True Heroes A to Z: W stands for Friends

Quick heads up! Kristine was kind enough to review Moonless, and here's what she said!

True heroes are all around us, in our every day lives, but some people stand out. During this A-Z Challenge I hope to share several of my real life heroes, and invite you to share yours in the comments.

addell, Jodi. Every so often you meet someone who opens your eyes about what really matters in life. I met Jodi on church assignment. As part of that assignment, I would meet with her once a month (or more) and just talk, or I'd spend time running errands she couldn't because of health complications.

Jodi was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 7. When I met her, we were both in our twenties. She had married, but realized she would never have the opportunity to bring a child into the world, too many health complications. That didn't stop her from making gifts for my son, or many other people's. Her health kept her from doing things most of us enjoy--hiking, biking, running, sports, etc, and she often laughed off the doctor's strict advice about not cleaning under her own bed or shopping. Sometimes when I went to visit she was restricted to the couch with oxygen--at age 27.

The last time I saw Jodi was when we helped her and her husband clean up and load a moving van for the transition to their new house--the first one they'd purchased. We kept in touch, but when I moved to the east coast, I lost track of her. Thanks to facebook I was able to reconnect a few years ago, and last July, Jodi finally passed out of this world.

Story after story, she left a legacy of love. I look back at those visits with fondness and miss Jodi, but I'll never forget the time together. She was my friend.

What was it that really got me about Jodi? Her smile. Her laugh. She was always positive, even in when feeling her worst. Every visit was a joy, every opportunity to help, a blessing. 

Four more days to get MOONLESS at $1.99.

Jane Eyre meets Supernatural

An excerpt (about best friends): 

“Lexy!” Sarah leapt down the stairs four at a time, sliding to a halt before her near-sister and straightening up formally. She cleared her throat. “Welcome to my home.”

“You are older.” Alexia didn’t mean to be blunt.

“I am older? Look at you!” She scowled, nose crinkling. “You are not my baby sister. I cannot go to court with you for fear of being outshone!”

Some things about Sarah would never change. Alexia stuck out her tongue. Sarah mimicked her. They burst into laughter and embraced.

“Oh, Lexy, you have become a woman and I a widow. Is it not a strange world we live in?”

Alexia let her go. “Father sends his regards. He will arrive shortly.”

Sarah’s face straightened matter-of-factly. “So long as he does not miss his brother-in-law’s funeral, good riddance!”

Where had this sardonic Sarah come from?

“But you must be weary! We shall have so much time for reacquainting that I shan’t keep you from your bed. Come, enjoy all the hospitality my home may offer.” She hugged her near-sister again, shivering with delight. “No, I changed my mind. Come eat, talk to me—tell me everything! We will sleep tomorrow.”

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We interrupt your regularly scheduled blog reading to bring you a message from your local hacker…well technically it’s not hacking, because Crystal and I share just about everything including passwords and every so often a nasty flu bug.

I am doing this because I do not have a blog. Mostly because unlike my sweet wife, I am not a very good writer, unless you count writing code. But I’m sure that is not something you would find fascinating to read.

So I need to hijack her blog to share my True Hero.

is for, you guessed it Wife. Or at least my Wife!

You have to understand Crystal is probably the best, coolest, most beautiful (inside and out),amazing, perfect person I know. Her only questionable quality is her judgment, still not sure why she decided to marry me…but hey I’m not complaining.

I won’t bother you with all of her amazing attributes and things she does from music to writing to schooling my kids. I’m sure if you have read her blog at all you have gleaned most of that stuff anyway.

I will however tell you about one thing. Her ability to make me a better person. Honestly I do not know where I would be without her.  Just being around her makes me want to try harder, love more, and just generally do what is right. Something I am eternally grateful for.

So here is a shout out to you Crystal my love. I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More than you may ever know.

Okay I am done with my interruption. But Crystal’s Mom wanted me to post this below as well.

From Crystal’s Mom: 

"Ok. Here’s a hero of mine. Her name is Crystal Hicken Collier.  She is my daughter. From what she wrote on Day H and Day K of her True Heros A-Z, clearly she is someone who honors her mother and father. Crystal has always been a delight to me and her father as well as to her 7 brothers and sisters. She is the 5^th child and the first girl so her name was chosen and saved until she came to the family. She is, as her name implies, a gem of rare find, a crystal. Because of her special gifts and talents, she has always added to our family an extra dimension which is needed. We, as a whole, are better because of her.

Crystal is very social and always has friends. On camping trips when she was young, we would be somewhere overnight and she would have a hard time leaving in the morning because she didn’t want to leave her new friends. 

It was fun to be the mother as Crystal grew up. She was involved in many activities. She is very creative and liked organizing parties. In addition to the parties she helped her siblings organized for the family, we hosted many high school club parties at our house. She performed in plays and choral groups. She has a very beautiful voice. I love to hear her sing but my favorite is when she sings to her 3 children as she puts them to bed. When she was in elementary school, she discovered that she really like to write stories. She is now the newly published author of “Moonless”.

Crystal is the queen of multitasking – homeschooling her 3 children, pursuing her writing career, maintaining her house and home, balanced with serving well in her church in a very responsible position, and is a supportive wife at the same time. She adores her husband and he adores her.  She is content to live on a dime which is something that many women cannot do. And, she is the best guide to Disney and surrounding theme parks in Florida. 

I have learned many great lessons from Crystal. One was when she was in high school. She had so many things going. She would have an assignment to sing. There was just no time to ask someone to accompany her. I would be worrying that she would run out of time and there would be no one in place. She was always calm about it and assured me that it would all work out. And it always did. That taught me to trust a little more. Another – She is a fierce defender of truth and right. In this day and age, that quality is much needed in our society. Yet another – she (as well as each of her brothers and sisters) has a very tender feeling toward people with special needs. This, because of her brother, Randy. In her adult life, she has found joy in serving other children with special needs. 

Someone recently told me she wished she had known while she was raising her children, that they would become her best friends. This is how it is for this mother. My Crystal is one of my very best friends. I love you Crystal. You are the best!

Love,

Mom”

I know it was a bit long, thank you for reading. Now if you have not done it go buy Crystals book. Do it, do it now!!!

We now resume your regularly scheduled blog reading…

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Have you known anyone with health complications that inspired you? What would you most miss if you were limited physically by your health? Have you had a friend you lost track of and were able to reconnect with?