"Anyway, he said that if you know that about Missey [she had been a feminist in high school] and then you know what kind of woman she was at the time of her death, then you know a woman who really let the Lord mold her."

This came through the Beechick e-mail list, and I received permission to share it here.  Please take to heart Tom's message, and God bless him -- his prayer request for the Drs. and nurses -- thinking of others outside of his own needs.  I am also struck how Missey's life was able to be used as a testimony to her high school friends -- who knew a different Missey.  A feminist Missey.  Hard to imagine, isn't it?  God will use this situation for His glory in many ways.

 * * * * *

From Greta Lea of the Basically Beechick email list:

I talked to Tom last night. He wanted to make sure that I tell everyone to please not let the sun go down tonight without telling your spouse how much they mean to you-not just that you love them,but how much you mean to them.  [I think this means to say "how much they mean to you.]

We talked about when he and Missey first met. Missey  had shared with me before and Tom reminded me about it, that when Missey was a teen she was a feminist. At that time Missey said she would never let a man tell her what to do and that-get this-she would never have children. Most of her class mates from highschool traveled in for Missey's funeral and they were SHOCKED that Missey was such a devoted wife, had all those youngin's and homeschooled them on top of that! Anyway, he said that if you know that about Missey and then you know what kind of woman she was at the time of her death, then you know a woman who really let the Lord mold her. He said that she was always working on being submissive and putting him as the leader of their household. He said that the oddest thing happened as she strived more and more toward that goal. He said that the more she put him first and the more she let him lead the family, the more he cared about what she wanted and what her opinions were. He said the more she put him and his desires first, the more he put her's first. He was truly shocked that this is the way it worked.  You ladies do NOT know how MUCH I needed to hear that. It was like the Lord whispering what *I* NEEDED to hear.  He is just a humble man who loved his wife, not because he was supposed to, but because she was his best friend. This man did not just loose his help-mate, he lost his best friend.

I also got to talk to the 3 "big girls". That was SUCH a blessing also. Natalie, the 5yo, and I even talked about some books she's reading-a girl after her momma's own heart, I'd say!


Oh, and when I told Tom first thing that folks were praying for them and how could we more specifically pray for them, the first thing he mentioned was the Drs. and  nurses that cared for Missey. He said that this hospital had not had a maternial death in 24 years and that the drs. and nurses are taking this VERY hard. I thought it was so sweet that he was putting their prayer needs above his own. So, let's remember to keep the drs. and nurses in prayer.

Missey Kate-as they are calling the baby, is back up to her birth weight of 5lbs. 1 oz. It sounds like they are really enjoying their Missey Kate and that she's bringing them much joy.

Greta Lea:)