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Well let’s see. I was born during the Blizzard of 1978 in Lima, Ohio. I have lived in Ohio all my life. I like it here. We have corn fields instead of oceans, overpasses instead of mountains and fog instead of smog. Sure it's not the promise land, but sometimes one doesn't need postcard worthy beauty on the outside to have it elsewhere. I'm a writer for fun, a Paralegal for profession, and while one pays the bills, one feeds my imagination, or perhaps my imagination feeds my writing...either way, Writing is as much of who I am as the color of my eyes, or the way that I smile. Blogs are great communication tools, and I'm here to communicate with YOU...yeah, you who's reading this right now....*assuming anyone's out there* *crickets chirp* Alrightee then, IF anyone should find themselves here, be it by accident or on purpose, welcome, glad to have you aboard. Throw anchor, stay awhile! Sunshine & Smiles, ~Heather Lynn~

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

A Tribute to a one of a Kind, kind of soul....Chris "Superman" Terry

Saturday night, I had a dream of Chris.  First let me say that to my recollection, I have never dreamed of Chris before now, and I have not dreamed of him since.

this was my dream:

I was in a room with chris, a all white hospital room.  I knelt at his bedside, holding his hand, with my head bowed.  The sun began to shine through the window like no other sun I'd ever experienced.  It was so bright, blindingly bright....and gloriously golden, and oh so warm.  The kind of warm that you feel from the inside out.  It became so bright that I could no longer see Chris, or myself for that matter...all that there was was the light.

Then my dream fast forwarded and I was with Melissa, and she was grieving the loss of her beloved husband, so to comfort her, I took her for a drive in my car, we drove aimlessly into the night, it was dark except for our headlights, we were out in the country, and at first we both were sitting there not saying anything, just quiet tears falling, and then, the radio came on and began to Play "Silent Night", and she and I both broke out into sobbing and rivers of tears.  That song was so so so meaningful to us in that moment, we knew it was profound, and meant for us.  We looked at each other, and our eyes were so sad, but yet, we had each other and in that we felt supported by one another....so while the feeling of heartbreak was there, there was also a feeling of love in that car as well.

Then, out of nowhere, Melissa yelled, "STOP THE CAR!" and so I came to an abrupt stop, she jumped out of the car with a hand full of Fireworks.  She ran out into a field, and she shot up into the sky the most beautiful fireworks, like the big commercial kind that boom and fill the sky like no others.....

I told this dream to Melissa yesterday, and I really really didn't want to, for how do you tell your friend whom you love so much, "hey I had a dream that your husband died"....there's just no tactful way to say that, yet she told me, "Please tell me your dream"....and with a heavy heart, I told it to her.
To my surprise, she said "I like your dream, it sounds peaceful"
And I thought immediately of the song lyrics to silent night
"All is Calm, all is Bright"
And I felt compelled to tell her those exact words
"all is calm, all is bright"
I think that is where Chris is
a place where it's calm, and it's bright.
No more in a hospital bed
No more in the darkness of Leukemia...
He's where its Calm, and Bright.


R.I.P "Superman Christopher Terry"
You will NEVER be forgotten
Until we see each other again....
and until then, hopefully you'll keep me company in my dreams.


If you ever want to know what a true hero looks like, it's not a comic book character, it's not an actor on a screen, it's THIS GUY! An American Soldier, A husband, a son, a friend. And right now, I hope you will keep him and his loving Wife Melissa Terry in your prayers. It takes a very brave soul to fight for not just our lives as a Soldier, but to have fought for his own life against Leukemia for so long. I salute you Chris Terry, with all my heart.

Last night Chris went to be with the Lord, I can't tell you how saddened I am by this news. I spoke with his wife Melissa yesterday, and if I could have dove through my phone and held her in my arms I would have. They were one of my "happy couples" you know, the ones that you KNOW GOD put on earth for one another, they loved purely, unconditionally, and now...they will love eternally. My only thought is, is perhaps GOD always knew Chris was coming to be with him sooner than the rest of us, God knew he'd need an Angel here on earth to help him through the last three years...Melissa Terry is an Earth-bound-Angel in my eyes, spared from death once herself in a horrific car accident. I lost my Aunt last week to Cancer, and we lost Chris last night to Leukemia....I will continue to pray for healing for all of us left behind, and for someone to once and for all find a cure. R.I.P Chris Terry, you were truly one of a kind, and you will never be forgotten, that much, I'm sure.






































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MY ORIGINAL POST FROM 2012
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Once upon a time, in a land far in my past, I met a girl.  She sat in front of me in Legal Research and Writing 101.  She was very unique looking I remember upon first noticing her.  She had a tattoo, wonderfully interesting eyes, and very distinct facial features.  I sat next to Kayla, my college friend who hated everyone upon first glace, and I remember Kayla making a snide comment about the girl and I felt instinctively protective of her....I wanted to protect her from anything negative, without even knowing her, I knew that one day I would.

Her name was Melissa, and a couple years later, I was a bridesmaid in her wedding!  Never even met the groom until a day or two before the big day.  His name was Chris Terry.  Upon meeting HIM, I thought to myself, so this is Melissa's Chris.  The soldier, the object of her love and devotion.....I stared at him for the longest time.

I'd heard so much about this man, I'd grown to know him through Melissa's eyes, and now I was seeing him for the first time with my own eyes....and I was curious about him.  After all, he was about to turn my dearest friend in a wife, and a soldier's wife at that!

Through the years, I've only grown more affectionate towards Chris and Melissa as a couple, and they ARE unlike any couple I've ever known.  They truly, truly know the meaning of true love.  Undying devotion, partnership, to honor, to cherish, they do all of that and more.  They have always made me proud to know them and call them my friends....no time more, than now.



You see Chris has been diagnosed with Leukemia, and is and has been fighting for his life against this aggressive disease this year.  He's a soldier, he's a son, a husband, a daddy to little fur face Burt, their pooch, he's not just guy, he's "the man"....and every time I think about the amount of courage, and strength it takes to fight for one's country....and then FIGHT for one's life....all while having a smile on his face, it makes my throat get all tight, and eyes get all watery, and my heart feels swollen and I'm overwhelmed with emotion.  It's been like this since Melissa told me the very disheartening news of the rocky road that lay ahead of them.

My Melissa is just not Chris's wife, she's his biggest supporter, she's his best friend, she's is "person"...and I know that for her, there isn't anything she wouldn't do for Chris, I think she proved that when she shaved her head to show her undying support to him:

{She is an amazing woman....absolutely endearing isn't she?}

Recently, there have been pictures surfacing on the Facebook Page that was created for Chris, it's called "Updates on Chris kicking Cancer's Butt"....Melissa has been really good about keeping us in the loop as to everything that goes on, almost AS it's going on....but here recently, the updates being posted are pictures are of people doing a push-up, holding little signs that says "Push-up for Sgt. Terry"....and again, throat tight, heart swollen, eyes watery!  This to me, is so symbolic, it's so heartfelt, that I could not help but to share it with all of you.  We are helpless to take this ailment away FOR Chris, but we CAN give him a push-UP while he's being bogged down.

For those of you who are friends with me on Facebook, I've started an Album there with the pictures so far, I would ask that should it be on your heart, to have it in you, to give my friend "Super Chris" a PUSH-UP....Go and post it there.  I fully intend to add mine as soon as I can get someone to take the picture for me.

To those who submitted pictures already, you all have hearts of gold and thank you for the support you offer Chris and Melissa, and for the inspiration you showed me....and hopefully everyone who reads this post.

Life is so short, and cancer touches so many....my Aunt Mary is also fighting the fight (Love you Aunt Mary)....so if you have the time, say a prayer for those who suffer, those who struggle, those who are in pain and those who get up each and every day and say "Not today Cancer....you're not taking me today..you're not taking me period!"

I hope these pictures touch you and offer you hope and strength and optimism and LOVE....like they did me.  In a world full of chaos, and political agenda's and everything else that stifles us, somewhere, someone's on their hands and knees/toes, giving a fellow human a push-UP!  I want to be among THESE people.









I always knew, from the first time I saw Melissa, that I would protect her in any way I could....I cannot protect her from this, but your prayers for her, for Chris, THEY have the ability to change lives, to change the world.  Keep these two amazing, WORTHY people in your prayers won't you?  And my Aunt Mary too!

Thank you very much in advance, I will forever be grateful for any support/prayers you can spare.

Sincerely,
~Heather Lynn~

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9 comments :

  1. Love this so much Heather! What a beautiful tribute to describe exactly just how amazing Chris and Melissa are!

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    1. Marci Ripley - Describing how amazing they both are is easy, saying goodbye is Oh-so hard...As a writer, I couldn't help but allowing my heart spill out into print, it's how we really get to say what's on our hearts and minds. I wanted to put out into the world, the kind of love, that Chris and Melissa have always exuded. I swear they were like magnets. Alone, they are pretty neat, and powerful enough to hold something up bigger than themselves, but together...together they were TWICE as strong, and always drawn to one another....eternally gravitating to one another....they just don't make couples like that every day....I looked up to them. And my heart aches for Melissa, when I think about how difficult it will be to go on and be her wonderful self, without him by her side.

      H.

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  2. That was amazing and so glad that you made this. There are some wonderful pictures on here. He was the best brother in law a person could ever have.

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    1. Heather,

      Yeah, if only we could all be so lucky to have brother-in-laws like Chris! He was just the type of person who would make a great addition to ANY family...I'm so sorry for your family's loss, and I hope you know just how much everyone who knew Chris will miss him. It was a privilege to of had him in our lives, no matter how long or short we got to have him.

      ((hugs))
      H.

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  3. This is amazing!...I had the opportunity to work with Chris for a short period of time. This was such a beautiful tribute to a beautiful couple!

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    1. Anonymous - thank you for the comment/reply to my blog. I'm so happy for it to be read, and for you to have appreciated it in the spirit in which it was written. I wish I could do far more than merely pay tribute....

      H.

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  4. I miss you so much "Slim', i have cried tears of grievance & of joy , of moments we shared. Thank you Heather for sharing the pictures of a friend, and a hero , that I truly admire. I will greatly miss you "Slim".
    "Old man"

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  5. All I can say is thank you so much for writing this beautiful tribute of my brother and his super amazing wife!!! His loss has affected so many from family to many friends..anyone that had contact with him feels the loss of this one of a kind man. I truly hope this tribute helps people see what kind of a man he is, the wonderful-loving-and true and honest relationship he has with Melissa and helps to inspire them to never give up, love each other truly and honestly, and do the little things to help make this world a better place to be.

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    1. Steven,

      Please don't thank me, as it was MY HONOR to have written about your brother and Melissa. And you're 100% right, to know Chris, was to love Chris. he was just one of those kind of people, that you just couldn't HELP but to like him from day ONE! I know that my friends who read my blog who did not know Chris personally were moved/touched by reading this and I sincerely hope that by reading this, Chris' memory will live on through them and through everyone who knew and loved him.

      Melissa and Chris DO make the world a better place....I believe that with all my heart.

      One thing I loved about Chris, is that he gave people the sense of BEING family...even when you weren't blood related. It was so easy to love him. I just think GOD made him that way....so we all WOULD...until the day he died, AND THEN SOME!

      Your family will remain in my prayers....

      Sincerely,
      ~HeatherLynn~

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