A fanlisting is simply an online listing of fans of a subject, such as a TV show, actor, or musician, that is created by an individual and open for fans from around the world to join.
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TFL.org
The name for this fanlisting, Knit Together in Love, comes from a quote made by Clark in the third movie of the series, Love's Long Journey.
Missie and her husband Willie were now living at their ranch outside the town of Tettsford Junction. Missie had kept in close touch with her
family back home since she and Willie married and moved away. Missie obviously missed her family, especially her Pa (Clark), very much.
In one of Clark's letters to Missie (and to Willie too), Clark said that their would be forever knit together in love. So I thought this was a
perfect name for this fanlisting and it describes their realtionship very well.
Ever since I saw the first movie, Love Comes Softly, it was obvious Clark and Missie had a very close relationship. I believe that a lot of that
stemmed from them losing Missie's mother, Ellen. It was obvious they still hurt over the loss and they grew closer to each other. Then Clark up and married
Marty Claridge in a marriage of convenience as Marty had just lost her husband in an accident and she had no where to go. Clark saw this not only as an opportunity
to help Marty, but to help Missie have a woman's touch in her life and for the chance to really be a child. It was obvious that Missie was very opposed because she
knew that no one could take the place of her mother. Later in the movie, Missie lashed out at Marty and Marty could not understand why Clark would put her through
all that. Clark's response was because he loved Missie. He knew she needed more than he could give her. He said he knew she wouldn't like it at first, but he
was confident that knowing Marty would eventually add to the person that Missie would become. All in all Missie ended up adjusting to Marty being around and she grew to
love her like her own mother.
Anyhow, Clark and Missie had always been close. Clark had a strong faith God and Missie took after Clark. She too professed her faith in God and His love.
It was obvious Clark wanted Missie to grow up knowing who God was and all about His love. And I believe that too helped develop the strong bond they had.
When the time came for Missie to leave home and venture off with her new husband, Willie LaHaye, Clark told her that ever since she was just a little baby, he knew that time was coming.
It was obvious that it was breaking both of their hearts to be separated. Missie told him her heart was breaking. Clark said his was too. Missie asked him if he could fix it. It was so sweet.
I think that was her way of telling him she would always be his little girl. He stated that he couldn't fix it this time. Then they had a very heart wrenching
goodbye.
Then when the fourth movie, Love's Abiding Joy, came out, one of the things I anticipated the most was Clark's and Missie's joyful reunion when Clark came to visit
Missie and Willie on their ranch (I had seen previews). When I did see it, I got teary eyed. It was just so precious. Willie had gone into town to meet the
stage and pick Clark up while Missie and their children, Jeff, Mattie, and Kathy, anxiously awaited Clark's arrival. Mattie spotted Willie and Clark coming and announced, "They're coming!".
Two seconds hardly passed before Missie bolted out the door. She went running toward the coming wagon and when Clark saw her coming, he had Willie stop the wagon so he could get off and he went
running towards Missie. They embraced so sweetly. Clark was practically in tears and Missie could hardly contain herself. They kept on hugging and they both told each other that
they had missed the other one so much. And Clark stated he was so happy to finally be with her again and he promised her mother that he would memorize that very moment. Willie looked on and grinned from
ear to ear. Then after they finished hugging and all, Missie very excitedly introduced Clark to his grandchildren. Man, just thinking about this scene makes me wanna cry. :)
The movies in this series don't exactly match the books, but in both the books and the movies, Clark and Missie had a very special bond and very heartwarming relationship. In the movies, Dale Midkiff portrayed Clark.
Missie was portayed by three different actresses: Skye McCole Bartusiak (Love Comes Softly), January Jones (Love's Enduring Promise), and Erin Cottrell (Love's Long Journey, Love's Abiding Joy, Love's Unending Legacy,
and Love's Unfolding Dream).
