My over-arching interest/passion is to love and serve the Lord with gladness with my whole heart, mind, soul, and strength...and loving my neighbor as myself. I love my family. I love helping and encouraging people. I love the life and breath the Lord gives me. I love to give God the glory for the great things He has done.

How do I serve the Lord "alone" after being a "helpmeet" for 35 years? My life and what I did was so intertwined with the activities/interests/passions of my best friend. Lord-willing, this is a transitional time in my life. He has provided ways to still reach out to and love others. I am greatly anticipating being a "helpmeet" again!

I was blessed to be raised in a Christian family and can relate to Paul's words to Timothy: "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." II Tim. 3:14-15 At the age of 12 I made a public profession of faith and was baptized. I continue to be amazed at how the Lord has been gracious to me over and over again as I continue to persevere to the end. It has been exciting to see how the Lord has worked in and through me over the years…what He has spared me from and what he has led me through.

I was raised in the Missionary Church and not introduced to the Doctrines of Grace until my college years - through my boyfriend. We studied them together. We learned and grew to see them everywhere we looked in Scripture! After dating for 3 years we married in 1974 and in 1977 we helped start a church with this theological distinction and its applications to life and daily living. I still attend this church today and see the value of surrounding yourself and staying with the people who know and love you when you are giong through times of crisis, suffering, and grief. The Lord and His people have given me comfort through this time and healing to the point I would be very open to serving Him elsewhere - and having another many years together with a very loving, kind, compassionate husband!

I put "non demonination" for my church affiliation, but it greatly is saturated with the Doctrines of Grace and preaching/seeing the gospel of Christ through all Scripture. In the past we were part of the Sovereign Grace Baptist Association which is pretty regional in the Midwest. The elders/pastors are seeking to be affiliated with Sovereign Grace Ministries.

My "quiet times" have taken on different appearances throughout my seasons of life (i.e. reading through the Bible for several years, devotionals, studying for various women's Bible studies, etc.) At the present it has involved studying around the weekly sermons from church and then sharing with the others in my Life Group. Recently I have become a table mentor to 7 young moms and we are studying The Promised One: Seeing Jesus in Genesis by Nancy Guthrie. I do miss my husband's input and mentoring in my life since he went home to be with the Lord in 2009.

How do you pick a "favorite?" At different times there have been different ones: Joseph and his forgiveness offered to his family before it was even asked; Job and his perseverance through suffering; Ruth and her helping her mother-in-law after the death of their husbands and Ruth's subsequent marriage to Boaz…

I must concur with Paul - "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances…and every situation…I can do everything through him who gives me strength." from Phil.4:11-13. I loved being married - for nearly 35 years. We loved working, serving, playing, everything together.

I will continue striving to be content and using this time of my life to once again discover who I am - though I know "Whose" I am. I will continue to work for Him "alone" but anticipate once again being a helpmate to someone in the future. I would greatly enjoy "the gift of marriage!" I know it will take time and I'm praying for patience along the path as He directs my steps.

This response from one friend: Servant. Gracious. Godly. Wise.

God and His Word. My family and my place within it. My church and the friends I have loved and served over the many years.

When I thought about this and started writing I realized it is all summed up in I Corinthians 13 under the umbrella of love: patience, kindness, trusting, hopeful, not easily angered, etc. May I continue to strive to show Christ's love in my life to others as I live for Him and love people.

I can't help but add:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:11

"But godliness with contentment is great gain..." (and following) I Timothy 6:6-10

I must admit I am a fan of "a cheerful heart is good medicine." I love humor in various forms (but not at the expense of others) and making people laugh & chuckle.

I did not like having to check the "Widow" box for the first time after my husband's death. I still don't. I hadn't thought about our vows to each other being "until death do you part." In a good marriage I think the length of it would never be enough whether it was 35 or 65 years. We did so many things together that I knew about most day-to-day things (balancing the checkbook, when to get the oil changed, etc.), probably more than the average wife. I really miss the companionship, friendship, mental stimulation, give-and-take, and so much more.

My husband had been a "tent/maker/pastor" for nearly 30 years. He had not only been my best friend, but I had also been "a pastor's wife..." so my life was drastically changed as I became "alone" with no "job." My life has definitely changed, but as I make my plans I can see that God does still determine my steps. I am so thankful for His loving leading.

I have shared several Scriptures already, but here are some more that have meant a lot to me the last couple of years:

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

"I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.:" Psalm 3:5

“The LORD is my portion; Ttherefore I will wait for him. The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." Lamentations 3:24-26

MANY hymns:

Whater'e my God ordains is right: Holy his will abideth; I will be still what'er he doth, And follow where he guideth; He is my God; Though dark my road, He holds me that I shall not fall: Where'fore to him I leave it all.

My "darker road" is steadily looking brighter as I "take content, What he hath sent; His hand can turn my griefs away, And patiently I wait his day." God is so good. "In everything give thanks!"

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness...in every high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid Rock I stand: All other ground is sinking sand.

Some contemporary songs:

And I'll praise you in this storm and I will lift my hands for You are who You are no matter where I am and every tear I've cried You hold in your hand You never left my side and though my heart is torn I will praise you in this storm. - Casting Crowns

My hope is in You by Aaron Shust makes reference to MANY scriptures and I need to remember Psalm 25:4-5 "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long!"

DID: I spent 10 years in the printing industry (type-setting, layout, camera, etc.) before we adopted our 2 children. Though I loved it we planned on me being a stay-at-home mom which I became the day before our son came to us at 4 days old. Our daughter joined our family a little over 2 years later. Throughout my marriage I loved being a pastor's wife and supported him and ministered along side him in many things. He loved being a shepherd of God's flock and we loved helping/serving His people. His work in a grey iron foundry helped him relate to people. He/we loved people!

DO: Through God's providence I went from being a "stay at home mom" to a "stay at home Grandma" (while my daughter works my 5 yr. old grandson is with me). I also help my 93-year old mother-in-law who lives at a local nursing home following a few life-changing health issues.

I currently have a 2010 college graduate living with me. She desires to go into full time missions work and by living here she will soon have paid off her school debt. She has applied to OMF and, Lord-willing, will be in Southeast Aisa in the not too distant future. it has been a joy having her here as we encourage each other. It has also kept me from getting "set in my ways" which is easy to do when you live alone.

So, to wrap it up, my mother-in-law is looking forward to going Home, my grandson will soon be in school all day, and the young woman will be overseas. The Lord has given me definite challenges and joys during this "transitional" time of being "alone." However, I am really looking forward to a time when I can once again greatly enjoy married life. I know it won't happen quickly - it takes time to really know someone. The Lord knows the desires of my heart and i'm trusting Him for His guidance - in everything! (including the right time!)

I don't seem to have too much leisure time but when I do I enjoy reading, bicycling/walking for exercise, and creating all types of computer greeting cards from photos I take. Lately I attended a few of Grace College's athletic games of students I have met at church (basketball is here!). On the other hand, I'm just as quick to lend a helping hand watching someone's children so they can have a date night, grabbing a brush to help someone stain some new bookshelves, preparing meals for new moms, visiting people... My "schedule" is pretty flexible at this point in life and I am enjoying simply doing what is needed to help others. The Lord fills my life as I focus on others, not myself.

I am thankful for my morning walks with my friend. She and I try to do 3 "brisk" miles together 3-5 times a week, depending on our schedules for the day. We encourage and pray for one another as we both have loved ones who have gone Home - for me, my husband, niece, and father - from 3/09-1/10.

I was more "active" before my husband was unable to physically do some of the things we enjoyed doing together. We biked on "rails to trails" while we camped in Wisconsin and Minnesota. We hiked when we camped all over the U.S. We canoed in the lakes and river in our community... We also attended many concerts together. I miss them as we worshipped God with music in this way.

I am looking forward to "expanding my horizons" with shared and new interests when, Lord-willing, I can travel the path of life together serving Him with another wonderful husband!

I was born and have lived in Northern Indiana my entire life. Growing up our family made annual visits to Pennsylvania to visit my dad's family.

After marriage our family enjoyed tent-camping and seeing God's creation all over the U.S. - except Alaska and Hawaii. Our family went on a short term mission trip to Mexico. Before children, we went to the Canadian Rockies. I keep thinking I should get a passport, but I haven't done it yet...

My son is 28 and lives in FL. My daughter is 26 and lives about 10 miles from me. I watch her son while she is at work. Next year he will be in full day kindergarten. I have one sister and her family about an hour away. Relocating? Well, we can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps (Prov. 16:9). I leave it in His hands.

I'm looking forward to adding additional activities WITH someone who may enjoy other activities than I have listed. I struggle with doing things "alone." I'd rather take carry-out and sit by a lake than sit alone in a restaurant. I love companionship - especially in marriage! I realize there is a balance though in having some "alone time." Guess I've just had an overbundance of that in the last 2 1/2 years...

Throughout our marriage my husband would say, "If anything ever happened to you, I would never marry again." Providentially, I never felt inclined to respond back that I felt the same way. If the Lord does lead me on this path again, I will not feel guilty ... and will look forward to this next season in my life with another godly man. I am blessed with many friends who are praying for this for me as well. The Lord does know the desire of my heart and I rest in Him.

Incidentally, my mother-in-law has given me her blessing! And one day "out of the blue" my grandson, who was 4 at the time, said "Grandma, Papa is gone. You need to find another man!" These separate "encouragements" happened about a week apart. The Lord is gracious and loving. I have many friends who are praying this for me - in God's time - at the right time, Lord-willing.