We did it!
Today we hit 1000 Likes on our Facebook Fan Page!
Thank you to everyone for “liking” us and “sharing” us with your Facebook Friends!
But of course, the way things have been going with this journey, this achievement couldn’t just happen.
There has to be something special to go along with it!
WARNING
Grab a “hankie”- you are going to need it with this one!
After work, I ran over to the hair salon to get my hair trimmed. I arrived a few minutes early so I was sitting in my car checking my email really quick. While I was doing that, I received a call. I didn’t recognize the area code, but I went ahead and answer it. The conversation went a little like this:
Me: “Hello“
Gentleman: “Hi, is this Michelle Darnell?”
Me: “Yes“
Gentleman: “Hi Michelle. I was just calling to see if you have a room available for this weekend. I would like to bring my wife up to stay.”
Me: “Aw, I am so sorry, but we don’t open until May 1st. But we would love to have you both come up then.”
Gentleman: “Oh I see. Well, we can do that. I had gotten your card from you at the hospital and wanted to see if we could come.”
Me: “Which hospital?”
Gentleman: “Chesapeake Regional.”
Me: “May I ask your name?”
Gentleman: “Guy“
With that I knew who this was. If you have been following our blog for a while you already know. But for those who have just joined us let me fill you in. Back in early November, I received a call that my mother was in the emergency room. By later that evening, she was up in ICU and having a pacemaker put in. By the next day, she had had a massive stroke. Seems that she had been walking up a flight of stairs and fell and knocked up her knee really bad. That was a Friday night. By Saturday she was found wondering the apartment complex where she and my step father lived. By Sunday, three blood clots had broken loose. One traveled to her heart and two traveled to both sides of her brain. By Monday, we knew that she wasn’t doing well. She was blind, couldn’t speak, and couldn’t move. After consulting with the doctor, we knew there was no hope. Two days later we had her moved to another floor and the pacemaker removed. Seven days later, she passed away. Just two days before Thanksgiving. The following Monday, we had her funeral. One week later, it was her birthday. One month later, it was Christmas.
During the time we were at the hospital, we came into connect with so many wonderful people. Some we only saw once or twice. But there were those that seemed to just be there at every turn. Guy was one of those people. He had come in to help with the IV that gave our mother the pain medicine to make this last journey a little easier. We would later bump into him in the hall and as we got on or off the elevator. He always listened and asked us about mom. He just seemed to know when we needed that added support. He was just there. He was our secret “angel” that God had sent to us to help comfort us.
In our conversation today, he asked how we were doing. I told him that we were doing better. That it had been hard at first, but we have gotten back into a routine and it really helped. I told him about our last few months and all the wonderful things that we had happen since the hospital.
Then he told me that he would keep up with us until we opened. He said, “I just liked you on Facebook so I can keep up with you. In fact, I was the 1000th like.”
I stopped him and said, “You were? How wonderful! We have been working towards that goal for several weeks now. To have you as the 1000th Like is just something special!”
We exchanged a few more words and hung up. But really I just couldn’t focus on what he was saying. All I could think was, “Oh wow! Guy was our 1000th Like!” It was as if my mother got the chance to be that special number! Like she was telling me, “I am still here. I am with you on this journey. I haven’t forgot you.” It was so overwhelming. It still is.
So while we are celebrating making this small goal, little did I know it would come to mean so much to me.
Thank you to all of you for supporting us! For being those secret “angels” with words of support, thoughts and prayers! We really couldn’t have gotten this far so fast with out each of you!
Soon we will be celebrating the opening day of our beloved Belle Grove. And as we all stand there smiling and raising our glasses, in our midst will be someone else cheering us on!
Thank you!
To see pictures of Belle Grove, both old and new
Please visit our Facebook Fan Page
Please “like” us and “share” us with your friends!
From Brett and Michelle
and Hurley!
That’s so special, Michelle. Just perfect.
Thank you!
Congrats!
Thank you!
Funny how the universe works. Congratulations…on the connection, and the count!
Thank you so much!
Wow! Life is amazing that way. I’ve got goosebumps.
Thank you! It really got me too!
I knew you could do it! A big congratulations!!!
Thank you! It was all Hurley 😉
i added a like to this post for good mesure
Thank you! I think a few people did too! We appreciate it!
Congratulations. I have now shared your link on my PLANET EARTH NEWSLETTER FACEBOOK
Thank you so much! We really appreciate you sharing us!
If you will email me the link, we will “like” you too!
This is like one of those stories that I love in Guideposts. I love it. And I’m sure your mom is cheering you on.
Thank you! It was just such a moving experience. It made me cry again 😉
Whew, Michelle. That just got the hairs running up the back of my neck. Freaky! I don’t believe in anything religious or supernatural but ya just have to wonder about symbolism like that. I was so tempted to add multiple Likes but figured that you would assuredly get there and cheating just ain’t the way to go anyway. This is a lovely, if belated, Christmas present. Please give my love to Hurley.
It was just a moving experience. I know that it was more than just coincidence. I truly believe that it was a “gift”. Thank you! Yes, we want to work for those “likes” so cheating wouldn’t be the way to get it. But it was great to finally get to it. Hurley says much love back!
Congratulations!
Thank you so much!
Outstanding and congratulations! Superb effort. 😀
Thank you so much!
Congratulations!
The account is so moving.
Thank you so much! Yes, it was a wonderful “gift”.
The Lord works in mysterious ways. http://ohtheplaceswesee.com
Yes, I have to agree! Thank you!
God indeed works in mysterious ways, congrats on your 1000th Like!
Thank you so much! Can anyone say 2000?…just kidding! 😉
Congrats on your 1000th like. Your story did bring tears to my eyes. That is so sweet and meant to be with Guy. XOXO – Bacon
Thank you Bacon! It was very moving.
What a wonderful story – clearly your mother is watching you and supporting you from above!
Thank you! I really believe it too!
Fantastic!
Thank you!
What a wonderful, heartwarming story! Congratulations on reaching this milestone.
Thank you so much! It was wonderful!
Great Story! I definitely had to add another like to this post. I am one of your 1000 likes on Facebook and enjoy the additional content that you post there as well.
Thank you so much! Each “like” mean so much to us!
Congrats guys, I wish you 10,000 likes 🙂
Thank you so much! I know we can see that one day!
What a wonderful journey you are on…
Thank you! I hope you and Mattie are doing good!
l like that your are so well liked. cheers
Thank you so much! We feel the “likes” and appreciate them all!
What a wonderful story! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Thank you so much! It was such a great experience!
What a poignant story. I loved that he turned out to be your 1000th Like.
Thank you! It was just too perfect for me.
What a special gift! There is a song by the country music group Alabama, “Angels Among Us”, that means so much to me. Due to circumstances in my past (I am here because of a few special angels), I can’t make it through the song without crying. You have your own special angels!
Thank you! You know, I really believe that there are those watching over us too!
Your story is so special and you deserve all the likes and love that comes your way. You are working so hard on your dream and it will soon be a reality.
Thank you! We are looking down the road to the “Opening Day” finish line!
What a beautiful beautiful story.
Thank you! It was really special!
[…] Belle Grove Plantation Bed and Breakfast – I have been following this blog almost since I started blogging. The stories this plantation has […]
Thank you so much for sharing us with your readers! It really means a lot to us!
I’m still not on face book – but I did post your cookie contest link on a friend’s cooking blog. Not sure if she saw it or not as I think she may have been ’round to my place because of you.
Must be a day for 1.000’s as she’s got that many likes on WP – She’s a bit under the weather recouping – She has some fun and informative bits on:
http://dishingitoutwithclarissa.com/
Cheers!
Thank you so much for sharing us! We really appreciate it! I am sorry to hear she is under the weather. Here’s hoping she feels better soon! Yay! 1000 is great! We will visit her blog and become a follower too!
I love this story and am so excited for you on this new big adventure. Thanks for reading and liking my post. Belinda
You are so welcome! We hope to see more of your blog in the future! It has been a wonderful journey and the surprises are just so much more than we every expected! Thank you!
Wow, how perfect that he was the 1,000th like. You’re right…he really is an angel!
And congrats on hitting that goal. I’m not on FB but did my best to get family and friends who are to ‘like’ you!
Thank you so much Jen! It was just perfect!