I DO miss his lips!!! ....#1 Love Note

Enjoying a tender kiss while in San Diego with our family. May '10

Sweet reunion kisses after 3 months of Navy boot camp. Aug. '87

I DO miss his lips!!! Sometimes I worry that I might forget some of the rich senses that I enjoyed with Cedric, but I don't think so! There was just nobody like my man! I was listening to "Your Man," earlier today by Josh Turner - the song we danced to in our living room the night before he was killed and went to be with Jesus. I love to close my eyes and dance w/him - over & over "reliving" that night.

These thoughts this evening reminded me of what I was recently sharing with a group of ladies. I told them that Cedric & I "not only pursued our oneness, but that we actually fought for it!" This meant striving for oneness through the normal cares of life, the unplanned trials of life that hit you "out of the blue," hardships, sicknesses, financial challenges, and relationships that pull at the marriage, etc. In a nutshell, these were the things "where the rubber met the road;" these required us to make conscious decisions to either allow God to give us the grace to pursue oneness & unity or to give into being "separated" in our struggles, even though still being married.

Because the Lord planted a deep desire to glorify Him, we made the choice to press through the challenges towards oneness with each other-over and over-through the years! God is really the only One who deserves the glory for giving us the desire and grace to do so! He tells us in 2 Corinthians 2:9, "My grace is all you need; (My) power comes to its full strength in (your) weakness." Many times we would confess our weaknesses and our sins as we prayed together and pour out our hearts in desparate need for Him to work in our marriage. We sorely needed His help and strength and grace.

We weren't amazing; we just passionately loved one another and wanted to glorify Him. Over 34+ years, He was the One Who lovingly allowed us to be refined and shaped on His Potter's wheel, creating in our marriage an inseparable oneness in friendship, family relationships, purpose, desires, and motivation. We were one-spiritually, emotionally, & physically-just as He intended!

So, on that eve before entering eternity, Cedric and I could have great joy in kissing, dancing, laughing, and in our celebration of oneness one last time. And, God was glorified because our marriage reflected His picture of the delight of the groom in his bride and vice versa. I praise Him! And, I miss his lips!