Keep a Smile on Your Face…and One in Your Heart

Hello guys.

Debbie, known to all you as Deb, passed away Thursday June 14th shortly after noon at 12:15. She will be laid to rest on the morning of Tuesday June 19th.

As I sit here this today, so many things are going through my mind. Maybe some of them will make sense.

First, I know Deb’s at peace. She was so blessed from the point of knowing our Lord and Savior, and I know without a doubt she’s at home. He has smiled on her for quite some time now. For this…I’m ecstatic for her, although my heart breaks that she’ll not be with me again in this life.

I can’t count the times I’ve been sitting in our swing and expect, even trying to WILL her, to come through our front door to sit beside me once again. These times are past, but only for a short period. I will be with her again one day and that fact helps in my dealing with her loss.

She does still sit beside me, she still walks with me, she still sleeps with me, she still comforts me, even holds me. Why? Because she told me she would.

She asked me just last week if I’d be alright if she had to go. I told her yes, although I’d have a huge hole in my heart. She looked me straight in the eye and said, “No you won’t, because I’ll be there to fill it for you.”

Deb’s biggest assets, right behind the love she had for me and her family was her courage and toughness. The words, no, or can’t, were not even in her vocabulary. You might could knock her down, BUT…you couldn’t keep her down. She always got up, most times with her feathers ruffled.

Take it from a man that knows, once you did ruffle those little feathers of hers, it was all over but the crying!

After I’d aggravate her to the point she’d “John McEnroe” me down the porch, she was just like the comedian Sinbad’s Mamma.

She’d come down to where I’d finally “landed,” dust me off, help me up and go, “Dub, why’d you push me to such a point I couldn’t help myself. You know I didn’t want to slap you! C’mon, let’s go find…your other eye!”

Not once since her diagnosis with Stage 4 breast cancer, April 1, 2011, did she complain, or ask why. Never. She met it head-on, no different than any other challenge in her life.

She stepped outside of the medical spectrum, decided on alternative treatments, and never looked back…not once.

The quality of life we shared for those 14 or so months was second to none, and she never doubted she had made the right decision. It was the best time of our entire lives together. Bar none.

The constant statement that I’ve heard time and time again from our friends and family is simply, “Debbie, we literally had forgotten…you were even sick.”

Looking back now, I am guilty of the same thing.

What an inspiration she has been for so many, and first and foremost to me. She was so much tougher than I could ever possibly have been in such a situation. I mean that, she was incredible…

Our website was such a blessing for her and I both. She loved all you guys and your support for her was overwhelming to us. You touched our hearts…and souls. Thank you.

So, I’d like to take the opportunity to let her say goodbye for now. When we see Deb again it will be in a much better place.

We received an e-card from a good friend, Barbara L. in N.C. It stated…

I have this feeling there is one more star up in the sky tonight

And even though it’s far away

Its brightness and warmth still reach us here

To make the night a little less dark…

Thank you so much Barbara. Because of that card, I’ll always look into the night sky with an entirely different perspective.

Looking back, I want you all to know that when she drew her last breath she had indeed left a lasting impression on my heart and soul. This was simply to leave…a smile on my face, and one in my heart.

God Bless you and yours.

Doug AND Deb

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6 Responses to Keep a Smile on Your Face…and One in Your Heart

  1. susan elaine says:

    So sad to hear this news. Deb will live on in many people’s memories as an inspiration due to her determination to fight cancer her own way. You and she researched and then followed through on the juicing and healthy lifestyle way. Deb actually did live six months or so longer than the doctors predicted and with a MUCH higher quality of life. What a fighter! You were a true life partner and support, Dub. You are an inspiration also. As always, prayers for you both.

  2. Chris Rickerson says:

    Deb was my little sister. I’m so proud to say that because she was a trooper in this fight she was up against. She will always be in our hearts and we will never forget how strong she was with this fight. G od needed her in heaven more than we did on earth, so little sister I will see you when God needs me to come home. LOVE YOU AND SO SO VERY PROUD TO HAVE HAD YOU AS MY BABY SISTER .

  3. I stumbled upon ‘ridin out the recession’ quite by accident when browsing Canada Free Press. It really turned out to be quite a blessing and one refreshing place in the midst of a world that appears to have gone mad. I really enjoyed reading about all your experiences and the antics of you to, along with your videos of your gardens and other creatures.
    I’ve been thinking about this passage much more recently:
    (1Th 4:13) But I would not have you ignorant, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, that you be not grieved, even as others who have no hope.

    (1Th 4:14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will also bring with Him all those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.

    (1Th 4:15) For we say this to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep.

    (1Th 4:16) For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.

    (1Th 4:17) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we shall ever be with the Lord.

    (1Th 4:18) Therefore comfort one another with these words.
    and also this one:
    (1Co 15:51) Behold, I speak a mystery to you; we shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed;

    (1Co 15:52) in a moment, in a glance of an eye, at the last trumpet. For a trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall all be changed.
    I have a very strong sense Doug, that we will not have to wait much longer for this great event. Ever onward my friend!

  4. Kunoichi says:

    Such sad news, yet you still manage to share it with such grace a love. You are both an inspiration. Thank you for sharing your lives with us.

  5. Ken says:

    My heart goes out to you Dub. Deb was such an inspiration to us all and will be greatly missed. She was such a blessing to many people.
    Dub, I know you are numb and feeling so empty right now. I would highly encourage you to find a griefshare group in your area in a few weeks and go through the classes. It will help. Love you and God bless you buddy!

  6. cmblake6 says:

    I wanted to wait the week for sending my deepest respect. You’re a very strong man Doug, and Deb IS still standing right next to you. Keep that love in your heart. She’s the one on vacation, eventually you’ll get to join her there.

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