A Cowboy and Angel Story

Wendee and Gene believed that the year 2013 was the right time to ask God for intervention and when they both got on their knees and prayed for God to bring someone special into their lives, someone who they could be happy with and spend the rest of their lives raising grandchildren and share love with the family they adore. Little did they know who else was also working to bring this Cowboy and Angel together…

Wendee Carolan’s life was a typical, middle class family and the baby of three children from Keven and Melody Carolan Kevin retired from the army in the 70’s and her family grew up in Sierra Vista when the Bergman's moved into the house next door with their daughters. Wendee quickly adopted the Bergman’ as her adopted family. She was given a garden plot in their back yard, she watched the house when they traveled and even taught herself how to play LaDonna’s piano (with a little help from LaDonna). Kendra and Wendee were childhood friends, playing school, webbles-wobbles and wanted to grow up quickly. It was a monumental moment for Wendee when Kim invited her to the Drive-In Theater where she had her first make out session with a boy in the projection room (LOL). The girls were like sisters, until life separated these families and time put space in between them. Wendee’s life became complicated fast… Todd was born just before her 16th birthday and later another son, Brian entered her life. She was married, became a single mother, moved to Tucson, married again, lost her mother, achieved a great relationship with God, developed strength during the loss of her oldest son and became an independent woman living alone in Tucson, Arizona.

Gene Grinde grew up in Sierra Vista, too. Attended Buena High school and was your typical, trouble maker, bull riding, girl crazy teenager. During Gene’s first marriage he acquired a daughter, Monica, and brought Mike (Eddie) and Tiffany into his life. But it wasn’t until later when Gene met Kim Bergman with her two children, Brandon and Krystal and guardianship of Krystopher, that his family started growing into the completeness he feels in his heart today. Gene and Kim shared a great love and worked hard to give their family everything they needed to succeed in this world. Unfortunately, Kim became sick and GOD took her away from this family early in their lives and when Wendee tip-toed back into the Bergman’s life.

Kim’s passing brought her family to Tucson and Wendee’s prayers and sincerity brought some comfort to them as she visited them daily at UMC. See, Gene and Wendee knew of each other through family members, and vague memories of times when Wendee worked at the Keifer’s Ranch where Gene would ride. God had other journeys they each need to experience and be a part of before he would bring them together.

After Kim passed, Wendee and Kendra would meet for quarterly dinners. Kendra would keep Wendee updated on how the family was doing with the loss of such a wonderful wife, mother, sister and daughter. Wendee’s life was crumbling after a 20 year relationship was dissolving from her life and Gene was in a depressing relationship and causing him much grief when they prayed their prayers to GOD...


more to come:

The prayers'

An accidental phone call

The first 're-meeting' with sparks across the room

The first Kiss - date and dating (feeling like teenagers again)

The FLOOD

The Move

The Preacher talk - and marriage

Before the Morning Josh Brolin


                                       

                                                                                                                        

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jojo Update

Image
Jojo is doing so well... she still has va limp leg from time to time,  and her back will often have a hump. But... I could not believe the energy this little girl had tonight.  She insisted on playing chase either her rubber toy... would not let me watch my show, without breathing at me v to throw her toy,  constantly. I finally called her down by putting cheese in her long. LOL! I love my Jojo!
Read more

Sports Legends: Kevin Carolan & Steve Kurtz

Image
  I want to paint a picture for you… think back to the late 80’s Coach Truman Williamson has had a great record with the Buena Colts… the fans are in stands at Loveless Field, the Buena Boosters are there with fireworks an flare, Colt Spirit is in the air! If you were not at the game, you were listening to the dynamic chemistry between Steve Kurtz and Kevin Carolan on KTAN radio… even fans in the stadium were listening to the play by play on their hand held radios!    I was reading through some of my father’s notes on pre-game materials, and I could hear his enthusiasm as I read his word… “Tonight’s non-conference game is against one of the oldest teams still on Buena’s schedule. The Colts and the Douglas Bulldogs started playing each other in 1969…” I read notes where   my father would write down a question he could ask Steve on-air, that’s the kind of man my father was… very organized and he wrote everything down. Which is why he had the best Buena ‘stats’ of all...
Read more

Live Laugh Love

Image
Today, we would have celebrated my son's 35th Birthday; instead, I wept at his headstone. Todd was taken from us 14 years ago and each year that passes, I react differently. Each time a new friend learns of my loss, I react differently. But, I have come to realize that I am normal and these reactions are 'my normal'. This year there were tears, last year there were smiles. When I talk about Todd, I usually speak with joy in my heart and a smile on my face, but on occasion, tears run down my face. You never know what you will get. And this is 'my norm'. Someone once told me "I couldn't go on living, after losing a child"... what is that supposed to mean? Was I supposed to crawl into a corner and fade away? There is another child in my life, a young man who needs me, and needs to know that it is ok to live his life. There are children born into this family would never meet Todd, but can know who he was, and can love him just the same and the only way...
Read more