Happy Anniversary, from Your Widow
On this day, 24 years ago, Bryan Delk and I became husband and wife, and the 5th one that you are missing….Funny, 5 years ago, everyone told me, *one day* you’ll be able to look
back at this day and not cry, but just be thankful and grateful for the happy memories….back then, I was grateful and thankful still of course, but cried lots and lots too, and couldn’t even begin to imagine that these people that told me this were ‘sane’ in their thoughts…..Today, I can say I am more grateful for the 20 years we had, than crying, although some tears as I get flowers for your grave, but not near as many as in the past….. I remember so much, like yesterday…..
It was hot in Tennessee…. I cried some in the ceremony, but then you had look of relief on your face when I said they were tears of joy.
😉
That last 20 years, we faced many challenges but we got through all of them because through it all we loved each other and we loved God.
Today, sometimes you’ll find me crying again. I know you always hated to see me cry, but it can’t be helped sometimes….I try to remember your words you used to say always to me “I want to see you smile” and I try, I try every day, and I try to focus on the wonderful years God allowed me to have you.
The vows we took said for in sickness and in health and we did that very well, living up to those words. I am confident and happy knowing that you were mine and me yours only, for almost 20 years….The til death do us part, is the most difficult challenge of them all. I said those words without realizing what that really meant because somehow I figured it was going to be SO f
ar off in the future, we would be old and gray before we had to face that… I remember thinking and dreaming of us being in our 80’s, sitting on our front porch, and watching the grandkids playing….Well here we are, or….here I am, faced with life without you…the person I entrusted with my happiness and my soul and now you’re gone.
I am faced with the monumental task of going on with out you with the memories of the times together to see me through the days, weeks, months and years ahead.
Thank you baby for those memories and for the awesome and wonderful children we raised together. I know the road ahead will be bumpy but I know at the end of the road, you’ll be wa
iting for me with welcoming arms wide open to greet me and hug me once again one day.
I do not know how long it will take me to meander down that road, but my anniversary wish is that you are peaceful now and are not sad up there. Your gift to me has been acquired over the years….strength, courage, faithful, and a “we can do this” attitude. So, I wish you happy anniversary. I love you. I promise to always try to smile…I can still hear it in my head you telling me “I want to see you smile” – No matter what was going on, even if I was mad at you
– if you said that – you always made me smile anyway – and you knew it!
🙂
From the time we were married till he left this earth was
7,133 days
or 1019 weeks
or 171,192 hours
or 10,271,520 minutes
or 616,291,200 seconds
This is equal to exactly 19 years, 6 months, and 9 days
For our 20th anniversary, he had planned he was going to buy me an anniversary band to put on the other side of my engagement ring, to match my wedding band. And we were going to take a trip someplace special, don’t know where, but somewhere we had never been, we had thought of one of those couples resorts….
I love you more than anything, I love our wonderful kids God allowed us to have. I am very thankful God let me have you for almost 20 years. Yes, I wish it was more, lots more, never even had the thoughts of what happened….you know you think about sickness, maybe *one day*…..but never this….thought and dreamed about us being in our 80’s on our front porch in our little town, watching our grandkids run around, while we hold hands….sigh….such a pretty dream…..
I was told that one day, I will think that way, and not cry, but just think about the happy times, and be happy … I am thankful and grateful that after almost 5 years, it is more that way now…..although I still and will always love and miss you ![]()
I found one of his notes to me
I found one of his notes to me…..he always wrote me love notes and put on my desk so I would see when I got to work…(a perk of having an office at home) lol
Oh how I miss him talking to me and sending me notes…after almost 5 years, still love and miss you every single day. ![]()

I’m sending you one more picture, since I didn’t think that either one turned out very good. That way you can pick the least worst one, ha ha .
I’m sitting here comparing my face in this picture to the pictures that I recently put up on the right side of the computer of us in the photo booth. It is so funny, I look like such a little boy in the ones from the photo booth ( I also can’t believe that I used to wear two necklaces at once – what a dork ! ) I used to hate looking so young, now I wish I wasn’t so old !
You, of course, look like God’s gift to men in those pictures! How I ever got you to go out with me is a mystery. We must have just recently gotten your engagement ring, you are trying so hard to show it off in the first two ; )
I had forgotten about that until I found the pictures again ( I knew exactly which one of the ten huge albums that it was in, by the way ) However I thought
that I remembered the pictures being black and white. I must have been thinking about the pictures of you and your friend Dawn in a photo booth ( also one of my favorites of you ) I think that my very most favorite picture of you is in photo album 1, you are wearing a red top with white sleeves, your hair is very curly and black, and you are smiling very big, with your eyes squinting and your braces showing ( very very sexy ) I’ve always meant to ask you where you were & how old you were in that picture, but I always forget to ask you the next time I see you, and also
I’m almost afraid to ask, in case an old boyfriend took the picture, or you cut him out of the picture(s) ( there are two of them ), because I wouldn’t want to ruin it for me.
Anyway, I am going to stop rambling now because I know that you have a lot of other mail that you have to read, and I don’t want you to have to spend all day on the computer.
I love you, Laurie. P.S. don’t let me sleep too long today, and be thinking of when you want to go to the gym. xoxoxoxoxo
Write customers personal handwritten notes frequently
Danielle Kennedy, in her book Seven Figure Selling says,
“Write customers personal, handwritten notes frequently. If you run into an old customer anywhere, follow up with a handwritten card.
In this electronic communication age of email, the handwritten card with a postage stamp gets more immediate attention than ever.”
That quick thought of “I should contact that person” is what I call a “prompting”; an out-of-the-blue remembrance of a particular person.
If you’ve personally observed promptings, you’ve noticed that they only last in your mind for about 60-seconds, and then they’re gone.
My cards company provides a way to capture that sixty-second moment. Capture that opportunity to make a difference; to make your friend or client feel special. To make them aware that we are thinking of them – by remembering events and dates that are important in their lives.
Thank you cards are one of the most powerful tools in building a huge network
Bob Burg, in his book Endless Referrals says,
“Thank you cards are one of the most powerful tools in building a huge network, both professionally and socially.
People with the most impressive networks are typically avid card writers.
It’s one of the best techniques for long-term winning without intimidation. I suggest getting into the habit immediately of sending out cards.”
We all wish that we were better – I can help you with that!
www.SendOutCards.com/holiday – watch the video on the site, and then click to send a card free, and contact me with the questions you have.
Why I chose Send Out Cards
WHY Send Out Cards is a great company for ANYONE and EVERYONE

–Complete company, team and leadership support
–You can use this company, product and service to build any other business and improve relationships
–We have a simple way to share the business opportunity & make money. A cell phone app, a deck of cards & a community Facebook page that people post often with their success stories!
–Highest payout in the Industry
–86% is paid out of the sign up $ to the field to qualified reps
–Hundreds and hundreds join us daily. We are in momentum
–True wholesale product & service
–It’s clearly a better business model
–We get paid twice. Once for sharing, and forever as people stay in touch
–True Leveraged Income
–Our people make the all the difference
–Mobile optimized platform
–Massive market upside
–Top 5% company
–Proof of concept (Almost 15 Years)
–Someone doesn’t have to use it to feel its effects
–Our Products consistently provide a superior customer experience
–We have breakthrough intellectual property
–We have insanely great marketing
–We are the de facto standard in the Greeting Card & Gift Industry
–Our unique concept has been executed quickly & almost flawlessly over 100 Million times
–We have a culture that fosters innovation
–We have a best in class operation, supply chain, and logistics model
–Nothing will make you feel joy the way this model does
SOC is a tested & proven company… always innovating and improving over time… and that’s why I am a SendOutCards Evangelist.
Below is the final criteria list I used for choosing this company. It comes from my own core values and the need that – what I do, how I do it and with whom I do it with are in complete alignment with my purpose, passion and why…
1. Does it Have Real Purpose?
2. Can God Bless it?
3. Can I Fully Respect It?
4. Can Others Respect What I Do?
5. Can It Elevate My Own Purpose & Why In Life?
6. Can It Keep My Passion Long term?
7. Is It In Alignment With My Personal Brand of “Faith, Family, Friends, Fun, Fitness, Freedom & Forever”
This is just some of the reasons, of why I joined this great company.
