Kelly, as soon as I read your e-mail I thought immediately of how your mother and dad kept me in my family. I left my mother's house December 8th of 1968, (after living in San Antonio for a year). I moved with what belongings I had to Massachusetts. I talked to my mother about once a month, got letters from her once a week, and that's all the contact I had with my entire family. I had always thought I came from a large family, but no I guessed I didn't. So it went for (9) nine monthes until the death of my mother. At that point for some time, there was no contact, so I went on with the broken heart of having lost my parents, my siblings and other family.

After a time, God spoke to your mother (and with support from your father) she began to call me some and as time went by she was the life line to my family. When she could, she would tell me of my siblings and such. When I had lived up there a couple of years, 1970-71 Nan started to work nights. Then it became a game and much more fun. She would call me in the middle of the night (much to the dismay of Uncle Bob) and we would have long conversations, giggle parties, serious meetings of the mind, and sometimes picnics (her with her lunch at 2-3:00am and me with a lunch) all across the telephone lines and in secret. I would be comfortable all closed off in the bathroom and seated on the toilet, so as not to disturb U. Bob or Robert.

Later in life Nan had left the night shift and she called when she could and of course she sent cards not only to me, but to my family. Robert and Kenneth, and U. Bob also shared the benefits of her LOVE. She really loved us a lot. I believe that when we pray and spend special time and efforts for someone, we have a super special love for that person and whoever they love. I know that's my experience. She sent us love, communication and even joke gifts like gold plated swizel sticks of barbed wire (still have those), giant size clothes pins (Texas sized) and many other things to help remind our neighbors, friends and U. Bob's family that I was from Texas where things are large.

Nan had a couple of chances to come to New England, before we moved to Texas (God's work). She loved the north east, but feared it had become my "home" forever. It was she that first began to pray for my return to her in Texas. She said it took a couple of years, but God does answer prayer, even for her. God really loved that woman. I'm glad she really knows how much now.