First Decade of the 21st Century

2000
Moved into the parsonage in Sweetwater TX and began process of ordination in Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Thomas had been called by the church in S'water; I continued to work with the United Methodist Church in Snyder, TX. I had a 45 minute daily commute.

2001
Thomas' ordination was recognized by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and I was ordained on April 1. The church in Colorado City, TX called me and I continued to be an adjunct instructor at a community college in Snyder, TX. I watched the second plane crash into the Towers on T.V. then drove to school to teach a psychology class. Finished my work with UMC in the spring. Mother was diagnosed with cancer.

2002
Drove to central TX each week to care for Mother as she declined. Mari and I shared that responsibility. I continued to preach in C City on Sunday, teach a class on Monday night at the community college, and on Tuesday I would drive 4 1/2 hours to Belton to care for mother then return to S'water on Saturday. Mother died the day before Easter. Six weeks later I was diagnosed with breast cancer, stage one--lumpectomy, six weeks of radiation, 5 years of Tamoxifen and steady weight gain.

2003
Thomas' mother died in February, the same day the shuttle exploded over TX. We moved to MO in November; a church in Republic, MO called Thomas. And for the first time we bought a house! I began almost immediately to fill pulpits in the area; spent 6 weeks with Nixa while their minister recuperated from surgery complications.

2004
I provided pulpit supply for the church in El Dorado Springs for the first time in May; was called as interim to the church in El Do Spr on August 1 but missed the first Sunday because I went to Paint Lick Christian Church in KY to celebrate their 100th Anniversary. (When I was their student pastor, 1993-1995, I had written the church's history and we had had a reunion celebration for our 90th Anniversary.)

Thomas continued his ministry in Republic. The church in El Do Spr provided me a house. I lived there Sunday through Wednesday afternoon, then drove to Republic--a weekly commute of about an hour and 45 minutes. I returned to El Do Spr on Sunday morning unless weather made it necessary to leave early on Saturday.

2005
In June the church in El Do Spr called me to be their full time pulpit pastor. Thomas continued his work in Republic and my time in El Do Spr expanded to include Wednesday night and Thursday through mid-afternoon. I continued the weekly commute. Thomas and I maintained two households with a schedule similar to an over-the-road truck driver. He and I spoke on the phone at least once a day and on most days more often.

2006
In August at Thomas' encouragement we sold our home in Republic and moved our household to Cedar county. Our new home, a earth-contact house, sits on about 10 acres just outside of town. Seven of the ten acres are covered with trees--a wild woods, we call it. Thomas rented an apartment in Republic in order to continue his ministry there. So he began the hour and a half commute. (Completed highway construction shortened the commute.)

2007
The year is a blur. I was just grateful my days of commuting had ended. I looked forward to Thomas' arrival on Thursday night and we treasured our moments together. Except for funerals and weddings the churches respected our time together. In June Thomas led a short term mission trip to Southwest Good Samaritan Ministries in Los Fresnos, TX. We stayed in TX to celebrate my Daddy's 90th birthday on July 1. My five years regimen of Tamoxifen was completed about the same time but the weight gained didn't go away.

2008
Thomas and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary by spending most of the month of August in Switzerland--a trip we had planned/hoped for since our 40th anniversary in 2003. The trip was a time of reunion and reminisce--and our weeks together made us realize how much we enjoyed each others company. And the trip made us realize just how much we missed it with our living arrangement for the last four years. Shortly after we returned from our trip Thomas resigned his ministry in Republic and moved to our home in El Dorado Springs.

2009
What are the highlights of this year? Since the summer Thomas has been ministering with a church in Nevada,MO (19 miles to the west). I continue to find joy in ministry--involvement with people--Bible study--sermon preparation. And Thomas and I have adjusted to living under the same roof again.