...........continued from the last post...........
Since January of this year it has been an unusual and very welcome time of reconnecting with people our past history in California and here in Colorado. Frankly, it's been refreshing, encouaging, humbling.
Beve...me...Verdon...what a trio. lol Way back in the day when I was a youth pastor in Whittier, CA, these two were parents, along with their prior spouses. Beve's Bill (Webb) passed through that thin veil we call dying...as did Verdon's Martha (Mengel).
But (and here's where an already good story gets really good!), these two families, along with the Martins and the Longs...and a host of other good people from Calvary Baptist Church...grew up together...celebrated their marriages...raised kids, etc...and the men were the famous Calvarymen's Quartet. They all cut a mean figure in their day...wonderful families...splendid kids...our 6+ years with them was very good.
Not only did the kids, from junior high through college, experience change and growth, but, remarkably, so did the parents. However, the antics of their youth leader (that be me) I know gave them some added gray hairs. BUT...no youth leader could ask for better parental support and care...even in our wildest of happenings, and they were plentiful, as Verdon and Beve would tell you.
So, being in SoCal for our friend's funeral, Judy and I did morning coffee with these two who had lost their spouses, but found each other, again. What a beautiful couple they make...all with their combined kid's and grandkid's blessings. We had not seen them in decades...but it took us about 2 seconds to pick up and feel at home with them. That is part of the goodness of God's family.
Later that afternoon, as is the custom in many places, we went to Rich and Dianne's (see previous post) church for a late afternoon and evening gathering of family and friends for a viewing. But, by prior request of Dianne (on the left in the pic), some of us left early with her to spend time together listening to her heart and her last hours with her Rich, our friend. Poignant. Tender. Meaningful. Honored to be with her in these sacred hours. Judy is on the right.
What's to say about John and Jacque Coulombe?!! These are two of our most special friends. John and I vowed a long time ago to not tell all we know about each other. lol John and I have known each other since high school daze...50+ years. When we visit SoCal for almost any reason, their guest room is our "home." When they visit Colorado, our guest room is theirs.
Getting the "infamous" Desert Fathers started decades ago can be "blamed" on John, among others. Within the American church John is easily recognized as the premier leader on ministry to senior citizens...of which we are all now some of those. Where did time go.......?
John was asked by Dianne and the rest of the family to lead the memorial service on Saturday. No one could have been better chosen, with all that he and Rich shared over the years. Easily, these two men were/are some of my deepest of friends.
If a memorial weekend can have a highlight, it involved these two...seen here with Judy. Lyle and Diane Jacobson, fairly newly married themselves, were a warm and welcome addition to the weekend. It was wonderful seeing them vibrant and glowing, after suffering their own losses in years past.
Lyle and I were college roommates the last two years we were in school (four of us shared an apartment). At one point he was student body president. I was chief party man. We had some great years together...and...Lyle also sang at our wedding, as did Rich, and two others, who all made up the Biola Quartet. Good music...those men produced...still enjoy it today!
.......why am I telling you all this?.......
...you are invited to keep reading in future posts and find out...
...........to be continued...........
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