My Sister Merle

My sister Merle was three years older than I was.

As a little boy I remember fighting with her occasionally. One day I hit her with something and received a stern "boys don't hit girls" message from my mother. My punishment was having to go in the house and let my mother wash or cut my hair, and I hated both! That sounds pretty stupid, I know.

One Christmas I had seen a little steam engine at the toy store, and really wanted it for Christmas (instead of the tools I usually asked for). Santa Claus brought it (although I never believed in Santa Claus).

I lighted the little alcohol burner, steam built up, and the engine started running! I was so excited! It had a short run. I accidentally knocked it over, it blew up, the alcohol spilled out, started a fire, and Merle's new doll's hair caught fire! She was so mad at me!

Her doll had painted hair under the other hair, so it wasn't a total loss. But, alas, my steam engine never ran again!

In our teen years we became good friends. I even double dated with her a few times.

Another time, I remember a beauty contest was being held at Clovis, New Mexico... nine miles away. Merle won it. She was so very pretty and we were all excited about it.

One day my Dad came to me and asked "Did you know that your sister is going to 'jump over the broomstick'?" That meant that she was engaged to be married. She married in our living room with my Dad officiating.

They lived in White Deer, TX, so we didn't see her very often. I remember when she would visit we were so excited and she nearly always brought gifts of some sort.

My senior year in high school I went to school one day and told everyone I had a niece!

Through the years we visited back and forth at Christmas, vacation time, etc. I always had a good relationship with her.

She died at 85, and we really have missed her!

A Note From Cheryl

As the baby of the family and the only girl, my perspective of my Dad may be quite a bit different than that of my three brothers.

Spoiled...probably....moody...definately...made Dad late...not too much.

Okay...My Dad was fairly easy going until it came to being on time and getting a task done right when he said to do it...whatever it was. About the only time I saw him riled up was when I was about to make him late for church or work.

I remember taking a load of makeup, hairspray and the like in the car to finish getting ready for church because we couldn't be late...even though we were always one of the first families to get there. I remember my Dad getting upset "on tape" when we were not moving fast enough in getting the car packed for a trip.

(Footnote on the trip thing...His idea of "getting up at our leasure" was 6:00 a.m. That does not fit into teen time which would fall in the neighborhood of about 1:00 p.m.)

Then there was the time when he was celebrating some landmark anniversary at work and the office was planning a surprise party for him. I was the perfect person to make him late. He was fuming, and my Mom and I were in the bedroom laughing our heads off. He felt kind of sheepish when he found out we were just giving the crew time to get everything ready for the surprise.

All in all though, if there was a merit badge which could be given for putting up with the antics of four children, he would get it.

What other father would go to the store for a panic stricken teenage girl and buy her a comb because hers just wasn't working. In fact, he bought me an assortment just to make sure I was covered. I'm glad he's my Dad...and I'm glad he's loved me all these many years...Thanks Dad.

A Note From Sarah

"I never had the awesome opportunity of being around Uncle Hassler a whole lot, but when I was around him it was always special.

I love the way his heart is towards the Lord and how the joy and positive attitude he has reflects Christ to others. I have always loved hearing his stories and the way Nana has always told me how special a brother he is to her.

I also really appreciate the encouraging notes and birthday cards as well as the verses and "counseling" my husband & I received from him in the mail. The marriage magazine subscription has also been great for us starting out this first year married.

Uncle Hassler is such an example to me of someone who wants to live life to the fullest and continue to run the race. No matter what struggles or losses he has experienced, he continually looks forward to his eternal reward and place in Heaven.

Thank you Uncle Hassler for being so kind and loving an example to me to never give up on the things I want and God wants with my life." Sarah

My Half Birthday

As I was rudely was awakened by my alarm, I was dreaming that a little penguin had followed me home, and was chattering to come in my house and help me celebrate my half -birthday. But, alas, no penguin. I had watched the penguin show on TV before going to bed.

My half-birthday? What is that?

The last few years I jokingly tell my friends that I am celebrating my half-birthday on February 1. I thanked God this morning for seeing me halfway through another birth year (I was born on August 1). I have previously prayed that the Lord would use me well into my 90's to help couples prepare for and maintain good marriages. Now, 90 is just six months away!

I will celebrate by going to the men's prayer group this morning to pray for each other and others in our church who are having problems. One of the couples I will pray for is a couple I met on the plane Christmas Eve. He has cancer,, and was returning from Mexico following treatment.

With the Lord's help I plan to make my half-birthday a pleasant and rewarding one.

My Courtship with Ann

I had been in the same church with Ann and her late husband for many years, but I had never had a conversation with her.

One evening I attended a "42" party to which Ann had also been invited. I noticed that she was a lot of fun, but still didn't get involved in any conversation with her.

A short time later, I was walking in the local Mall for my usual morning exercise. I saw her approaching me as we walked, so decided to turn and walk with her. We walked around and around the inside of the Mall, laughing and joking all the way! She was fun!

We accidentally met a time or two, walked together, and then meeting at 7:00 a.m. on Monday through Friday became a pattern. She was out of the city during part of December, but my January to May calendar pages are full of dates. Each page has this statement at the top: "Walked with Ann most mornings." The first person to arrive would walk around and around just inside the Mall entrance. I remember how I looked forward to seeing her smiling face. Then we would walk around and around for about two miles, tell each other "goodbye" and go home.

The January calendar had these entries: 17th, "Dinner at Ann's house 6:00 p.m." 26th "Ate supper with Ann (her 78th birthday)." 31st "Took Ann to Half Night of Prayer 6:00 p.m.and to Ann's at 8:00.
She gave me a pecan pie."



February. 4th "To Ann's house for choc. pie 8:00." 14th (Valentine Day). :Date with Ann 5:00 p.m. Steak and Ale." We met some friends coming out of the cafe, and they told us we wouldn't get in without a reservation. We walked in, and were seated immediately. (On our way back to my car, Ann took my arm, and I will never forget the thrill I felt from her touch.) 16th. "Started sitting with Ann in morning services." 17. "Spent evening at Ann's."20th "Hosted, with Ann, 42 party at my house." (She brought the desert.). 22nd. "Watched TV at Ann's house." On the 23'rd I was to have a birthday dinner with my daughter's family at Steak and Ale. I didn't tell them I was bringing Ann. My daughter was surprised, but gave Ann a big hug, and we had a great time.

Later that day, Ann left town to babysit a new great-granddaughter. She would leave on Sunday and come back on Friday. This continued through March, and I saw Ann regularly on the weekends. During the week we would call and write each other. The granddaughter with whom she was staying became vitally interested in our romance, and would say such things in the evening as "Did he call?" "Did you get a letter?"

Late in March, she discontinued baby sitting, and I saw her nearly every day of the week--at her house, my house, at parties, at church.

On April 26, I asked Ann to marry me! We called all our kids and told them! We purchased the rings on May 2, and married in front of the fireplace in her living room on May26. Our pastor, Dr. D. L. Lowrie performed the ceremony. About 40 people attended, with standing room only. We had the reception at our house.

We didn't have a formal honeymoon, but just beginning our life together in her home was all the h0honeymoon we needed.

This was a whirlwind romance, but we had a great marriage!

If I did something that offended her, I would apologize, and almost immediately she would end it with saying "I'm sorry I was ugly."

Following heart surgery, she died on the day after our 7th anniversary. The church auditorium was packed for her funeral. She was dearly beloved by all!