It's our 60th

Proverbs 31 describes "a wife of noble character" vs. 10. It also says that her husband is "full of confidence in her" vs 11, and her husband "sits at the gate" and "praises her".

This blog seems to be the best place I can publicly do that.  I have been very reflective this week as I have recounted my life with and my love for Carol Sue. It has been quite a emotional journey as I have thought through our marriage- my 60 years of days living and loving this woman.

Her senior picture was taken about the time that the following account, taken from a memoir I have written, recalls:

"We were going steady when I graduated from high school, but by the time I went away to college we had drifted apart just from the sheer difference in our geography and interests.

We were going steady, but not very steadily, seeing each other, still occasionally dating when I came home from school to work on the weekends.  Then one day while sitting in my room at college, it hit me. I missed her terribly and I was treating her and our relationship way to casually. I had heard she was going out some with other guys and I was in danger of losing her. I sat down and wrote her a letter saying I was coming home on the weekend and if she still thought she wanted to be with me I would meet her at a certain dance. I remember I was at the dance nervously looking for any sign of her. Well,after the dance started, she showed up and we have never looked back.

She has shown an enormous amount of patience with me, which is a huge part of the definition of true love. Carol always has been more whole emotionally. I have been just the opposite. I was damaged goods in the love department. Because of the lack of love or the examples of love in my upbringing, it has taken me a lifetime to grow to anywhere near a real understanding of love. In fact, I am sure that if I never had become a follower of Jesus and experienced His love and became familiar with His love letter the Bible, I never would have come to understand what true love looks like and to experience it. I am thankful for her unconditional love that has never wavered, I am also thankful that because of her, I experienced the opportunity to receive God’s love and begin the process of love finding me."

So began a journey of finding and serving God together. It was the beginning of a family that has grown to include over 65 people including 18 grandchildren and almost 20 great-grandchildren.
I am overwhelmed at the thought of what this lady has done to follow and support me in our efforts to serve God and raise our family. From Washington, to Alaska,
to Oregon, to Canada, and back to Oregon. In between the lines of those moves have been numerous houses, thousands of miles. thousands of meals and many crises. All without regret and surely without recrimination.
A faithful marraige is not about the crises or the spectacular. It is about a day by day commitment. A priceless gift, she is truly God's gift to me.

 

Good Intentions-Gone Bad

Three months since my last post. On top of that I had intended to make a special post  about each of our children on their birthdays. I did our eldest Mark on his 55th birthday in February 2010.
I followed that up very speedily? with a post about our second and daughter Marla three months ago. almost two years after Mark's post.

I had intended to get the other four this year. One complication is that all their birthdays are within weeks of each other. Another complication is that I got very ill with pneumonia during that time. I just feel I must make mention here and hope to catch up next year or being accused of favoritism to the oldest two.

In truth neither Carol or I feel any favoritism to our children. We do acknowledge unique giftings and personality traits in them that makes us highlight or appreciate them for their uniqueness. We never would wish they were all the same. I  highlighted some of the special characteristic about the oldest which you can read in the above mentioned blogs. Now for a thumbnail about the other four just in case I don't get to mention them on their next birthday.

Marty-  

Born in October Marty is a clear thinker, and is a committed to ministering and serving others. In fact that is a common trait in all our children. He had to deal with some challenging physical problems, but has faced and more than conquered those challenges.

His focus has been to live and serve in Alaska and his fine family could be called true Alaskans

He and Nikki have raised three, now grown and married children and are now enjoying grandchildren.

Merlin

Born the end of September, Merlin is our adventurous one. He married a Canadian girl and they have lived in Canada (Saskatchewan and Alberta), Texas, Mexico and now live in Vancouver Canada. They did a good work as missionaries in Mexico, learning the language and helping develop small churches there to have more significant outreach to their neighbors.
In fact Merlin and Brenda still have a significant tie to Mexico. Their daughter is married and living in Mexico and their two grandchildren live there. They look eagerly to each opportunity for visits from them.

They have three children, a daughter and two sons.




This picture shows them with their daughter, son in law and granddaughter. A grandson has since joined the family.

 Matthew

Also born the end of September, Matthew is fun-loving, mixed with a deep compassion for people.He keeps our family laughing and enjoys life and helps those around him to enjoy it as well.
He lives with his family (Maralle and two high school aged children) in Sandy, Oregon. Since he lives close to us, we are often included in many family activities.

 

 



Often Matt will call and suggest we join he and his family in many fun activities. He helps keep us "young" thinking.

 

Marianne

Our November baby has grown into a remarkable woman. Gifted and wise we enjoy being with her and her family. Since she and husband Scott live in Alaska that is not as often as we would like. Marianne works at a school as an accountant and is very active in running and other outdoor pursuits. She and Scott are involved in many things Alaskan.

They have three  grown children, but so far no grandchildren.
Scott like all of the spouses of our children, gives us great joy and we are convinced that each one of our "in-law" kids were chosen by God and consequently could not be a better choice for us.

I don't think I mentioned Mark and Marla's mates in my previous blogs so I will correct that here.

Mark and Shari's three boys are married and those marriages have given them 10 grandchildren. It is hard to find a picture of Mark and Shari without them being surrounded by grandchildren.








                                                                               

Jim and Marla at his retirement party last year. Their lives are full with all of their family living very close to them. Their six grandchilren give them much joy.