In Genesis 2:18, “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” God did a fine work in both of them. They lovingly made each other strong…they filled each other’s blank places. Just like God intended.

Farrar & Andy were married 65 years. Mother was a 20-year-old city girl (Carlisle, Arkansas) when she married 22-year-old farm boy, Andy. The first few years they lived with Jake & Jenny (my grandparents) in the farmhouse grandpa & dad built. The first thing mother learned was, farmers eat a lot! She told me, “Robert, Grandma & I would get up very early, get the wood stove going and start making biscuits & pies…I’ve never seen people eat so much.” She then went on, “the men would go feed & milk the cows, feed chickens & gather the eggs while we prepared a large breakfast. With every meal we had at least one pie.” “I would prepare 5 meat sandwiches for your dad to take to the field.” This would become one of mother’s signature attributes. She loved “fixin’” for the people she loved.

Harvest was a special time. When the crop was ready & the weather was right, nothing was more important. No time could be spared. So, on Sunday mother would come home from church and make lunch (we called it dinner) and take it to the field. This was not a sandwich or a quickly thrown together meal. No! It was pot roast, potatoes, beans, bread, lots of fresh sweet tea and of course, one of mother’s incredible pies or cakes…substance. Farrar loved her Andy.

In the future I will tell more of these “Helpmate” stories, but for my brother & me, God Blessed us with two parents that were made for each other. Thank you, Lord.