I was recently divorced, with a 3 month old little boy. I had gotten our trailer as part of the divorce settlement, and had just had a friend from work move in with me as roommate. She was 5 yrs. younger than me, but was also recently divorced...for her young age. She needed a place to live...I wanted a roommate, so, from there began the friendship between Cheri and I.

The details of my marriage, I won't bother to drag through. I was 7 months pregnant with my first son, Kirk, when I found out that my husband was being unfaithful, and as you might guess, there were times when it hadn't been pretty. But, I had come to terms with it fairly well, not before going through the normal "grieving" period, after all, I had been married for 5 years, and had a brand new baby, a time when I should have been at my happiest. But, all I could do was know, in my heart, that I had done nothing wrong, and had done everything I could to try and make the marriage work, forgiving, and taking him back repeatedly, till I came to the realazation, that regardless of what I did, he was more interested in staying with her, than his wife and new baby. So, he made his choice, and I moved on with my life.

I began seeing a good friend...on a "social" basis...but, he was also seeing someone else at the time. We two women were in a bit of a competition for his affections...hehehehehe and I'll have to admit that I lost out to the "other" woman...again! So, I was sulking just a bit, and naturally, feeling sorry for myself, that this had happened twice to me, in such a short time, but then realized also that I did jump into a relationship a little too quick. It wasn't like I was in tears over this guy...or anything like that, well, maybe a couple of times...lol, but I did like him alot. So, with him still in my mind, wondering if there might still be a chance with him, I wasn't real thrilled when my friend Cheri came to me, and said that there was someone interested in going out with me. I hem-hawed around...and she'd tell me to just get over Jeff...and go out with this guy...that he was super nice! So...reluctently, I agree to double date with this guy...Lee was his name, Cheri, and her boyfriend. I must say that this date I had, did know how to entertain his guest...we dined at the best restaurant at Tan-Tar-A resort...where we all worked...ate fabulous expensive meals, while we sipped drinks. And...this Lee character picked up the tab. Pretty impressive, I might say. lol But, here I was, with "Jeff" still occupying most of my mind...and although I enjoyed the evening, wasn't really contemplating going out with this guy again.

Lee made contact a couple of times, and I was naturally, always friendly, but made it pretty clear to him that being friends was all I really wanted right then. So...he agreed...but did let me know that he thought I needed to get over Jeff too....lol!

Cheri had broken up with her boyfriend, and we were just playing bachlorette for awhile, till she came to me one day, saying she needed to ask me a question. Looking puzzled...I said "sure". She said that Lee had asked her out on a date, and she wanted to know if I minded if she went out with him. Well...no...I didn't have a problem with that...after all...I had just given him the brush myself...a few weeks before. So...Lee bacame a regular part of our lives...we became closer as friends...Lee and I, and the 3 of us in general. Lee was crazy about my son, Kirk...and would play...bathe..change diapers. He was great! He was a big part of our lives for about 4 months. Then, Cheri broke up with him. They are both pretty strong willed...lol...and there were times that made for a big clash...especially with things between them being on a personal level. So...for awhile, Lee dropped out of our lives...and we both admitted that we missed not having him around.

Word was going around Tan-Tar-A, that Lee had gotten engaged. Of course, Cheri and I were both stickin' our noses into it...finding out all we could. We, at one point realized, that this gal that Lee had gotten engaged to, was best friends with the girl that my X was messing around with when we were married. Plus...Cheri had graduated from high school, there in Camdenton, and knew them both. She said they were always big trouble makers in school...and didn't have the "best" of reputations...if ya know what I mean. So...we, both, Cheri and I, would give Lee a hard time about her, whenever we would see him. Especially, since he knew, and had heard me talk about what my X had done to me, and had also found out that Jeanie..Lee's fiance', had been involved with all that went on with my X...his mistress, and me. Jeanie had lied to me before, on several occasions, when I was trying to find my X. So, the fact that Lee had "chosen" this girl...was REALLY tickin' off Cheri and I. We had really gotten to where we both considered him a VERY good friend. For the next several weeks, we didn't have much contact with Lee...Cheri and I. But, we were somewhat shocked when we began to hear around the resort, that Lee was no longer engaged...that him and his x-fiance' had had a BIG blowout! It didn't seem like it was long before Lee was back over at our house...talking about how "stupid" it was for him to get involved with this girl...what a dork she was...etc...etc... and from there the past got left behind us, and our friendship flourished. It wasn't long before Lee came to me, telling me that he had NEVER really gotten over me, since our first date...about 6 months prior to that, and wondered if maybe we could "try again". I really didn't think that Cheri had anymore interest in Lee...she had never mentioned it, but we had been through alot together in the short time since we moved in with each other, and she had become my best friend in the world. I told Lee that I would like to see him, and also drilled him a little, reminding him that if he wanted to be with me...that also meant he had to accept my son, Kirk...that "we" were a "packaged deal"...to which he immediately agreed...telling me how much he already had fallen in love with Kirk... but, I also told him, that considering the fact that he and Cheri had dated at one time, that it depended on what Cheri said...that I would NOT jepordize our friendship over a man. Lee agreed. So...I went to Cheri, told her that Lee wanted to start seeing me, and asked her if she had a problem with that...she chuckled, and told me what a WONDERFUL guy she thought Lee was...that she loved him to pieces as a friend, but that there was NO WAY...it would ever work out between the two of them....that they'd kill each other, were they ever a "couple". lol So...Cheri gave me her blessings, and Lee once again became a permanent part of our lives. He instantly took over as "Daddy" to Kirk...caring for him as though he were his own, and as I watched, I began to fall more and more in love with this man that had so strangely walked into my life.

We were so different...me, a preacher's kid...out sowing my oats after being recently divorced...being an "adult", on my own! Him...from a divorced family...listening to all the "drama" that was going on, or had gone on in his families lives...nothing at all like I had been raised. But, they say that opposites attact...and there was something about us that sure did! It wasn't long, before we starting talking about what it was going to be like...spending our lives together...and the day finally came when Lee asked me to be his wife...over ice cream...at "Scoops Ice Cream Parlor", in Camdenton, MO. I smiled...and cried, and told him "Yes..." that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him.

It's one of those things alot of us do...after leaving home, and being out from underneath Mom and Dad's rules. I might have been a preacher's kid, but I was no different. I did just the opposite of how I had been raised, and at one point, once Lee and I had decided to get married, he moved in with Cheri and I...into the trailer...well...he moved in with "Me"...but Cheri remained as a roommate. So...I was "living" in sin, as they say. Naturally, my parents knew that I was getting married...I had told them, but they had yet to meet Lee. We made arrangement to go meet with my parents. This was my first opportunity to see the "real" Lee. He was such a "charmer"...just as he had been with me. He preceeded to spill his guts to my Mom and Dad...about all the mistakes he'd made in his life...the drugs...stealing......I'm sitting here with my mouth open, thinking to myself..."oh my goodness....what is he thinking...telling my Mom and Dad this!!!!" I was just ready to slide off in the floor and under my chair to hide! LOL Before I know it...he telling my parents how much he loves me, and how Kirk and I have changed his life, and given it purpose, and meaning...and he has my Mom in tears....she is sooooo taken with him ....his honesty, and sincerety. He stole her heart the moment he opened his mouth. My parents loved him! Naturally...being who I was...a preacher's kid...now, their only concern was for Lee's soul. I doubt that from that day till now...they've ever stopped praying for him. To fast forward for a second...I remember the day that Lee walked with my Dad, into the Niangua River to be baptised, and my Dad told the crowd that had gathered to witness the event, how he has been praying for years that the day would come when Lee would give his life to the Lord...Dad chuckled and said that he wondered at times, if the Lord would ever answer his prayers...he had been praying for Lee to accept Christ for 15 years. Now, my Dad was getting the priviledge of batising Lee. It was a thrill for my Dad! And..we know,of course, that their prayers for us haven't stopped, and continue to this day.

Anyway...back to the story. Not long after our visit to Mom and Dad's, mind you...they still didn't know we were "living" together, we had an opportunity to sell the trailer, and move into a beautiful house on the lake. It was going to run us $400 a month...(lol...sure wish I could rent that house now for that...it would be more than double that price). We knew we couldn't afford the full $400 a month...plus...we needed to be into the house Oct. 1st...and our wedding date wasn't till Nov. 18th. Cheri agreed to move with us...split the rent...so we jumped on that...now...we just needed to figure out a way to tell my Mom and Dad. We had to tell them we were moving...and wouldn't be where we were before...but knew that they'd want to know how I could afford that kind of rent by myself....So...we opted to get brave...make a trip back to see them, tell them about the house, and that we planned on moving in before the wedding.....after all...I was 24 yrs. old...and was going to be married in a little over a month anyway...so what was the BIG deal! BOY...whatever gave me the idea that my Mom and Dad would think this was okay, and would understand, was beyond me!!!! I tried to explain....this is the man I am marrying...in just a little over a month...but, the fact remained that we'd be living together BEFORE we were married. The following day...we went ahead and made arrangements for the house, and then called to see what arrangements could be made, and how soon, to get in to see a justice of the peace. Remember...we already have wedding invitations sent out...wedding plans made...a wedding is being planned for November...but, we decided to do the justice of the peace at the first opportunity....which was Oct. 11, 1978...which made my Mom and Dad happy...got to move into our big beautiful house...right on the lake, and still had a beautiful church wedding, with family and friends on November 18, 1978. It is so odd...Lee and I both think...we celebrate our anniversary on Oct. 11th, to us, that is the day that we leagally became husband and wife...the date that my Mom and Dad were SO in favor of...yet, to this day, Lee and I don't get an anniversary card from my Mom and Dad, until November. LOL....Lee and I think that is just kinda comical! hehehehe


So...I suppose from there, the rest is history. Lee adopted Kirk as his own when he was 5....well, he adopeted him "Legally" as his own...but Lee took Kirk as his son, the day he took me as his wife. Lee was the only Daddy Kirk ever had. Kirk did meet his biological father when he was 18...but came home, much to Lee's delight, to inform Lee ... "you're my Dad". Needless to say, those are the words Lee longed to hear. Cheri, remains, to this day, the best friend that Lee and I have ever had. Her and her husband Richard, have been with us, and seen us through many trials in our life. It is hard to imagine our lives without them in it. I sure won't say that the past 27 years have all been easy ones. In fact, I don't know that there was ever a year that we didn't have something to have to deal with...I guess that is just life, though. But, it has been all these trials...the small ones... and the big ones, that have made both Lee and I realize, that when you say "for better, or worse...richer, or poorer...sickness and health..." that these are things you can ALWAYS get through...as long as you do them...together. It was never really one of my favorite songs, but with Lee and I, it has always been as the old Helen Reddy song said..."you and me against the world". We promised each other that we'd do it together...and we know we can do anything...with each other...our faith, and God's help and guidence, there's nothing we cannot make it through.


In 1981, God blessed us with another child...Landon Royce, and another blessing in 1990, our beautiful daughter, Moriah...and after 27 years, 3 children, and 4 grandchildren, our love has grown more and more with each passing year. It amazes me at times, the depth of the love that I feel, and know that there is the same depth to Lee's love for me. It is a wonderful feeling to have...it's undescribable, unless you've experienced it...then you know what I mean. When the bible tells us that a man will join his wife, and they will become "one"...there is no better description, for how true love feels...you become a part of each other, and all that exhists is "one" love.

FOR LEE...


Bountiful Love
How can this heart love you so much? It's a mystery I don't understand. My love is boundless. You fill my very being, you are life to me. I breath you like air, drink you like water: you swim through my veins like life-giving blood. To me...you are life. Without you, death would come to my soul. I know that none could love you more, yet I stand in amazement when I realize that today my love is stronger, deeper, purer than it was yesterday. How can that be? How can I love you more than I already do? My heart must be bottomless, for your love keeps pouring into it, yet it never fills. It always accepts more. Like a sponge it absorbs all there is of you. Your glance...your smell...the sound of your breathing; they pour into by soul, my fiber, my very being. And you become part of me.

Written By:
Levonne Morgan
2002