2009 Caribbean Cruise Contestant A

Ron and Diane from Cedar Rapids

Susan shared:
"This couple has spent their entire lives in service to others. Here is my personal experience. Seventeen years ago I worked for Ron as his administrative assistant on a construction job here in cedar rapids. After 6 months the plant was built and he and his crew were moving on. I had become pregnant with our first and planned on being a homeschooling/stay at home mom so the timing was perfect. Jump ahead 17 years: my husband filed for divorce. Here I was, single mom of 5, whose only job for the past 17 years was teaching her children and piano students on the side. Suddenly I needed more income! That's when I contacted Ron and Diane after all those years, for a letter of reference and resume advice. What I received in return was truly from heaven above. You see, about 3 weeks later the flood of 2008 arrived literally at my doorstep. With 6 feet of water in my first floor and nothing moved to higher ground, due to the fact I had out patient surgery on the very day we evacuated! I lost everything. Ron and Diane took in me, my five children, one dog and four cats without hesitation. They wouldn't take any money for rent, utilities, food and always had bucks to spare when it came to the childrens' needs. Diane became their surrogate mom, helping with homework, carting them around, teaching them lessons of life, cooking EVERY dinner for us for an entire YEAR, made sure we had birthday parties for all the kids complete with presents, made sure we had a special holiday season by cooking fabulous Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, again complete with presents, while my fiance and I poured all our money and time into rebuilding the house. Ron easily stepped into the father role with my boys, taking them fishing, teaching them how to drive the riding lawn mowers, working together on other yard projects out in their 2 acres, and other "guy stuff". Without their help and support I really don't know where we would be today - surely not in this beautiful home that has emerged from the mucky waters of the Cedar River. Imagine never being able to have children of your own and suddenly in your 50's to be surrounded by 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 year olds. Not to mention their 3 dogs and 1 cat blending with our 1 dog and 4 cats! AND let's not forget, they allowed me to continue teaching piano in their home which created even MORE traffic in and out of what used to be a quiet and peaceful abode! Ron was laid off the end of January 2009 and still they never asked for a penney. He is still unemployed to this day. We moved in June 10, 2008, and moved out June 12, 2009. They are truly an example of God's grace, patience, mercy, goodness and love."

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