FOUR MINISTRY COUPLES WHO HAD FUN

Milton, here for Kristy:

Judy married Ron D.

and Ron D.'s sister, Sandra, married Terry

and Terry's sister, Kristy, married Milton

and Milton's sister, Norma, married Ron M.,

and that is how four preacher couples are related through marriage. This formed a ministry support group and we have had loads of fun--Ron and Judy, Terry and Sandra, Milton and Kristy, and Ron and Norma.

Actually there are many more family couples I could name like, Devane and Mary, Ron's brother who joined us on occasion. They are missionaries and were out of the country all through these years and couldn't join us very often. Don and Rebecca could be included as well as others.

If I kept listing couples and marriage connections, we would all end up being related. Wouldn't that be a fun gathering? I know, that will happen in heaven!

But these four couples were preachers and pastors who are related and began our marriages and ministries at the same time. All through the years, almost 40 years, we would have brief family vacations or get-a-ways together or would meet at denominational gatherings. We would tell the latest church funny or church bloopers we had heard or done. We have done some pretty dozy things through the years.

We went to the mountains together or the beaches or would go to individual couple's homes or would meet at some preacher seminar gathering. The ladies shopped and the guys goofed off. These were relaxing, supportive, and crazy times where we could all let our hair down and just have good, clean fun.

Sandra would always tell her "one" joke, "Low, I Come!"

Terry never did anything wrong to tell.

I would tell about some wedding ceremony blooper I did.

Kristy always would talk about the "unique" visitors in our churches.

Ron and Judy told about their kid's talking out in church.

Norma would tell about Ron's latest sermon blooper.

Ron M. would rag Kristy about how much water that fireboats can hold.

We would all laugh until it hurt. Then we would head back to our homes to minister to hurting folks across the South.

Kristy has a book series started that is loosely based on four ministry couples like us. I haven't read it, but when I get home I plan on reading through her computer book files and exploring our fictionalized past.

My trip has gravitated to these couples, first in Wilmington with Norma and Ron, and then in Columbia with Terry and Sandra, and now in Manteo with Ron and Judy. I didn't really think of taking this trip in the fashion of going to these three couples homes but I guess it was only natural for it to happen this way. Of course, this sabbatical trip ends back in Jacksonville.

I am still in Manteo and haven't seen Andy or taken my biplane ride. I thought I might see Andy in church yesterday, but our paths didn't cross. I do plan on taking the airplane ride today.

One thing remains constant and that is change. Life changes in the most unexpected ways. I thought that Kristy would live into her late 80's or 90's like her parents and so many of our relatives. I thought all four couples would grow old together, but change happens to all of us everyday. It will happen today. Change is happening to me. There are now three couples and one single guy with lots of memories. How can this be? It will never be the same.