One of Zoe's 'rocks' was a neighbour a couple of streets away called Kerry. Kerry is a well known top class child minder, with an organised home full of toys, baby chicks hatched from eggs in a home incubator, and many children varying in age from 0-11years. The children she looks after adore her, and so did Willie and Rheanna.
Zoe would often stroll round with him to join in the enviable fun going on. It gave Zoe refuge if Willie was feeling a bit crotchety, and the au pairs were enjoying a couple of hours off. I bumped into the humble Kerry this week at a children's music group 'little quavers'. It was obvious she had no idea just how valuable her love and care was to the family during those emotional years. I remember her being a life saver on more than one occasion. Her husband often helped with odd jobs around the house for Zoe and her daughter Suzanne became an extra pair of hands on many occasions. Suzanne was crazy enough for Willie, yet responsible enough for Zoe's approval. Fun loving, caring and patient - one of God's angels called to duty. Suzanne is now married and a successful teacher.
During those last few weeks, our house became busier and busier with various visitors. One evening Joe, one of my sons life long friends popped by at 11pm. I opened the front door and followed him through the hallway. There was a guitar balanced precariously on the pile of 'objets d'art' accumulated at the bottom of the stairs. Joe stopped in his tracks and asked who it belonged to. 'It's Simons' ... Joe asked if he could play it...'yes of course you can, but please can you go in there I asked pointing to Zoe's door.
Joe looked perplexed...he was oblivious to what lie behind the closed door and gave me a quizzical look.
'Oh um they would enjoy a visit from a busker..'
Joe trepidly opened the door. I was behind him so I didn't catch the look on his face when he first saw a double bed in the room complete with a mummy lying next to her cute son propped up on a pillow.
'Willie this is Joe- one of Tom's friends and he can play guitar.. - do you have any requests?'
So at 11 o' clock at night whilst Willie was in a waking mood, God produced from nowhere it seemed...our own private busker. Joe plays guitar professionally...so no amateur busker, just the best! Awesome...I'm not sure how comfortable Joe was when he realised he was playing to a blind little boy on his way to Heaven, but the rewarding smile and enthusiastic singing along soon had Joe hooked.
Joe wasn't the only guitar playing hero on God's top ten mobile musicians...nope He also imported two New Zealanders fit for purpose. Jason and Jodie had been coming to Glendale Church for a few months when I stood at the front to share about how Willie was and what prayer requests we had for the family, and to give thanks for God's amazing ongoing provision.
Jason approached me afterwards. I was guilty of not recognising him and made that awkward
embarrassing momentous error of holding out my hand - introducing myself and asking the risque question..was he visiting Glendale for the first time. Anyone going to church regularly may be able to relate to this 'please ground swallow me up' moment when he replied "no we've been regulars for nearly a year." Ouch! How did I not notice them before? Most embarrassing. Anyway he forgave my
ignorance and asked if he could come over and visit Willie with his guitar.
Jodie and Jason visited soon afterwards, guitar in hand. They were both gifted musicians and Jodie sang beautifully to Willie when he was sleepy and he fell into a dreamy sleep. Jodie was gentle and softly spoken.
Jason was very gifted, not only in 'in house' entertainment, but he worked tirelessly afterwards for Willie's celebration of life, collating photos and videos -hundreds of them to use in the service.
I'm in awe of how God brought this awesome humble couple all the way from New Zealand to be such a Blessing to this brave little boy, and to Zoe and Rheanna.
Willie was enthralled and captivated by Jason and Jodie's talents. He was even more excited as Jason also mentioned he had a motorbike. Jason arrived a couple of days later...on a Kawasaki 1500 - for those not familiar with bikes..this one was big..very big...and very noisy. Willie virtually ran towards the motorbike when we opened the door and told him Jason had arrived. He put his small hands out to caress the mean machine. Clambering aboard his grin couldn't have been any bigger.
When. Jason helped him turn the key and the engine roared into life, I stepped backwards as the noise was immense. I was waiting for the neighbours to run around to see what was going on. Zoe grimaced, Willie laughed and laughed whilst twisting the handlebar making it roar louder than an aeroplane flying low overhead.
Zoe worried it may be a bit too noisy for Willie, Willie worried that Jason would take him off of it to soon.
As the mean machine throbbed beneath him, you could see he was imagining riding through the streets, beaming smiles evidence of a dream achieved. No space for a headache from his tumour in those awesome moments, just sheer pleasure beyond his wildest dreams. Jason was amazing, letting him rev the throttle time and again. What joy he bought to that little boy that day. God knew, we didn't . I would never had thought that would have been on Willie's bucket list.
Jason realised how much Willie loved being on the bike and suggested Zoe should take him to Jason's
and Jodie's house so he could have a ride down the private lane. A couple of weeks later we took Jason up on his offer. We travelled south of Newbury, Willie full of anticipation...so excited. After a quick cup of tea, Willie dragged us by the hand back outside....Jason got on the front, me on the back and Jodie picked Willie up and put him in the middle - sandwiched tightly between us. I put my arms either side of him and held onto Jason......arghhhhhhhhhhhh I shrieked as Jason put it into full throttle and this 'mass hoovis' 1500 mean machine did a virtual wheelie as we took off at top speed...yay Willie was shouting and laughing...arghhhhhhhhhhh I was screaming like a baby, scared out of my wits...and realising that the emergency bag was back at the car.
Jason swerved fast round the lane swishing this way and that. I was convinced we were going to be mushed into a tree. We had no helmets between us. Willie was so tightly sandwiched between my wide short body and Jason's fairly big torso I felt he wouldn't spin off anywhere. However I didn't rate our chances if we smashed into a tree...I consoled myself by thinking at least we would go to
Heaven together. Zoe would approve of my dedication to duty on that one.
It was the first time Willie had been more than 10 foot from the emergency bag, going 30mph on a motorbike round bendy narrow lanes without a helmet. Carefree and adventurous - the perfect ride ...Willie kept shouting with glee loving it, I was still pooing my pants. Zoe and Jodie videod it all. This poignant footage was used at the end of Willies celebration of life. We played it to 'Ground control to Major Tom' ...Willies favourite song of all times...the lyrics appropriately pouring out whilst Willie waved goodbye on Kawasaki 1500 to his family and friends...incredible day, incredible memories and incredible footage.
Shortly afterwards Jason and Jodie had to return to New Zealand...the mission of those two angels in England complete. It was this moment that capped all moments, the icing on the cake. A cake made from so many delightful ingredients on this final lap...a finale to a life well lived, a program I believe put together by The Master, The a God of The universe who cares, who really does care about the small details, with plans for this final chapter beyond our ideas, beyond Willies wildest dreams...Amazing Grace...How sweet the sound.
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