My 'Gary'.

We first met at our Christian Teen Camp, at Nanoose Bay, here on Vancouver Island, in mid July 1972. I was there, with 5 girl friends, as dishwashers, as none of our parents could afford the cost. He was standing by the Lodge, with his bike, looking so shy! So I went over, to get a closer look at the most good looking boy I'd ever laid eyes on. I asked if he was going to stay, he had replied 'No', that he had just ridden down from Powell River, to see this place, but had to go back as he was working for his Dad at the Mill. At the time, I was 16, he was 17 and I never saw him again, until 2002.
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There was this most gorgeous customer at my work place 'Safeway' and everyday, I hoped to see him. He had asked me out twice, and I had declined. Reason being, I was by then twice divorced and terrified of making yet another mistake. On a trip out to see my Mom one day, I complained to her about him, and Mom did something, she'd never EVER done. Told me to ask HIM out! Well, I thought she was just getting old, and more or less ignored it, but I didn't forget.

The handsome customer was a Carpenter, and as I was moving & needed to get some work done in the new place, I decided to ask him to do the work, late fall 2003.
Well...........................................after putting all, ALL the pieces together, we finally found each other ! ! !
All this time, he'd been right there..................!

We started admitting some of our mistakes in the past, and were stunned that our past lives, were almost identical !
During my two previous bad marriages, I had thought/wondered of him so many many times, and he had done the same of me ! Even when finally single in 2000, I'd wondered about driving up to the ferry, travelling over to Powell River, and asking about him at the Mill. But realized I was just being dumb, as I couldn't even remember his name !

We were married April 17th, 2004 ! (I only just discovered, that Christ was actually born on that day, not December 25th.)

It was almost immediately afterwards that he took ill, and for someone in excellent health, he went slowly downhill for the next three years.

Gary never took off his wedding ring or crucifix, but on April 12th/07, he asked me to take them off, without giving me a reason. It scared me so much, as my dear Mom had done the same thing, 2 days before she had passed away.
And so, my beautiful, kind, loving, intelligent Christian husband, the man of my dreams, who gave me the best 3 years of my life, just slipped away and joined my Mom & Dad in Glory, on April 14th, 2007. I had never been treated so well, or loved and adored, the way he did me.

It's been nearly 14 months since I lost him.
I never realized how horrific a broken heart could be. I've heard others say, it was literally like having half of your heart torn out. Well, they were right !

To let others know, isn't easy, but for some reason, it felt like I must write this, and tell my story.
This has been the most difficult journey of my life! And 'No' it doesn't get any better with time !

Around the 21st of April /07, in our bedroom, about 15-20 min. after I'd gone to bed, I heard the chain on our blinds, rattle. At first, I thought it was our Cats, but no, as each and every night that it happened, I'd find where they were. I thought it must be the wind. Nope, as here we live right by the ocean, and have had windy nights, with NO blinds rattling or chains, as we face the opposite direction. I had seen shadows many many times lately, and often our cats would charge out from where ever they had been, playing or even sound asleep, eagerly sniff the exact place where I'd seen the shadow, seconds before. So, I knew it was my Gary!
Well, it's amazing, how time does go on (AND ON), but everything remained the same. Until one night.................April 20th, 2008.

Gary's eldest daughter, had been overseas, working for the United Church for a year, starting around the time her Dad passed away. Her only/younger sister and their Mom had accompanied me to the burial service, but I often thought of her. For some strange reason, on that night, I felt a sudden urge to call their house. Well, I was pleasantly surprised, when his eldest answered, telling me, she was back from abroad, for a while. It was so lovely to hear her beautiful voice, as I had desperately been wanting to tell her, how very very much, her Dad was/is so proud of her, and as I did that...................
the chain on the far bedroom blinds rattled !!!
and they haven't rattled since !

So, dear readers..........................that was my wonderful husband, telling me, that I'd finally done, what was so important to him! Just to let his first born, know, how very proud and pleased with her actions, at the young age of 19, that he was !!
I've often wished, that I had done the same with my life, instead of destroying all those years on 2 bad marriages, my Mother had forbidden !
And here she had devoted herself to the work of our dear Lord and Saviour !!!

I've been told to write a book on our lives, by those who knew us best, but unfortunately, both sides of our family's, wouldn't like or permit.

Just remember something I was taut as a little child......................
'Christ will never EVER leave us, or forsake us !'
No matter how stupid, idiotic or just plain disastrous we make our lives.
He will, carry us through !

These bible scriptures have been my strength:

My Child, you may not know me, but I know everything about you! Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down & rise up! I am familiar with all your ways! Psalm 139:3
For you were made in my image! Genesis 1:27
You are my offspring! Acts 17:28
You were not a mistake! For all your days are written in my book! Psalm 139: 15-18
I determined the exact time of your birth & where you would live! Acts 17:28
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope! Jeremiah 29:11
My thoughts toward you are as countless as the sand on the seashore! Psalm 139: 17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing! Zephaniah 3:17
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you! Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart! Isaiah 40:11
One day, I will wipe every tear from your eyes & I'll take away all the pain you have suffered here on this earth!
Revelation 21: 3-4
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love! Romans 8: 31-32
My question is, will you be my child? John 1: 12-13
I am waiting for you. Luke 15: 11-32

My prayers are with those of you, who are also in grief and despair.
God Bless.

Yours sincerely, in Christ alone,
Sheila Joyce Gibbs
sjgibbs@shaw.ca

'In loving Memory of Gary William Gibbs'.