End of an Era

* First of all, I spent most of yesterday glued to news of Irma's landfall. Continuing to pray for all of you affected directly and indirectly by her arrival. I saw on Saturday that the entire Siesta Key Island (where we were married) had been evacuated. Anxious to see how our beloved wedding sanctuary fared.

* Secondly, September 11th is one of those days that always gets me in the gut. I usually spend the day watching ALL the documentaries, even though they're the same ones I saw last year and the year before that. Though I didn't personally know anyone who died that day, my heart is always tender toward the thousands who experienced loss from those events, and today is no different.

And now...on to today's blog!

Some of you already know this news (from Facebook) but this past Friday, my dear Lynne Ford announced her retirement (taking effect at the end of this month) and the subsequent end of Mid-Morning.

If you're new to the blog, you might have no idea what I'm talking about, but most of you probably do. After all, Mid-Morning was how I met many of you! For those of you who don't know, I spent four years working at a Christian radio station in Fort Wayne, and I was the producer for Mid-Morning, which was their locally produced daily talk show. Lynne was the host, and the two of us formed a strong friendship during those four years!


I loved working at WBCL, I loved Mid-Morning, and of course, it's dear to Ryan and me especially, because that was where he proposed to me! Live on the air, right there in the 10 a.m. hour.

So today, I wanted to pay tribute to Lynne and the time we shared together on Mid-Morning. And of course, I feel the best way to do that is through pictures. Enjoy:

The friendship began this day, when a shy little self-published author from Marion trekked to Fort Wayne for a ten-minute radio interview about her book. Best choice ever.

Because eight months later, that little author became a staff member. And she gained a new, everyday friend in Lynne.

(This photo was from our station photo shoot about a week into the job. We barely knew each other, and yet this is our favorite picture from the day, because it shows how easily that friendship came to us.)

And from there? It was just fun. (Please note that not all events, hair colors, cuts and weight extremes are featured in order.)

Sharing air time with Ken Church during Share. (See what I did there?)

Lynne and I always shared an office. And by that, I mean, we shared an office with a lot of books. Lynne will forever be my hero for the number of books she can read (and comprehend) in the shortest amount of time. Seriously. Until you see it, you just don't get it.

Lynne went to great lengths to draw me out of my shy little shell. It's too bad it didn't work.

Another thing I appreciate about Lynne is her dedication to being a prayer warrior. She has prayed over me (in person and apart from me) MANY times, which is why this photo is so valuable to me. This was my WBCL bridal shower, and she prayed for me that evening. So glad my mother-in-law peeked during prayer to capture this!

In which we try on children's bike helmets. Because why not?

We were parade buddies on more than one occasion. The first year I walked in the Three Rivers Festival parade, I shared the banner carrying duties with Larry Bower. He's over six feet tall. I had to carry my end practically under my chin. (And that is one LONG parade.) Lynne and I were better banner equals. :)

I remember working this event with Lynne! It was a women's expo, and at the end of the day, when things slowed down, she basically dared me to accept the invitation of the nearby vendor to try the "amazing" lipstick. Yeah. It's more like lip STAIN and it never leaves. EVER. Neon orange lips for DAYS. And she laughed.

Lynne is known for her beloved big floppy hat. So I got one too, just so I could be cool like Lynne. Somehow I just look like the copycat version. Lynne wins!

Our road trip to Granville, Ohio, where we stayed in the most darling hotel and got to witness the "SUPERCALM" bride with her entourage at breakfast. Know what that bride most certainly was NOT? Any kind of calm.

Oh how I loved our BLT show. Lynne saw potential in me to have broadcasting abilities beyond what I knew I could offer. This was my favorite part of my Mid-Morning years. We had something special in this show!

Working concerts together was always a treat. We didn't often get to do that, but when we did, we made the most of it.

Even backstage, when I'm sure we were supposed to be paying RAPT attention. (To the stage.)

If ever there would have been a fling ring contest, she would have won. I'm so sorry to everyone who was EVER in my throwing path. I stunk.

Share (the annual fundraiser, if you don't know) was always a long and exhausting week. Lynne was AMAZING at her on-air work during Share. The last year I was there, she missed Share because of her dad's death, and they allowed me to try my hand at what she did. I didn't have anywhere close to her skill, but I certainly had learned from her. And I was one scared/grateful girl that week.

Road tripping through the back roads of Michigan to speak at a church!

That was a fun night. BLT live on the road!

And our fun extenced to the whole staff. Not just the two of us. These were VERY fun ladies!

My last event was bittersweet. Daddy Daughter Date Night, 2015. On decorating day, I wanted pictures with all the ladies. Couldn't believe my own time there was coming to an end and had no idea hers would be soon to follow!

Ha! Right after a photo of the end of our era, here's one from near the beginning. Cooking adventures at Lynne. This was actually a selfie. And obviously I had not considered that a side profile wasn't doing either of us any favors. (I'm not being mean to Lynne there...if you ever heard us on air, you heard our big nose stories!)

Almost twinsies!

Working Waynestock. This was right before my oral surgery, and I just wanted to get through the days and get that thing DONE. Lynne was so good at keeping me distracted.

Road tripping again! I think this was to the Jennifer Rothschild event in Ohio.

Dedication of the Habitat for Humanity house. I was two weeks post-gallbladder here!

The adventures were many, but one of my most favorite memories was the day of Ryan's proposal. Lynne told a few (ahem) white lies to pull that off. And I appreciate every one of them/ 

Lynne, we both love you, and we are excited for your new chapter. (Perhaps you won't have to read quite so many chapters IN this chapter!) Thank you for all you taught me, and thank you for being such a champion of Shafferland. I am grateful to have had the chance to work with you, but I'm also grateful for the opportunity to have been part of Mid-Morning's legacy. What an honor!

Thank you for all you have done for me, for us, and for the MILLIONS who have listened to you over the years and learned from your grace and wisdom.

Many blessings!

Ryan and Bekah