When I was living in Stillwater OK in early 1989, I met a couple at church, Gene and Marion Acuff. They invited me to come to their home for lunch and asked if I would housesit for them. They were moving to Georgia and their 20-acre farm hadn't sold yet. They needed me to keep the house where it could be shown and use their tractor to keep the pasture mowed. For this city boy, that was like inviting me to the best fun ever, so I was ready to go to work.
Marion was best known by her name prior to her marriage to Gene -- Marion Bond West, a popular writer for Guidepost Magazine. Marion's first husband had died from a brain disease a few years earlier; Gene's wife had died from a cancer battle. They met after Gene read one of her articles in Guidepost.
Marion had written an article that had appeared earlier that year, "Marion's Marriage", telling how God had brought them together to the point of marriage.
Debbie lived in Southeastern Oklahoma, about 200 miles from Stillwater. Her husband had died a couple of years earlier and one of her friends gave her a copy of Marion's article. When she came home from a Ladie's Retreat at Falls Creek, she had a strong desire to write about all that God had done in her since the death of her husband. She decided to call Marion and get some pointers on how to get started writing and publishing. She called directory assistance (that was before we had internet where she could get numbers online, of course), got Gene's phone number, and called on a Sunday afternoon, May 7, 1989.
Gene and Marion were in Georgia and their housesitter (ME!) answered the phone. I took many messages for Marion -- I was surprised at how many people called authors after stories appeared. This was the only call that resulted in a very wonderful friendship.
I'll tell you later about a follow-up call that resulted in us starting to write. Nothing even remotely close to romance at that time -- just a very nice distant friendship that built up through a lot of letters. Right up until the time I drove to Antlers OK and met her later that year. And a little less than 4 years later I brought her home as my bride!
It's been 18 years since the day of that first phone call. I'm more blessed than ever. And the really good news is that after this many years and knowing me as she does, she still loves me and is still as precious as ever!
What a blessing! I love sharing these special blessings with you! There's more to come! Happy "Anniversary", Debbie! I'm sure happy you called!
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