Sunday, July 29th, my parents would have celebrated their 35th Wedding Anniversary, if my Dad was still alive. I thought I’d pay tribute to them with a few pictures and words. Here’s a picture of Mom and one of Dad when they were babies. Mom was born in Everett, Washington and Dad in Muskegon, Michigan.
Mom went to Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois and Dad went to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They both went to New York University for Grad school, but at different times. They met in New Jersey, while Mom taught at Eastern Christian School and Dad worked for Chase Manhattan Bank in New York City. They were married in Anchorage, Alaska, where Mom’s family had moved to in 1959. This picture is from their wedding on July 29th, 1972. Left to right are: Dad’s sisters (Debbie and Diane), Mom and Dad, and his parents, Jeanette and Rich.
They lived in New Jersey while Dad worked in New York City. After my brother was born, they moved out to Vancouver, Washington, where I was born. We moved to Shelton (December 1977) and then to Olympia in 1988 to be closer to our church. This coming December we will have gone to the same church in Olympia for 30 years. This is a picture of the four of us not long after I was born. Also, here are two of my favorite pictures of my brother and I growing up.
So I don’t bore you with details, I’ll skip a bunch of years and include some more recent photos. These last pictures are of Dad in May 2000 not long after his second round of chemo. We were celebrating his birthday (May 18) and Mom’s birthday (May 20). The next picture is of Dad with his two sisters in July 2000. Aunt Diane and Aunt Debbie came out for about a week to spend some time with Dad, since he couldn’t travel much. Dad died on November 17, 2000, of complications to colon cancer. He was 53. The last picture is of Mom, my brother, sister-in-law, and myself on Mother’s Day 2007, six and a half years after Dad died. As you can see, we are doing well, which we give all the credit to our Lord. He has provided an awesome family and a wonderful church family who have supported us throughout our lives and I know they will continue to do so.
So although Dad’s not around to celebrate their 35th Wedding Anniversary, I know he’s with us and will never be forgotten.
