Champaign/Urbana

As I turned on the computer the big news was about who was the richest man on earth now. I am absolutely positive he is not as rich as I am. One of the most rich and beautiful times in our lives was when we lived in Champaign/Urbana Illinois for 2 years. Rich because of our dear friends and beautiful because it's where our 2 first sons were born. We moved there after Terry graduated from respiratory therapy school in Columbia, Missouri. He accepted a job at Parkland Junior College as teacher of respiratory therapy in Champaign. We lived in the back of the church - a 3 bedroom apartment hooked directly on. It seemed our home was the center of an active community of couples who came and went to our church. Each couple was completely unique and blessed us more than any million could. I will tell about each, not because anyone cares to read it but because the retelling gives me such joy. I am smiling as I write.
The first to become our friends were Bill and Barb Gardner. We were so lonely when we moved there. We had no tv and had just moved further from Montana and Missouri families. I recall particularly one day just dropping in on Gardners because we wanted to get to know them better. We had been at Graceland when they were there but hadn't run in their circles. I'm sure they had been napping and would rather we had not come but we were a bit desperate for company. They welcomed us and our friendship began. He was a Chemist and she some kind of secretary. Funny, that didn't seem to important to us except that they were both so smart and interesting. We became pregnant upon arrival and 3 months later they were pregnant also. As became 4 other couples in the congregation. We had Matt first and then everyone else joined in! When Matt was born they came often to see and hold him and 3 months later,after Katie was born I watched her in the daytime while they worked. Many evenings after work they would come and pick up Katie and have supper with us. They loved my applesauce meatloaf and chocolate cake. We celebrated so many birthdays with them, especially Matt and Katie's first. Bill and Terry became fast friends. Bill would go to Terry's baseball games and root him on saying things like, "Unload the piano Reiff" as Terry ran the bases! Bill was the one whose sermon on grace transformed us spiritually. He said, "God will never love you more than he loves you today no matter what you do." He planned the service where our babies were blessed. While he and Terry chatted in the church basement they overflowed the baptismal fount where our other friend, Jim Woodley was going to be baptised. Bill says, "A deacon who deacs is worth many elders." They loved to eat. They would go on "gut busters", eating alot to stretch their stomachs and then not eating the day we would drive to Indiana to a seafood buffet where we would stuff ourselves. They are those old friends who are just as wonderful and dear each time we see them again.
Max and Daisy Matthews were about the age we are now. He was the pastor, they had 2 children who were older and they took all the young couples under their wings like the parents who were too far for us to see every day. They were fun and funny, wise and very loving. She gave Matt his first bath (though she said he wasn't very dirty!) And brought me the most delicious fruit salad that tasted so good. And Max, along with Terry's Dad, blessed Matt. We would go to their home and have wonderful fellowship. It was a delight to be with them.
Jim and Cindy Woodly lived on a farm a few miles from town. He took care of horses for the man who owned the farm but they both were "hands" who kept the place running. It was their home on a braided rug that Matt rolled over for the first time as the men bucked bails with Jim and Cindy cooked a wonderful meal of friend chicken and mashed potatoes. Jim was strong as an ox, throwing large bails up into the loft of the barn without any trouble. Cindy was determined, confident, strong, loved animals and a very hard worker. She loved to wait on us and made us feel so welcome. They got a divorce after they left Urbana.
Cindy's parents were Joyce and John Thumm. He was a 70 in the church and traveled alot. But while we were there they began a group called "The Edge of Adventure" using a book by Keith Green. Thumms, Gardners, Matthews and us - can't remember who else shared together in that small group and got so close as we shared from the heart. John said once that if he had a month to live he would go to a warm place with all his children and spend the month there. I couldn't believe he wouldn't be trying to save one more soul. They are one of the most loving couples I've ever met. I still could sit and talk with Joyce and feel like I could tell her anything from the depths of my soul and not be criticized. She told me that God never took them anywhere but what he didn't help them want to go before they found out they were going. They had spent some time in Okinawa. She also told me that there was nothing wrong with nakedness as she told me about bathing in public baths in Japan. I remember being shocked and it took me years to understand how true that is. It was those frequent moves that hardened Cindy's heart and made her determined to never move again. Joyce told me when they had made one move while Cindy was in high school that for a whole year she refused to come out of her room after she came home from school. She wasn't going to make any move friends that she would have to leave.
Lynn and Christy Misselt had one preschool son, Jason, when we moved to Urbana and Andrew, their second, was the last of a series of babies born while were were there. He was in Grad school and she stayed home. Her commitment to being home with Jason was their reason for eating things like radish sandwiches. They bought a home not far from us so they would walk by on their way to the grocery. One day they came by so excited because they had bought a hersheys candy bar to share. A big treat for them. They shared one day that they were so frustrated because Jason had eaten his whole hamburger at McDonalds. They were used to being able to eat the remains. Christy and Lynn were quiet, gentle people though she was strong, disciplined and determined. It was not a surprise to us when she told us that her mother told them growing up that (speaking of toilet paper) "three squares was enough". Christy said, "Even I know that 3 squares is NOT enough." Jason was active and loud. When we moved to KC, they moved to the Minnesota area to be near her parents. She told me that they went to family counseling there and regretted they hadn't done it sooner. They left our church after leaving Urbana- said they never could believe the Book of Mormon. They have a wonderful family and still live in Minnesota. We all still keep in touch touch.
Sally and George walton were another couple who we weren't as close to. They were country western people and kind of simple, though I'm not even sure why I say that. They just hung on the edge of our group, listening quietly.
There were other people in the church, one couple who called their little girl, "stupid" or some such name rather than her real name.
When family came to visit us they always commented on the diversity of our friendships. It was that which made us rich. Writing this morning I can't help but think how those people shaped our lives. I believe God used them to prepare us for ministry. It was a time of strength and joy. When we left each of the other couples moved around the country. Matthews to McAllen Texas, Gardners to SanDiego, California, Woodleys and Thumms to Independence, Missouri, Misselts to Minnesota.
And us to start Medical School in Kansas City, Missouri. When we see them again we feel a closeness that has never gone away. I was pregnant all but 6 months of the 2 years I was in Urbana. Seeing one of them later they said they didn't remember I was so skinny! (of course I liked that) until I realize I always had a belly on me there. Nathan was born just a week before we moved. Bill always teases me about almost forgetting him as I closed the door on the apartment. It was only for a second but maybe it was because I realized what a treasure place I was loosing. We closed the door on an amazing time of our lives.
Life has gone on but we have never lived in a place that spoke more of the beauty of a church family, the strength of community.