Chatting with Charles
Charles and I would communicate often throughout the day. It was one of the benefits of owning a business; he was the boss. His office was also about 30 seconds from our home, so that made it nice for lunchtime visits, and quick trips home during the day when he had a free moment. Charles and I were communicators; we were always talking, and dreaming, and planning out the future. It made our relationship fun and exciting.
We were lucky to be together so often. In our entire married life, the longest we were parted was maybe 5 days. We just enjoyed each other, a lot. After the end of the 5 days apart, Charles begged me to never leave him that long again. It was adorable. I am sure glad we have a forever in front of us to spend together. We have been apart now for way longer than 5 days, and he just better be prepared for the smooching that is coming his way when I see him again.
Back in the day -- when he was still mortal -- we would often send messages back and forth, via email messaging. The little green light would show up if he was online, and it was so nice to always have that connection with him. I sure miss that. I sure miss chatting with Charles. He was just the greatest best friend, ever.
The other day I clicked on the little message box with his name on it, and I saw: "Charles isn't on Hangouts right now. He'll see your messages later." (See above photo.) When I saw that, it made my heart flutter a little. I wished so badly that I could just type some thoughts his way, and receive a response from him. Wouldn't that be nice, if you could instant message people in Heaven? Someone needs to work on the technology to make that possible. Te, he.
That little green light has been off for more than a year, but his name is still there on my list. I just cannot erase him from my contacts. Oh, how I wish he could respond to my messages. I have so many questions for him. I have so many ideas and dreams to share with him. I could really use his advice about so many things. *Sigh.*
One day, there will be another kind of light -- not a green one, but maybe a very white bright light -- and I will be able to chat with Charles forever.
Thank goodness.
I have loads to share with him! Whew! I am guessing he has loads to share with me too!
I can't wait to hear what he has been doing with his life. I am sure it is exciting!
I thought you might enjoy a peek into some of our past conversations. This was messaging from about 2 weeks before he died. You can see that we could feel that some sort of change was coming, we just did not know what it was...
Tuesday, March 18, 2014 10:11 AM

mari van ormer
Are you doing OK? Hang tight through the day and then come home as early as you can and rest some more.10:11 AM
Charles van Ormer
I'm really tired, but not in as much pain. I probably won't make it home until 5:00 PM.
Mail has been sent.
mari van ormer
OK. Just take it easy. Love you.
Charles van Ormer
I will do my best.
mari van ormer
I looked at your letters, and they look good. There are a few minor corrections to be made. And it does not fit on one page….
Charles van Ormer
Right. I'll fix that. Send an email. This will disappear and I can't bring it up until you message me again.
mari van ormer
Emailed… done. Finished mail in mailbox.
Charles van Ormer
Awesome. Thanks Mari. I love you.
mari van ormer
And one day, you will know how much I truly, deeply, love you. :-)
Charles van Ormer
I know that already.
mari van ormer
Nope… but one day, you will know…
Charles van Ormer
Well, something to look forward to then.
mari van ormer
Indeed. So I keep getting advice to look for houses outside of our "comfort zone"… how do you feel about that?
Unless you need to go, I will leave you alone...
Charles van Ormer
It depends on how far outside our comfort zone. If it's not SE Boise then it's going to have to be another state. I am afraid SE Boise is not about comfort. It really is the only decent neighborhood in Boise.
mari van ormer
I have also been offered advice to pray where we can be best used to build the kingdom...
Charles van Ormer
That actually feels like sound advice.
Charles van Ormer
Alaska here we come!
mari van ormer
The world is just so big… I think we can be useful anywhere we go. Are we "needed" here or there, or are we just needed wherever we happen to be? I tend to lean towards the latter….
Charles van Ormer
I think we tend to make ourselves useful wherever we are. However, I do believe God does know where we might be most needed. However, do you really want to live there? I imagine dangerous inner cities or 3rd world countries.
mari van ormer
Or west Boise… *shudder*.
Charles van Ormer
Pretty much the same thing.
mari van ormer
But Spokane… now there is a place that we could be useful… just think of all the law students we could have over to our home for dinner, or bring them food, etc….
Charles van Ormer
I think so. We know the in's and out's of law school survival. We can help them get in and out with a little more ease than what we had.
mari van ormer
So… 1. We WANT to move to Spokane. 2. We could be very useful/helpful to people there (for many reasons). 3. There is a temple there. 4. The houses are what we are looking for. 5. We cannot find ANYTHING in Boise we like. 6. I am going to pray my heart out for that job. 7. We are going to move to Spokane. :-)
Charles van Ormer
Well, well, aren't we little miss optimism today. I look forward to seeing what your prayers can do.
mari van ormer
I left my heart in Spokane, and I would like to reclaim it.
Charles van Ormer
I know what you mean. It may be time to go back. It reminded me of Alaska. The membership was a little more rugged and spread out. I like that.
mari van ormer
If there was ever a time we needed help it was in law school, and it would have been so nice to have someone put their arm around us and say it was going to be ok… or at least tell us what we could be doing to survive… I had some really great church experiences there, especially in the first ward. It is less saturated there, and I like that too.
Charles van Ormer
Well, we want to be where the Lord want's us to be. Let's pray for that, huh?
mari van ormer
Yes, let's pray that the Lord wants us to be in Spokane. ;-)
Charles van Ormer
There may actually be a better place in the world than Spokane. But I would not mind it, I think.
mari van ormer
Nope, pretty sure there is not a better place.
Charles van Ormer
Well, there you have it.
mari van ormer
My dreams take me back there…and in very real ways. This last trip we took I spent time by myself in the upper room of that house, just crying, and feeling deeply. I longed for my home, the place that has felt the most like home to me. It is something in the air there: the trees, the smells, the cobblestone, the history, the houses, the parks. We were so blessed to have happened upon the South Hill. I have to believe that God had us drive up that hill for a reason -- He knew we would be so much happier there, than down by the tracks. We made our plans, they were all messed up, and resown in a much better way for us. May God guide us in such a way again…
Charles van Ormer
I have no doubt that he will, and probably more quickly than he should. I will do my best to be worthy of whatever he has in store for us. I can feel it coming, can't you?
mari van ormer
The song "I will go, I will do, the things the lord commands" is playing right now. If we are needed in Spokane, you will get the job. Yes, I can very much feel change brewing… it is exciting!
I did a google map street view walkthrough on our little house, and just looking at the streets and the beautiful trees has me drooling…
Charles van Ormer
drooling? I'll let it slide.
mari van ormer
So beautiful…so beautiful. It is all about the trees. And the hill. It was like life elevated.
Charles van Ormer
Yes, it was. It was nice.
I really love Charles posts. :) Thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteLoved reading your conversation! So cute but real. I can't wait until you two can be together again and catch up on things and smooch:)
ReplyDeletethat was a fun little conversation....and you know i share your sentiments about spokane to a T!! Love ya!!
ReplyDeleteDear Mari, On the date of your last blog, July 11, you spent a small part of that day at an open house in Pier Pointe and shared your story with the husband and wife who were hosting the sale on behalf of his deceased mother. During your visit, you took note of a piano in the living room and asked if it was for sale. It still is not for sale, but I want to talk to you about it. If you wouldn't mind, please look up the house on Zillow.com and send me a note or call via the contact info there. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Mari, Michael again. I forgot to add, if you'd prefer, it's perfectly fine to have an intermediary contact me and I can share with him or her about the piano. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love that "he will see your messages later". You know he will. Even Star Trek hasn't figured out how to get Typed messages back From Heaven. :) thank you for sharing this conversation with Charles. Precious and fun.
ReplyDelete