A Precious Life: Our Carol

The first time I met Carol Boyd became the source of an ongoing joke between us over the past sixteen years.  Sam and I had been dating for a couple of months and had successfully transitioned into the "meet the parents" phase of our relationship.  At the time I didn't realize that this phase included another equally important component...a "meet the sisters" clause. 

When Sam took me down to McMinnville one weekend to meet his mom and dad, I was a nervous wreck.  I wanted them to like me; after all, I had already planned on marrying their son one day (whether he knew it yet or not), and I needed them on my team!  I loved Jim and Rosalyn from the first hug and then loved Sam all the more after meeting them.

Before heading back to Nashville, just as we were leaving his parents' house, Sam said, "We'll stop by Steve and Carol's house on our way out of town so you can meet them too."  Whoa!  That threw me a bit off guard!  "Right now?", I asked. "Don't you need to call first and let them know we're coming?"  Sam shook his head and said, "Nah, they won't care."

We stood outside the front door at Steve and Carol's house and knocked and knocked.  Carol finally answered the door:  pajamas on, hair a mess, red nose, sleepy-Benadryl-eyes, and obviously not feeling well AT ALL.  She smiled and so sweetly said, "Sam. I didn't know you were going to stop by" (translated:  "I am going to call you later and let you have it for not calling me and letting me know you were coming").  She invited us in and we visited for a while.  By the time we left, it felt like Carol and I were old friends.  I am sure many people felt that way after meeting her for the first time.

She would tease us about that impromptu, untimely visit from time to time and to hear her tell the story was just hilarious.

One marriage, ten years, and three children later; Sam and I were in Murfreesboro getting ready for supper one night.  The kids were running around the house, laundry was piled on the sofa, shoes were lining the stairway, the dog was going crazy, and there was a knock at the door.  Wondering who in the world would be stopping by at that time of the day, we opened the door to find Steve and Carol smiling on the porch.  "Hi!  I'm so sorry we didn't call!", Carol said, followed by that wonderfully infectious laugh of hers.

Over the past couple of days I have thought so much about Carol and the way she lived her life.  It makes me sad that so often we take for granted the people around us and don't really reflect on how much they contribute to who we are...until they're gone.  So I want to share with you some of my favorite lessons learned from Carol:

1.  Impromptu visits from family are some of the best...even when you're sick or the house is a wreck.
2.  Let your children get dirty (she was very pro-sandbox)
3.  Some things are just worth spending the money on. (like an expensive mattress)
4.  You never stop hurting for your children when they are sad, no matter how old they are.
5.  When you know something is true, you defend it passionately.
6.  Family is indispensable.
7.  God comes first.

I will miss Carol so much.  I love how she completely loved Steve, Allison, Tyler, Daniel, and her daughters- in-law, Laura and Heather.  I love how she loved my children and that she took the time to show them.  Carol had a presence that could be felt from the moment she came into a room.  She was a bundle of energy, a wealth of knowledge, an example of goodness, a talented Bible teacher, and a really great cook!  She truly knew how to live a full life on this earth while laying her treasures up in heaven.  I am a better person for having known her and especially blessed that I could call her "sister". 

"I love you Carol, and look forward to a marvelous reunion one day."