Mark & Debby Russell in 2020
Though she still sports the figure of a much younger woman, today is my Aunt Debby’s 71st birthday. You may know her as Debby Reincke, one of Will & Betty’s Darling D’s. Maybe you know her as the former FBI agent, Debby Stafford. Or perhaps you know her as Debby Russell, wife of Mark, mother of Ben and Sam, and grandmother of Callum and Sutton.
I know her as my friend and fellow world traveler as well as my stylist, second mom, and sister-in-Christ. Plus, I’m forever grateful she’s been my beta reader and an ever-faithful cheerleader.
Friend and Fellow World Traveler
Though Aunt Debby and I adore our close, extended family, our callings have carried us far from home.
The Reincke Family
I lived in China for two years, studying Mandarin and teaching English at a university. Before and after that, I also made seven short-term trips there plus visited Thailand twice. Later, I lived in North Carolina for grad school and in Illinois, where I served at two different churches.
Meanwhile, Aunt Debby served in the Federal Bureau of Investigation for 25 years! Work trips took her to Jordan, Canada, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. In fact, she was also the first FBI agent in Qatar! To catch the bad guys, she’s lived in Kansas, Mississippi, and New Jersey. After retiring from the FBI in 2008, she was finally able to build a house on the family compound. From there, she spent another 13 years working for a private contractor on Cyber Command.
Aunt Debby & I On My Wedding Day
Besides our unusual career paths, we both married later than average: 31 for me and 35 for her. I didn’t date much in my twenties, and her first husband was the director of the FBI for Kansas and Missouri. Needless to say, he was busy. Plus, I don’t think he viewed being crammed into a beach rowhouse for a week with a bunch of Reinckes as a vacation.
This led to us both attending many family functions as singles rather than as part of a couple. Since we also share some personality characteristics, we formed a deep bond.
Stylist, Second Mom, and Sister-in-Christ
Over the years, Aunt Debby has served as a second mom to me as well as a personal stylist. She often hands down enormous bags of clothes and home decor. Plus, she sometimes discovers gifts for me when she’s shopping at Goodwill. Over the years, some of my favorite and most-worn pants, tops, and sweaters were gifts from her.
Since we both love and follow Jesus, I’m honored to not only be part of her biological family but her eternal one. I pray that the God of hope would fill her with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit she may abound in hope. (That prayer springs from Romans 15:13 in the English Standard Version). Today will you join me in that prayer for her, yourself, and your loved ones?
Beta Reader and Beloved Cheerleader
Aunt Debby was my most faithful beta reader for both my novel and my narrative nonfiction book. She’s also been the quickest to reply to texts and emails about the trilogy I’ve started working on.
After she and Aunt Darlene read Snow Out of Season, they both sent me long emails which touched my heart. For the sake of length, I won’t include Aunt Debby’s whole email here, but here’s an excerpt:
With Mom, Aunt Darlene, and Aunt Debby
“. . . it was AWESOME!!!, had tears in my eyes a couple times – being so proud of you, plus the impact of the story. God has blessed you so much with your gift of words. After a couple chapters of great character development, it only got more and more interesting how the two stories were so different, but then later started to weave together. Then a thrilling, page-turning ending.”
Once she received her copies of When Losses Become Legacies: Memories on Grief, God, and Glory, she wrote this (excerpted):
“I just got my Amazon box of your new books I ordered, tore open the box and immediately read the chapters on Daddy Will and Mom Mom. You are amazing, the Lord speaks through your writings loud and clear! You are wonderfully talented and did an amazing job capturing their stories and faith . . . Of course, I had tears in my eyes reliving Mom-Mom and Daddy Will’s stories and am so glad you wrote them. I am positive they will touch each and every one that reads them, positively influencing them in their faith. Can’t wait to read the rest of the book.”
Ever an encourager, Aunt Debby lifts the spirits of those around her.
Who Is My Aunt Debby to You?
Aunt Debby with Her Dog and Ours
To me, she’s been a caregiver and a companion, an editor and an encourager, a globe trotter and a fairy godmother. Most important of all, she’s been a faithful follower of our heavenly Father.
Though I could list many more, these are seven reasons I adore my aunt.
What roles has she played in your life? Share them below and wish her a happy birthday!
Debby was my best friend and loving sister..Discovering new places with Nick, Ben and Sam in Kansas. My cheerleader and confidant. My best friend forever!!
1. Debby and I met in high school homeroom (more than 50 years ago) by the “luck” of our last names starting with R…but really by the grace of God. She has been the truest of friends ever since, whether we’ve lived in the same place, sharing adventures and deep conversations (gorillas vs. dolphins, along with faith and afterlife thoughts) or far away, somehow maintaining friendship through the distance. I’m finding it difficult to put into words the impact that this friendship has had on my life, because it’s so immense. Being friends with Debby means being connected to everyone in her circle, and her circle is HUGE! It means being connected to her family, who also became family for me. It means being connected to every friend of Debby’s (and just about every person Debby meets becomes a friend!) She is the glue that holds all of these friend connections together. She is genuinely interested in everyone’s story and always looks for ways to uplift others. She also has a little bit of “zany”, which brings zest to friendship with Debby! Whether it’s coming up with April Fools Day pranks, planning overnight horseback “adventure” trips, “wedding on the slopes”, murder mysteries, lip synch contest content and so much more, Debby gets the credit/”blame”! She cares deeply about ALL of her friends and especially family, and I just hope that she truly knows how deeply loved and appreciated she is by ALL of us lucky enough to be a part of her circle!
I wish Debby the happiest of birthdays, along with a coming year filled with blessing upon blessing. ❤️
(I realize that I didn’t follow the “7 things” format, but everything seemed too interconnected to list separately!)
From my earliest memories I would look up to Debby and all of her great accomplishments, but she has always been so much more than the things she’s accomplished in her life. Those things are a small part of her when compared to the lives that she has touched along the way. Or maybe that’s her biggest accomplishment, because of who she is at the core, being someone who exudes love and truly caring about others… Debby always makes everyone feel important, going out of her way to do something for someone else. So many stories and memories, but each one has the same thing in common and that is, Debby is someone of the best character, fun loving, generous, will go out of her way for others every time, and everyone loves her, including me!