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Thursday, February 10

CR Lapps Family Restaurant, Quarryville, PA

4:00 PM

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What fun having a meal with this group of people – with time to celebrate our new friend Chris – sitting beside me.

Our story began when our granddaughter Lydia (other side of Chris) became a caregiver for Chris’ husband, Paul.

When Paul and Chris’ daughter (who lived in Maine) needed assistance. Her parents remembered that Lydia’s parents were from Lisbon Falls – a town not far from their daughter.

I met Paul and Chris when Diane came here from Maine with some items for Paul and Chris. Lydia and Diane invited me to go along to deliver them.

While I visited with Paul and Chris in their apartment, we were beyond surprised to discover that we had a mutual connection with Bob and Betty Jacks. Bob was a truck stop owner who purchased TFC chapels for three of his truck stops (CT, PA, GA). That was in the mid-90s when Cerwin was Northeast Region Director. Paul and Bob had been coworkers and taught Bible studies together before Bob left the company to purchase his first truck stop.

This restaurant is near Roy, Deb and Barb’s house, who also wanted to meet Chris. This dinner happened because Cerwin and I were not able to attend the service following Paul’s, death.

The waitress learned that it was my birthday week and delivered my lemon meringue pie with a candle and about a half a dozen restaurant staff singing Happy Birthday.

Chris and I have a sweet connection. When I sit next to her, I wonder how I got to be 78 years old without knowing her. But for the “hand of God” we would have never met.

Deb’s photo contribution to the occasion.