NQC Update and a Milestone Anniversary

Today is the one and a half year anniversary of Roger's Homegoing. I am in Nebraska today with my parents and two of my brothers, for Daddy's WWII reunion. It also is a bittersweet time, because we have lost so many of the "regulars". This is scheduled to be the last reunion of this group, due to the loss of so many, and the health of those who remain. It has been my pleasure to be friends with these fine people over the years, and the gratitude and respect I have for them only deepens with passing time. Thank you to all of our veterans, and those who are in active duty, for making the sacrifice to keep us and our freedoms safe.

Last week was NQC, and it was a week of constant ups and downs. It was wonderful, as usual, to see old and new friends, and get lots of hugs, and hear wonderful "Roger stories". It makes me very proud to hear the way he impacted so many lives, and continues to do so with the legacy he left behind.........those are some big shoes to fill. I left TN on the Sunday before it started, with the promise of the book being delivered to me on Monday, going to the wire time-wise, but I thought it would make it on time. Long story short, after MANY phone calls, lots of aggravation, high blood pressure, headaches, and excuses, I finally got 200 copies of the book at 9:30 Thursday night. Another battle, and I got more at 3:30 Friday afternoon. (Note to self: NO MORE paying in advance on promises!) Bless all of you who were so faithful to come back night after night, looking for the delivery. I missed many sales the first part of the week, but I tried to keep reminding myself that God knew what I needed, and for some reason yet unknown to me, He wanted me to wait some more. I am pleased with the way the book turned out, and I hope Roger would be honored by it, as well. As I relived the entire experience of 11 1/2 years while putting the book together, I realized once again what an amazing person he was.....a true testament to God's grace in our lives.

One and a half years without him. I am learning more each day how to move forward. It's a new journey, for sure, one we talked about at length. I will be okay, though, because I have the assurance of being

In His Grip!

Debbie

Comments

[Carol]

This morning as I read Deuteronomy 30 I was once again reminded of God's blessings and faithfulness to His children who serve Him with all their mind, heart and being. Even though we experience ups and downs in our life, we can depend on God's blessings when we remain faithful to Him. May God bless you, Debbie, in all you set your hand to do. You are in my prayers.

[dan & Cheryl Turnbull]

Debbie,
I haven't ordered my copy of the book but look forward shortly in doing so. I am so sorry about all the ups and downs, but God still has everything in control. He will bless your hard work, and the selling of the book. It's all in His Time! Have a great time in Nebraska, enjoy family and friends. Once again prayers for your journey...
Cheryl/Lenexa KS

[Coleen Jo Caldwell]

Debbie,
I commend you for all the effort you have put into getting the book completed. I don't just mean the physical effort - I know there had to be days that you just wanted to sit and remember and not put those memories on paper, but the Lord gave you the strength and the courage to continue. I look forward to ordering a copy and having it to read. I didn't know Roger at all as well as you did, but I do know he was an amazing man and child of and warrior for God. The memory that sticks in my mind is the time L5 played in Pekin, IL and Ashley Myer and her mom Jackie were in the audience and he had her come on stage after intermission to tell her story. Seeing the two of them together made me realize the impact he had on other patients and their families. God will continue to bless you, Debbie as you continue to bless us with your wisdom and faith. Coleen cjc:)

[Ann Woodward]

Hi Debbie,
It was so good to see you at the convention. It was our first time there and it was such a blessing. Each night just got better and better and oh those afternoon sessions.
I got my book but may be a while in getting a chance to sit down and read it. I'm so sorry there was so much frustration in getting it there, but I know it will help so many who read it.
Enjoy your time with family.
In His Love,
Ann

[Jean McCormick]

When will be receive our book if we mail in a check, just curious as to how long it might take. So glad things are going well for you and that you enjoyed your time with all those who loved Roger so much. Take care. Jean

[Jane Hitchcock]

Debbie, I plan to order the book from you but haven't gone to the web-site as yet. I wanted to share something with you that really touched my heart. We purchased "the Pianoama" that Anthony Burger Productions was offering. Well, on the tape (I believe it was 1995), Roger was Anthony's guest. Anthony left Roger share about finding the cancer on his neck and going to the doctor. Then the journey did begin. I never really knew how Roger found out about his cancer so this was an eye-opener. I meet Roger back in 2000 in McPherson Kansas when Legacy had just began. Of course being a cancer survior, I went up after the concert to visit with him. He was so polite and gracious. I've never forgotten him and my husband and I prayed for him when he was so sick. God did heal Roger but not in the way we would have wanted.
Thank you for doing that book. I look forward to getting it.
Blessings always,

[The Poor's]

Debbie,

It was great to see you at Celebration and NQC! You are such a blessing to our family and a picture of grace to everyone you meet! We continue to lift you up in prayer and hope that you know how much you mean to us. We love you!

The Poors

[Wilda]

Debbie: I know that you had a momentous week at NQC last week - even tho Roger was not physically with you. The Book arrived today and I can hardly put it down!! You did a GREAT job in getting this published - I'm so glad that you and Roger made the decision to write it together!
God Bless you as you continue with all your projects. Roger did, indeed, leave a WONDERFUL legacy.

[Esther Thiem]

Hi Debbie, it was great to meet you and Jordan at the NQC. I was one who came back and kept looking for the book. I started reading it immediately and can't put it down either.At first I thought the book would make me sad, but then Roger and his jokes kept me laughing. Then the scriptures,songs and words of encouragement just lifted me up again, just like when I first read them on the on-line Journal.I could just picture Rogers face as I read.
Debbie, you look so much better and I see God is giving you peace. When I watched the DVD of Midnight Meditations that you taped in Ireland, my heart just went out to you, wondering how you could do it. It must have been so hard. Then I remembered from my own loss, how the first year I was so numb and God just saw me through one of the hardest times of my life and still is.Still praying for you and ask that you pray for me also. I have had a few sleepless nights lately. I have prayed and picked up and kept reading Midnight meditations and continued reading about God's goodness in our times of trouble. I can't tell you how much it has helped. I told you at NQC we will never forget Roger and we won't. I have followed Roger since the early days of the Cathedrals. He has so blessed my life.God bless and keep you and your family. Esther

[Bev Stellmacher]

Dear Debbie,

It was very good to visit with you at the NQC. I did buy the book and I can tell you that it is a very wonderful inspiring book. Every morning my husband Darwin & I read a few meditations after breakfast. We will continue this throughout the months ahead. Roger indeed was a very special person that had a strong faith and was always willing to share his Lord every day.
God be with you in the days ahead. You too, are a remarkable women and God will give you that strength every day.
In His Grip,
Bev & Dar

[Becky]

Debbie,
Looking forward to ordering the book and laughing and crying through the pages. I guess summer ended last night. Where did it go? I finally downloaded all the photos and edited them from Memorial Day Celebration. So now they are on a CD waiting to be processed. I will send you a copy when it is printed. It is so interesting to go through photos and I decided to do about 2 1/2 years worth! The only problem is I have WAY TOO MANY I want to print! I am sure you have mixed relief on the book. I know how good a person always feels when a big project is finished. But in my case it seems another project falls right on its heels... or even sometimes overlaps! Have a wonderful week.
Becky In Wisconsin

[Larry Davis]

It hardly seems like it can been this long since Roger came face to face with Jesus. Not for nothing does the Bible say that he wipes all tears from our eyes, or we could hardly bear the grief that we leave behind us. But where he is, the joy is so complete that he cannot weep for our sorrows. Lincoln said, "It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced." So be it! The cause of Christ is that work for us, and Roger nobly advanced it. So let us be dedicated as was he.

[gail davison]

Debbie, I have just finished the book and I wanted to tell how wonderful it was to read all the postings from both you and Roger. I dreaded the last post from Roger and sure enough, there it was. I had a good cry and then continued reading. My heart aches for you, your kids and Roger's dad.

It was good to see you at NQC. My prayer is that God will remain close to you each and every day and especially on the bad days.

By the way, you are still a very beautiful girl.

Gail Davison

[Becky]

Debbie,
Are you doing O.K.? We all get a little concerned, when we do not hear from you soon. Praying for you and yours much the last week and today. Hope you are O.K.
Becky In Wisconsin