Don Parker little did he know my eyes were lit up following him all the way through school. I sat behind Don Parker in 5th grade. Don never knew it , but I liked him . We both attended Community Baptist Church, the same Teen youth group, We had wonderful youth leaders, Jim and Judi Elmquist. we both attended Good News Camp, Joy Baptist Church Camp, I watched him from afar... We both dated others in our youth group. (Our freshman year Don's Mom even ask Don if ever considered dating Darlene Odoerfer? ) Don had a different group of friends that he hung out with at school than I did back than... I remember special meetings though at Church it was fill the pew night and by golly Don got everyone of those friends on a dare to come out for that contest that would never ever darkened the door of a regular Church service. And guess what? They heard the Gospel! Don grew up with a heart for lost souls. His Dad would tell the story of how even Joe down the street loved to see Don's concern for his soul. After graduation Don got thinking on his list of what he wanted in a life mate, he dropped his girl friend, He showed interest in dating me. To be ask out by Don Parker was so beyond special. I was so excited Don Parker ask me out!!! Well I was dating another guy too! So I had a decision to make to be fair and not date both guys at the same time. Both guys got together and had a talk. I was sitting on the swing at the Croswell River bend Park. I was praying that God would show me which guy he wanted me to continue to date by the one that walked across that swinging bridge would be God's choice. I was also going up high on the swing singing for the fun of it...I hear those Church Bells ringing...won't ya marry me at the top of my lungs... Well...there was just enough daylight left that I could see a guy walking across the swinging bridge and it was a guy I could tell that I had already seen pushing up his rolled up sleeves before! it was Don Parker! ...I was excited! because in my heart I wanted it to be him that walked across that bridge that day! Even though I hated to hurt the other guy...oh well...Don ask me out on a date I was in awe! I had heard of what Don expected of a girl from his cousin, I wanted to do everything just right for this guy. He was such a gentleman opening the door that day for me. He started off our date with reading scripture from his Bible. So of course I had to move over in the middle to see the words in his Bible. Neat! Sneaky guy! Lol!! I think he had that all planned! One date Don took me out to Rick's Heidelberg Restaurant in Clinton Twp. Along the way Don surprised me with a pre-engagement ring. He shared with me what he had prayed at what he had in his mind of what he liked in a girl that he wanted to marry and settle down and have a family with. Then he said that with us as we were dating everything just clicked.. From than on we enjoyed driving around Croswell and Lexington looking at trailers and houses together. Not even knowing for sure how we were going to afford it. I remember walking around the Macomb Mall with him & when we came back out to get in the car ...Don ask if he could kiss me? I said yes...and this was our first kiss. Across the bridge to Canada and back across the Ambassador bridge we were an item! 
September 1972 I was sitting on the picnic table at River Bend Park and Don ask me to marry him & this is when he gave me my engagement ring. Than Don while working at Mueller Brass was drafted into the service to eventually join the Army National Guards. I was working as a Dental Assistant. Boy did I miss him...I stayed busy writing him every day and he wrote me back every day. I have all of Don's letters and cards he gave me to sit down and read one day soon . We saved all of our money for a down payment on our first home during this time . October 6th, 1973 I married my best friend, Donald Robert Parker the love of my life at Community Baptist Church by Rev. Milton Endean. Married to the same man 43 years. On one of our wedding cards that we received we claimed all these years, Don & Darlene both for the Lord , both for each other. As a newly married couple Don & I purchased our first home at 9 Nims Street in Croswell. (Don's grandparents home.) In 1978 moved to 121 Gaige Street, Croswell. Both homes we enjoyed having the Ladies group over, teens over, Missionaries in our home. I loved my husband, our children, Deana, Doug, David. I loved working along side my husband striving to build a Christ centered home asking God what would have us do together next? We Both served as Awana Directors when first married, served together in Jr. Church, Good News Club, CBC Teen Directors 15 years. Many Saturdays Don thought to have a teen activity at CBC with a devotion that worked good for the kid off the street that wouldn't come on Sunday. We set up & had fun out on my Uncle Neal's farm a ride on the hay wagon got you back to the Old haunted house. Hobo Happening was a big hit back than begging from the neighbors in town to fill our big black pot to add all the fresh vegetables we collected from there gardens or even canned vegetables worked to make the best Hobo Stew . Don took work off to drive teens to Bob Jones University college days drove all night with boxes of Pizza and candy bars. Oh yes than there was the Harvest Fest Don even got dunked in the dunking tank. Many trips to Camp Co be ac with the teens. Introduced the Pro-teens Program, Positive Action for Christ by Frank Hamrick. During Don's down time at GM Truck & Bus for 2 weeks our vacation time was spent for years with Neighborhood Bible Time Program. Darlene loved to teach Nursery SS and play the piano. Pre-School with Mrs. Endean. Don drove the Church bus picking up lots of kids. This also was a time to watch our own kids, Deana, Doug, David grow up during all those years. We enjoyed taking the teens to Sandusky, Yale, Port Huron Nursing Home Ministry. Don preaching, leading singing and Darlene played the piano. We loved singing duets together at nursing home ministry and at Church. Served together on Missionary Committee . Darlene as Secretary...Don President we loved planning banquets together even Mother and Daughter banquets. Don started Men for Missions. As Don served as trustee we planned activities in the Church together. Homemade Soups and Homemade Finger Sandwiches were a big hit for New Years Eve. So the last part of Don busy still at work I was a Challenge leader and mentor to ladies in both Reformer Unanimous Addiction Program and Setting Captives Free Program. Prayer Captain , loved to help decorate for Bible School , Our kids grew up helping us with this and that. But yes there were down times. Don very sick with walking Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis in his Lungs, kidney stones on both sides, almost lost him . We claimed for our life verse together Isaiah 26:3-4 Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. Sarcoid haunted two times again in Don's kidneys, liver. Don's heart murmur that he was born with was a real blessing that it overshadowed in silence for our 43 years of marriage until October 26th, 2016 congested heart. Tests showed a new heart valve was needed . That day before Don left for surgery I gave him the last big long kiss and told him to hang on to our life verse. He handed me his wedding ring and off he went at 7:20 AM. By 7:40 am we were told there would be no surgery today because of complications. The Dr. would be out soon to explain. It seemed like an eternity of waiting. The Dr. came in at 8:20pm to tell my daughter, Deana & I that Don had gone into cardiac arrest and never got to surgery. December 8th, 2016.  Months,  Days, 1 Hours,  Minutes and  Seconds ago, My lover . best friend Donald Robert Parker, God's love letter to me was returned to the sender. Our love we shared can never be destroyed. God has a plan for my life, and he has given me this time to draw close to Him so I will be ready for that plan. God’s love is a safe love. I know he will hold me in his comforting arms . He will never leave me. A passionate love affair with an all loving God can fill the empty space in my life. In his infinite wisdom, God knows my every need. He is sufficient for that need, and as my relationship with Him grows, I can be His channel to express love and let my light so shine. Many people are hurting and need a friend. I believe God can use me to be that friend. I want to one day to be able to re-channel Don's Joy back into my life. So far I have learned that I can laugh and cry at the same time. I now depend on God to be a great source of strength within me. How I live my life from this day forward is the greatest tribute I can give to my man. Love never goes away.