(October 31, 2008)
Halloween is upon us today. I recall that when you married me, you were unaware of how strongly I felt about this holiday, but you found out pretty quickly! It had nothing to do with allowing children to have fun with dressing up in costumes and getting candy. But, it is that there is a very dark, sinister side to this holiday as it is celebrated by those who worship Satan. It breaks my heart to even contemplate some of the horrors that take place on this day. I thank you for respecting my feelings and understanding. It is a day that all Christians should pray intercessory prayers for those affected by these distorted views and beliefs.
I recall the first Halloween after we moved into our new house. You were so excited to be living in a neighborhood and were really looking forward to passing out candy to the children. All the kids in the neighborhood loved "Mr. Robert"! The bowl of candy was by the door, waiting for you to come home from work and for the costumed children to knock on the door and say "Trick or Treat!"
And then you called to tell me, that at the last minute, you had a furniture delivery to make that evening and needed for me to bring the van to you. You had completely forgotten that it was Halloween. When I reminded you, you sighed heavily in frustration. You had planned a fun evening at home. But, you had also promised a sweet older lady, that you would deliver her couch to her on that evening. She was from New Orleans and had lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. I'll always remember how you gave up your first Halloween in our new house to help a distraught woman get furniture into her new apartment. I was proud of you.
And if I recall, the next year, you got to hand out lots of candy to the children in our neighborhood.
And how can I forget last Halloween? I had bought plenty of candy for you to hand out, but you your supply was running low. (Probably because you were giving out handfuls instead of pieces!) By the time I got home from work, you were handing out anything that was individually wrapped from our pantry - cereal bars, breakfast cookies, and even packets of instant oatmeal! We laughed together later as we pondered what the kids must have thought when they got home and checked out their "loot." But, thanks to you and your ingenuity, some kids probably had a healthy bowl of hot oatmeal before going to school the next morning! I smile now, remembering.
This year, as usual, I preferred to be someplace other than home on this night. Our church hosted an event for the community. I helped with one of the activities and stayed until it was over. And then, I scheduled an interesting end to my first Hallowwen night without you.
I had arranged to have a sleep study done and so I checked myself into a Sleep Center for the night. I did it because of you. You were always concerned about my snoring, (and I am sure you were also frustrated by it!) You thought I might have sleep apnea.
It was an odd feeling, having wires attached all over me. I was supposed to lay down and just go to sleep. Easier said than done! I lay there thinking about you. Many times you had expressed a fear that I might stop breathing one night and you would wake up to find that I had died in my sleep. Well, my sweetheart, that did not happen. But your instincts were right. I passed their test criterea and by 2:00 AM, my sleep consultant woke me to say that I did indeed have sleep apnea and it was so severe that they put a machine and mask on me right then and there. I chuckled to myself, when I realized they probably didn't want to be held responsible if I died in my sleep, on their shift, sometime between 2 and 6 AM!
Thank you for loving me enough to keep telling me how worried you were about my sleeping. It took me awhile to get around to it, but I will now be getting the medical care needed. Your urgings to get treatment may have saved my life. My days are as yours were, numbered from the very beginning. Our heavenly Father is the only one who knows the number of days we have. But I do know I am supposed to take care of myself while I am left here on this earth. Please know that I will miss you on every one of the days that God leaves me here.
Always Know That You Were Loved, And Will Never Be Forgotten,
Love,
Kim
Phil 4:13
Halloween is upon us today. I recall that when you married me, you were unaware of how strongly I felt about this holiday, but you found out pretty quickly! It had nothing to do with allowing children to have fun with dressing up in costumes and getting candy. But, it is that there is a very dark, sinister side to this holiday as it is celebrated by those who worship Satan. It breaks my heart to even contemplate some of the horrors that take place on this day. I thank you for respecting my feelings and understanding. It is a day that all Christians should pray intercessory prayers for those affected by these distorted views and beliefs.
I recall the first Halloween after we moved into our new house. You were so excited to be living in a neighborhood and were really looking forward to passing out candy to the children. All the kids in the neighborhood loved "Mr. Robert"! The bowl of candy was by the door, waiting for you to come home from work and for the costumed children to knock on the door and say "Trick or Treat!"
And then you called to tell me, that at the last minute, you had a furniture delivery to make that evening and needed for me to bring the van to you. You had completely forgotten that it was Halloween. When I reminded you, you sighed heavily in frustration. You had planned a fun evening at home. But, you had also promised a sweet older lady, that you would deliver her couch to her on that evening. She was from New Orleans and had lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. I'll always remember how you gave up your first Halloween in our new house to help a distraught woman get furniture into her new apartment. I was proud of you.
And if I recall, the next year, you got to hand out lots of candy to the children in our neighborhood.
And how can I forget last Halloween? I had bought plenty of candy for you to hand out, but you your supply was running low. (Probably because you were giving out handfuls instead of pieces!) By the time I got home from work, you were handing out anything that was individually wrapped from our pantry - cereal bars, breakfast cookies, and even packets of instant oatmeal! We laughed together later as we pondered what the kids must have thought when they got home and checked out their "loot." But, thanks to you and your ingenuity, some kids probably had a healthy bowl of hot oatmeal before going to school the next morning! I smile now, remembering.
This year, as usual, I preferred to be someplace other than home on this night. Our church hosted an event for the community. I helped with one of the activities and stayed until it was over. And then, I scheduled an interesting end to my first Hallowwen night without you.
I had arranged to have a sleep study done and so I checked myself into a Sleep Center for the night. I did it because of you. You were always concerned about my snoring, (and I am sure you were also frustrated by it!) You thought I might have sleep apnea.
It was an odd feeling, having wires attached all over me. I was supposed to lay down and just go to sleep. Easier said than done! I lay there thinking about you. Many times you had expressed a fear that I might stop breathing one night and you would wake up to find that I had died in my sleep. Well, my sweetheart, that did not happen. But your instincts were right. I passed their test criterea and by 2:00 AM, my sleep consultant woke me to say that I did indeed have sleep apnea and it was so severe that they put a machine and mask on me right then and there. I chuckled to myself, when I realized they probably didn't want to be held responsible if I died in my sleep, on their shift, sometime between 2 and 6 AM!
Thank you for loving me enough to keep telling me how worried you were about my sleeping. It took me awhile to get around to it, but I will now be getting the medical care needed. Your urgings to get treatment may have saved my life. My days are as yours were, numbered from the very beginning. Our heavenly Father is the only one who knows the number of days we have. But I do know I am supposed to take care of myself while I am left here on this earth. Please know that I will miss you on every one of the days that God leaves me here.
Always Know That You Were Loved, And Will Never Be Forgotten,
Love,
Kim
Phil 4:13
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