Faith ......... not fear.

I don't talk a lot about my faith. There were two topics you didn't discuss in polite society. Religion and politics. But I will never be known as the Miss Manners of Donahue. Hey! I talk politics all the time. Its time to talk about my faith for once.

I was raised in a Christian home but like many, I became apathetic to Christ and God. I really didn't see how it could make a difference in our life. Besides, I sure didn't fit into that church where I was raised!!!!! We were good people.........that should be good enough.

So God spent a lot of time trying to get my attention. Lord knows, He gave me one of the most beautiful places in Iowa to live! But evidently, that still wasn't enough to wake me up. Like my grandfather would say, "Sometimes, you have to hit a mule over the head to get its attention!"

Yea ..... I got hit with a 2x4!

A little over two years ago, Honey and I had trucked through a hayfield. I was looking for a barn to move to the farm so a friend suggested one and we were off looking at it. On the way home, Honey mentioned feeling a little off his game.

We were walking around outside.... debating some alternatives to moving a barn(!) Honey said he thought he would go inside for a few minutes. I should have thought ........ hmmm, that's weird. But I didn't.

A few minutes later .... I went in to join him and sat down at the spinning wheel. "I don't feel good", Honey said. "So what is wrong?", I asked. Honey had a sore shoulder ......... but he had unloaded 250 lbs of feed the night before. And then he said he was nauseated.

Easily explained symptoms. Nothing alarming.

However........... I was sitting at the wheel and I heard a voice very clearly say, "Get him to a doctor now!" It was my Dad's voice as clear as a bell. But Dad had died of a heart attack 23 years earlier......... at exactly the same age Honey was at the time. Evidently, God knew that I wasn't going to listen to a random voice. It better be someone that could wake me up!!!

For some reason ... Honey listened to me and we went off to the doctor. (Of course, I did let him drive!!!!) We reached an emergency health care facility and instantly knew that Honey was in the midst of a heart attack.

Honey had a 99% blockage in the artery that they call "the widow maker". No pain -- no Fred Sanford "I'm coming to meet you, Elizabeth". Just a little discomfort.

After an emergency surgery with two stents ..... and another surgery scheduled....... Honey was home again. I had been blessed. For 60% of all heart attack patients ....... the very first symptom is death.

Every night ........ I would lie in bed, listening for sounds of his breath. I would lay my hand on his chest to make sure he was ok. I was terrified. I was living alone in this sea of friends. I was living in fear.

Fear was not a place I wanted to live. But I was going to live there ........ if I didn't have faith. It was a choice only I could make. God gave Honey and I a second chance (and really, a third and fourth chance.... considering he survived 1-1/2 bouts of cancer!!!) Yea .... we aren't the sharpest knives in the block. Takes us a few hits over the head to get the point!!!!

So the last two years have been a new journey in our lives. With the love and support and the spiritual guidance of our friends, Debbie and Jim .............. Sunday, we celebrated our birthday! Honey and I were baptized at Heritage Church in Bettendorf. I can not begin to describe how amazing it was!

We have a l--o--n--g road to travel to reach knowledge and understanding. But we made the first step on Sunday ... and if you were there, you know it was an extremely long step for me!!! (I am very very short and the tank was very very deep!!!)

Thank you, Debbie and Jim for your patience, your understanding and your love.

We love you both.....
Honey and Miss Eff