On the way home awhile ago, I heard the news that Ruth Graham, Billy Graham’s wife, had died. The radio newscaster remarked that Billy had said something to the effect that he couldn’t “imagine a world without my soulmate of 65 years.” Sixty-five years of marriage is incredible, and when I read of how they felt towards each other, it becomes even more incredible because they continued to feel love and tenderness for each other - through so many of life’s ups and downs.

Here’s the news story:

Billy Graham’s Wife Ruth Dies at 87
By MIKE BAKER
AP
RALEIGH, N.C. (June 14) - Ruth Graham , who surrendered dreams of missionary work in Tibet to marry a suitor who became the world’s most renowned evangelist, died Thursday. She was 87.
Graham died at 5:05 p.m. at her home at Little Piney Cove, surrounded by her husband and all five children, said a statement released by Larry Ross, Billy Graham’s spokesman.

“Ruth was my life partner, and we were called by God as a team,” Billy Graham said in a statement. “No one else could have borne the load that she carried. She was a vital and integral part of our ministry, and my work through the years would have been impossible without her encouragement and support.

“I am so grateful to the Lord that He gave me Ruth, and especially for these last few years we’ve had in the mountains together. We’ve rekindled the romance of our youth, and my love for her continued to grow deeper every day. I will miss her terribly, and look forward even more to the day I can join her in Heaven.”

Ruth Graham has been bedridden for months with degenerative osteoarthritis of the back and neck and underwent treatment for pneumonia two weeks ago. At her request, and in consultation with her family, she had stopped receiving nutrients through a feeding tube for the last few days, Ross said.

The family plans a private interment ceremony and a public memorial service. Those arrangement had yet to be made on Thursday.

As Mrs. Billy Graham, Ruth Graham could lay claim to being the first lady of evangelical Protestantism, but neither exploited that unique status nor lusted for the limelight.

Behind the scenes, however, Ruth Graham was considered her husband’s closest confidant during his spectacular global career - rivaled only by her father, L. Nelson Bell, until his death in 1973.

Bell, a missionary doctor, headed the Presbyterian hospital in Qingjiang, China, that had been founded by the father of author Pearl Buck. Ruth grew up there and spent three high school years in what’s now North Korea .

Here’s a photo of them early in their marriage while traveling in Paris:

Love like that gives us hope for our own relationships.

Hi Adeline, I think it is wonderful that they have obviously had such a long and wonderful life together. It’s sad that it, as all things, comes to an end. I’ve always thought he must live as he preached because if there was anything anyone could have found on him they surely would have. hazel

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The Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf received an anonymous letter claiming that the body of four-year-old Madeleine McCann is hidden, buried under rocks a short distance from the where she was abducted on May 3rd. The newspaper passed the letter on to the Portuguese police who are taking it very seriously.

This has to be tough twist for Kate and Gerry McCann. Sky News reports that they were very upset at reports - but no evidence - that police diggers had arrived at the site. They has planned on some down time to grieve and catch up after 40 straight days of hard work keeping Madeleine McCann in the front of everyone’s minds.

They have been to Spain, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Morocco to try to track her down. Their nightmare started on May 3 when Madeleine was taken from the family’s holiday apartment in the Mark Warner Ocean Club resort as her parents ate at a tapas bar only meters away.

She was sleeping next to her younger brother and sister, but they slept through her abduction and are too young to understand what has happened. [source]

There is no evidence that the claims are real, but the Portuguese police are investigating and naturally the parents are distraught. But then, I can’t imagine how distraught they have been since the horrible day their daughter was abducted.

We can only hope and pray that by some miracle the child is found safe.

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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have not adopted any more children since they adopted Pax from Vietnam a couple of months ago. They are still jetting around the world for glamorous star-studded events and to tramp through the jungles of the most poverty stricken locales that can be found.

The couple are still donating huge amounts of money to countries from which they have or will adopt kids as well as other communities in need.

They are still the most beautiful and glamorous couple in the world. And they look darn good standing next to each other.

Just keeping you updated.

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Australia’s Thunder From Down Under is an all male revue performing in Las Vegas.

Wait a minute. I lost my train of thought.

There is an all male revue in Las Vegas, Thunder From Down Under. They are Australian …

Give me a second, I’m having trouble concentrating. I was going to write something here about this ….

Ugh. Sigh. Just look at the pictures. I’ll remember what I was going to write. Sometime. Maybe.

Meanwhile, just look at the pictures. You aren’t listening anyway!

With Tyra Banks

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Some men are high maintenance. Being high maintenance isn’t necessarily bad. It just means that the relationship requires special handling. Here are 13 things that are sure-fire indications that your man might be HM.

(1) He is hard to please in restaurants. He frequently complains of bad service and/or bad food frequently at restaurants.

(2) He seems to disapprove of anything that doesn’t directly validate HIM. For example, you want to go have lunch with some girl friends. You go, but you know your HM man will act like you’ve neglected him.

(3) He wants you to prepare dinner for him every night. He won’t demand it, of course - he just lets you know he really likes it.

(4) When dinner is over, he retires to watch TV while you do the dishes. He’ll help if you ask him to - but you have to ask.

(5) When you have a day off, he wants you to spend it with him. Not doing anything in particular - just being there with him as he goes about his day.

(6) His needs are always seem to be more important than yours. It’s not that he doesn’t appreciate your needs. It’s just that his are so much more pressing to him.

(7) Similar to his behavior in restaurants is his behavior in other businesses. Store clerks often see his bad side.

(8) He is either hot or cold. Everything is wonderful and he is the most fortunate person in the world OR everybody sucks big time, and he is burdened with having to deal with imbeciles all day long.

(9) He’ll give you a fabulous gift - but strings might be attached.

(10) Whether he’s an early riser or a late sleeper, he wants you to do the same.

(11) Similarly, if he’s an early-to-bed guy or a late nighter, he wants you to do likewise.

(12) When you’re apart, he calls you. Often.

(13) He’s not a bad guy. He can be very charming and loving. He is just high maintenance.

So what do you think?

Catch you later,

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Without going into any details, I will admit that I’ve been “suddenly single” more than once. Once when I was at loose ends and didn’t know where to start in getting back out in the world again, a friend made a suggestion that made all the difference in the world to me. Here it is:

1. Get a large calendar - not a measly little pocket calendar but a big one that won’t be lost easily - one that will hold lots of information.
2. Buy a copy of the Sunday newspaper - or whichever edition has a listing of community activities and classes.
3. Go through the newspaper and look for festivals, classes, events and other activities that are of interest to you. Want to learn to dance? Sign up for a class. Want to meet other singles? Look for a “divorce adjustment” class. Want to learn something new? Check out community classes, look for book discussion groups or a writers group. Want to become more physically active? Find a walking group, or a golf group or whatever. Larger churches often have excellent divorce care classes where you can meet other folks who know what you’re going through.
4. Put the dates and times of those activities on your calendar.
5. Follow through by going to the things you’ve placed on your calendar.

You don’t have to go alone although it’s okay to go by yourself. Call another single or married friend to go with you. You may have to go outside your comfort zone, but each time you do it, your comfort zone increases. And that’s the point.

The important thing is to get out and live life, do what you enjoy and not sit at home moping and feeling sorry for yourself.

I am a living, breathing success story of this method of overcoming a “suddenly single” depression. It works.

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