love Comes Home!

For the last 10 days My Love has been traveling in eastern Iowa. She first visited my sister, Diane's home for four days to help in the preparation for the graduation of Diane's last daughter, Megan. Together they prepared potato salad, broccoli-cauliflower salad, watermelon-cantaloupe salad and lots of other delectables (like chicken lip dip) for the party that was held last Saturday evening.

Then My Love went to Cedar Rapids for a day to visit a friend. According to her report, they had a wonderful time reconnecting.

Her last stop these past four days has been to visit a family in Cascade, Iowa, that has been like a second family to her for many years. She discovered that the father of the family had just died several hours before her arrival. So she has spent these days helping the family prepare for and celebrate the funeral.

Now today My Love is coming home. This coming Sunday will be our 13th Wedding Anniversary. Believe it or not, this past week and a half is the first time that we have been apart for more than one night since we have been married. Hence my excitement on her return. While we have spoken with each other at least once each day, and most days twice, there is nothing like "love with skin on"!

Truly our anniversary will be a celebration: of love and gratitude.

Father Hank and Marriage

Gail and Marilyn, celebrating 50 years of wedded bliss, have requested to recognize and honor someone who had a great impact on the success of their marriage. I am welcoming them as Guest Authors of this blog today.

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I REMEMBER

Father Hank Schorn

November 9, 1930-April 22,1981Father Hank, 28 years have passed since you have died and joined Our Father God. This year 2009 we are celebrating 50 years of COMMITMENT to marriage. Our hearts in 2009 are still deeply etched with your own words: "You two must be the greatest sign of Matrimony that this world has ever known. If you don't LIVE your sacrament, the world will never know how GREAT coupleness can be." You, Hank, always pushed and pushed us to be GREAT...to be EXCELLENT.

Only History will judge to what degree we have lived or are living that passionate plea.

We still remember you, Father Hank, at the Eucharist- not because we pray for you or ask you to pray for us but because to us your LIFE with us and for us was and is Eucharist. You made Eucharist such a deeply heartfelt celebration. We remember you affirming and loving us as your arms embraced us-bringing us PEACE and strength and moments of conversion. We remember you as a caring person to each person you came in contact with. Status or politics didn't impress you.......

I remember your playfulness and chiding with Father Printy and the resulting deep giggles of laughter that didn't stop.
I remember you celebrating your last birthday with Father Pauly Fangman beside you. I have that picture on my Memory Board and see you every day.

You judged people by the qualities of their heart.

We miss your physical presence....however the GIFT of your passionate vision of what Matrimony can be still burns in our hearts. The Impossible Dream seems possible when you say it......

I INVITE EACH OF YOU TO REMEMBER FATHER HANK AND SHARE WITH US. HOW ABOUT A FATHER HANK.....STAND UP FOR MARRIAGE DAY CELEBRATION SOME TIME DURING THE YEAR OF 2009. EACH OF YOU CELEBRATE THE GIFT OF YOU......HE WILL COME AND ENJOY THE DAY............Gail and Marilyn Koch

Witness to Love

Our friends, Gail and Marilyn, whom I've written about in a former blog, will soon be rejoicing as they celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary. May 18th is the actual date, however they are planning a family gathering to share their gratitude to God with a week of festivities in July in Idaho, where they reside. They are opening their home and their hearts so that others can join them in thanking God, but also so that they can express their gratitude to their friends and family for supporting them with love, encouragement, prayers and faith throughout the years. Without that, they realize that they would never have made it to this historic moment.

My Love and I have been blessed to know Gail and Marilyn these last five years. We met them through Reliv, but it was only a short time before our connections to them broadened into a believing and supportive faith community. Through their instrumentality, we were invited into, and joined a Leadership Bible study with another couple, Greg and Teri. That group has now expanded to include a fourth couple, John and Clar. For nearly four years now, we have joined together by phone on a conference call each Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning for one half hour of Scripture sharing. What a gift and blessing this has been in our life, My Love and me.

Through this Bible study, I have come to appreciate the deep faith that Gail and Marilyn have shared over the many years of their life together. In trials and tribulations, joys and sorrows, ups and downs, they have ultimately found their strength and direction in their coupled faith lives and the support of the believing community. They are a true witness to the faithfulness and love of God who "works all things together for good" (Romans 8:28). Gail and Marilyn's support and prayers were especially key in our lives during the hurricane last year and the ensuing uprooting and moving to Iowa. We are very grateful to them and for them.

In tribute to their love and faithfulness to one another and to God who has blessed them, I am dedicating this blog to them. May those of you who read it find edification and encouragement through their witness. May you also be led to reflect on the way Gail and Marilyn have touched your life.

I invite those of you who know them, family, friends, neighbors, business associates, to go to the comment section of this blog (directions are in the left column) and add your own comments and reflections on Gail and Marilyn's impact in your life. Please also invite others to add their thoughts by referring them to this blog. As the time for the July celebration draws near, I will compile all the many (hopefully) comments for presentation to them.

"I am sure of this, that He who has begun this good work in you (Gail and Marilyn), will carry it through to completion right up to the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).