Just a small town girl, livin' in a lonely world

She took the midnight train going anywhere

Just a city boy, born and raised in South Detroit

He took the midnight train going anywhere

REDUX (I didn’t write the earlier version of this section!) Mary:

You all know me.

I love God, and I love this wonderful man he sent to me.

I was determined that I would NOT marry “unless Jesus Christ comes down to this planet and points at someone”.

I made my “list” in April 2017. It started with a psalm and ended with a prayer. In between were all the qualities I felt were important or desirable in a potential partner - if God was ever going to call me into marriage. Richard has never seen the list but he knows about it.

These were my non-negotiables:

** Catholic – I want to worship, receive Eucharist, adore the Blessed Sacrament, and pray with my husband.

** On fire for God. Loves Jesus. Loves His Church and Her teachings. Pro-Life. Puts God first. An ACTS brother (???) would be a bonus so we can serve in ministry together.

** Understands and practices his proper role as head of the faith in our household. Keeps me accountable. Helps me get to Heaven. A good steward of money and other material blessings. Honors me.

** Conservative/Libertarian. Not militant, but aware and not willfully ignorant. Pro-Life!!

** Emotionally mature and available, vulnerable, open, honest, trustworthy, not jealous. Confident and trusts me to love him. (Isn’t threatened by all my church activities.)

The other items on the list were the “these would be awfully nice” items. Things like sense of humor, smarter than me, romantic, likes to travel, and more.

Y’all. Richard has checked off everything on this list. And I never saw it/him coming. God knows us better than we know ourselves.

After the prayer at the end of my list, I wrote “Amen”. And then…

“P.S. no blonds”

God is HILARIOUS. He gives us what we NEED even when we didn’t know we needed a towhead blond!

I’m looking forward to spending all my days with Richard and loving his and Joan’s babies and grandbabies.

And we are so thankful for all your prayers and support. ♥️

Richard:

Richard is not really a city boy nor is he taking the midnight train; he grew up in Friendswood, Texas. Most of his public transportation modes are toll roads and an occasional light rail or airplane trip. Very little of his travel happens after 9pm; none of his trains depart at midnight.

Richard does have 4 children and 5 beautiful grandchildren.

-Andrew Lewis & wife Chaillie have 4 children of their own: Fletcher, Bennett, Ellowyn, and Gianna.

-Jack Hixon and wife Ali have a child Philip.

-Helen Hixon is a Texas A&M graduate & nursing student.

-Hazel Hixon is a Texas A&M student.

His best man is his favorite brother Ed Hixon who is married to Nanc and they hail from Wisconsin. Their daughter Rachel attends Colorado Christian University.

Richard's parents are Dave Hixon & his wife Helen; both have passed away.