Two weeks ago Wednesday, I received a message from a friend telling me to call him about Landon. In that instant, even though you KNOW you are praying you don't really know. Last Wednesday, my dear friend, Landon Wiseman passed away. I walked in the house in a shock and told my mom not even thinking that my kids were right there, but in those few moments I got to tell sweet Macie and Weston that a friend went to see Jesus. There is so much comfort in knowing that without a doubt Landon is now with our Heavenly Father.
After 8 years of being gone, I was going home to Friona, a place I called home until I married and moved to the DFW area with Zack. So as we drove the drive, I was in awe of the beauty of seeing for miles and miles. One might argue that flat land isn't beauty but unless you have lived it and know what is behind those miles, maybe you can't truly appreciate it. We passed field after field, tractors in the fields, farmers working, towns we traveled to for sporting events, and homes we recognized. As we got closer to home, I couldn't help but thinking those were the fields my friend plowed. As we passed Landon's parents' home right before we got to the overpass (and I say the overpass because if you live in Friona you know exactly where I am talking about), I thought back to the memories, I shared with Landon and our group of friends. Then it was only fitting to look at the steeple of our church and know that Landon and I started a friendship around 31 years ago because our parents met and became friends there at the First Baptist Church. So in the pain of losing Landon, the steeple reminded me that God is in control of all things.
I always knew I would go back to Friona at some point and have hoped to take my kids there some day so they can see where I enjoyed my childhood. I always knew Landon would be the friend that I would go home to see. Instead of seeing him, I was able to celebrate his life with an overflowing filled church of people who loved him and his family. In those hours of being back with the people I have known for so long and the church family I grew up with, I was honored to be a fellow Friona citizen. The people of Friona are one of a kind. They love, support, help raise/guide the children, celebrate triumphs, send off their college students, gift engaged couples, and grieve together. So what if it is a small town with only a Dairy Queen and little entertainment other than sporting events or that most often everyone knows everyone's business...Friona is made of a special set of people that I am blessed to know.
My friend, Landon, was also one of a kind. Some of my earliest memories are of us playing behind his first house in his backyard. We were swinging off a truck/camper canopy thing. I remember swinging on his swing set. I also remember playing chase in front of the church, picking clovers under the tree, and eyeing the desserts in the Fellowship Hall as soon as church dismissed. We wanted to be sure and get the best one. I remember him playing at my house and me getting the hidden key, opening the gun case, and looking at my dad's guns. We started kindergarten together in Mrs. Jarboe's class. Through the years, we remained friends. After homeschooling, Landon started 7th grade with us again. We had Texas history and I remember helping him cover his book because he wasn't quite sure how. Junior High turned into high school and all along the way, we remained friends going to church and youth group together, and hanging out with our group of friends after football games. On Sundays especially my junior and senior year, he would save me a seat on the back row of the church because the girls let out later than the boys. I still remember exactly where he parked his pick up each Sunday and where I parked my car (the "cool" way). I also remember one time I had a rough day at school and had my feelings hurt. He came over to lend support and be a friend. Finally, I remember a pretty big hug as we departed for college. Throughout college, we kept in touch and saw each other when we were home. Then came the exciting news of engagements, marriage, and our children. He and I always shared the ups and downs of life and sometimes discussed some of that "Friona gossip."
Landon was very passionate about the things he believed in and as that was mentioned at his funeral all laughed because they knew that Landon was very vocal about conservative views, gun control, and all that is "wrong with this world." I think that is a pretty good trait to have because in this day and age the liberal side of the world seems to say all they want to say but conservative views seemed to be frowned on. Landon was a tell it like it is guy.
A special memory I with cherish when thinking of Landon was at his funeral. I took my Kinsley into the nursery(that I remember so clearly hiding in at our G.A lockins) and his Kinsley was in there. I told her that my Kinsley had the same name and I talked to her daddy about it before my Kinsley was born. She smiled and was very kind to Kinsley. I like to think that Landon was smiling down watching our girls meet.
Although all who knew and loved Landon with miss him tremendously, there is peace in knowing he is HOME. As the Carrie Underwood song says, "This is our temporary home." Landon is now in our eternal home with a Father that loves him more than we can possibly imagine. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18.
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