Carolyn Reding

"I could not ask for more"

My story begins and ends with my children.

I was born in March of 1955 to one of the strongest women in the world, her name was Lorene, she raised me, my brother and one sister to be strong independent people, not only did she do this to the best of her ability, she did it alone until she married my true father when I was eight years old, his name was Ruel Adair Hodges, that is also when they gave me my brother Millard Adair who would later give me my nephews and my first and only name sake Karolynn.

I was very young when I married. I was seventeen years old and on my way. No matter what happened in my marriage whether it was good or bad it began the most important, greatest joy that I have ever known, first with a son and then with my daughter, John and Lori and once again my life began. "I could not ask for more".

I became a nurse when I was nineteen years old and dedicated the next 30 years to the comfort and healing of others, I can only hope and pray that my efforts and pride were felt over the years by my patients and their families. In 1989 I opened my nursing home (Carols House)in which I served my community for the next eleven years.

In the year of 1997 my first grandchild was born, it is a feeling that you can not know nor describe until you have felt it and again my life began and "I could not ask for more". I am now the proud grandmother of seven. John Jr, Billy, Destiny, Dakota, Delaney, Kaitlyn and Hailey.

In the year of 1999 my husband and father to my children passed away and for the first time in many years I was on my own, I began a journey that many twists, turns and bumps in the road. I got to know my children as adults and learned that I had made two of my best friends in them. My daughter and I created so many memories that helped me know who I was and who I was becoming as a person. In my son I found a sense of myself that I had not had before, he makes me laugh all the time.

In 2004 I found myself in Tennessee with my children when I met my soulmate and true life partner, his name is Rickie Reding. There are so many things we have done and tried togather that I did not even realise exsited, from sitting on the side of a creek watching deer run down a mountain too taking the long road trips listening to music and enjoying each others company, it is the first time in my life that i have felt I could be with this person forever and it is truly unconditional, I know to find a love like this is very rare and I have been so blessed in this short time to have been able to experience happiness at the end of my journey and that love will be there forever. "I could not ask for more"