January 13, 1934, a day that will be forever special in our family. Why you ask, and thank you for asking, I never tire of telling people about this day.
It is the day Foy and Odela got married, the day that started everything. I know I usually talk about how their love impacted me and our whole family but I was recently reminded that they had a larger impact.
I was contacted recently by someone in the Owasso community, I don’t know if I am supposed to say her name so I will not. However, those that grew up in Owasso and, more importantly, went to church at the First Freewill Baptist Church in Owasso will put two and two together.
The woman that contacted me was one of four sisters, my mom and dad LOVED this family and those girls. The girls would even sing in church, they were all 4 beautiful in soul, physically and had beautiful singing voices. One even sang at our mother’s funeral.
The woman sent me a message and reintroduced herself, of course I remembered her and her family. I had last seen her mother at our brother Jesse’s funeral.
She began by telling me how much our parents had meant to them through the years. How she told her children and her grandchildren about Grandma and Grandpa Testerman. Have I ever mentioned that everyone called them that? And that they loved it? They did, they earned it, by being kind, considerate, loving and welcoming.
I digress, she went on to ask if I would mind sharing some pictures of them with her, so she could show her children and grandchildren what they looked like.
I stared at the message for a minute, as it took me back to a place and time I love. I answered back of course I would not mind and asked if it would be ok if I did it in a little bit because at that moment I was busy taking down all of the Christmas decorations. If anyone knows me they know if I get distracted, and I easily do, the job will wait another week. She graciously said take your time. I did ask about her family, she told me how they were all doing and how her mother is doing. They lost their father a few years back.
After I finished with my task I sat down and sent her three photos. My mother’s favorite of them together, taken in the 1950’s, their last professional photo taken before my dad passed and lastly, my favorite photo of them.
The woman thanked me and went on to tell me how my mother encouraged her when she had her first baby. How their example of Christian love to this day influences her and her sisters.
She reminded me of how my parents, with their life example of putting Christ first, then each other, then family reached more than just their four children and grandchildren.
It was a profound moment and one that brought me to prayer and tears. The good tears, the ones where you are just thankful that you won the lottery with the parents you were given.
I will put their pictures here, the ones I sent and you can see for yourself how beautiful they were and how their legacy continues. I am also going to add one, of their 50th wedding anniversary with them and their children and children’s spouses. Mine at the time, I don’t feel right editing him out as he is part of that history.
I hope they are having the best celebration in heaven, that they are rejoicing and singing and having cake! I cannot imagine heaven without cake.
Angie World 