WHAT A WEEKEND!!!

 Our kids pulled out all the stops -- covered every detail of a wonderful weekend to celebrate our 50 years of marriage.

God has blessed these years richly with loving family, friends and lessons we learned along the way.  

"WE DECIDED ON FOREVER" was the theme we chose and Terry worked feverishly to create the most comprehensive video of our life together.  I have watched it a bajillion times and almost know the sequence by heart! LOL.

Our super 6 made a video for us.

These two women planned and hosted the most beautiful party!

We feasted on the most delicious food all weekend!  Marshall smoked a pork butt for Friday evening that was out of this world.

Bethany organized a surprise card shower and we received precious messages from friends in the congregations where we served.  We have so enjoyed reading those messages!

We were joined by our close family and we were able to spend special moments re-connecting with those that we seldom get to be with.

This is our story -- We Decided on Forever

Since our earliest days, we believe that God has authored our story . 

We grew up children of the Church -- we both were at church every time the doors were open.  As Terry's parents were stationed all over the world in the military, they often started churches in their own home.

We were blessed to know God's best -- those people became our extended family.  Even now - during this time of celebrating our 50 years, we have heard from many of these people - dear friends!

Our parents wanted a Christian education for us and we both attended Christian colleges.

Terry and I met in 1970 - when he spoke at a New Years Eve service at my local church.  (He doesn't remember -- Ha! Ha!)  I was so impressed that night I prayed -- "Lord, I'd like to marry a man like that"

In 1971 Terry was hired as the Youth Minister at the Vaughn Hill Church of Christ and we met (AGAIN) - when I came home from David Lipscomb college on Spring Break.  He maintains that he started to speak that morning and looked out and there was a halo over my head and he knew that I was the person he was going to marry.  As he was still the youth minister, we dated on the sly for a few months and then later included the youth groups on our dates.  LOL!

SO - THE REST IS HISTORY . . . 

Our Church wedding shower -- the whole church attended

On January 20, 1973 we married at the Church where Terry was the Senior minister for the next 18 months. 5 churches attended (some 500 people, I'm told)

This began our 50 + years of ministry

Terry's ministry years began in Granite City, Il in 1970 and continued at Vaughn Hill Church in Illinois in 1971 and concluded at Life Park Christian Fellowship in Tulsa OK. in Spring 2021

—  We started our lives together with a single purpose to love each other, and serve Jesus.  Faith and Family have been our core values.

We’ve nurtured two beautiful human beings whom we adore to adulthood and are now enjoying six precious grandchildren. 

—  It’s OUR story . . .  

WE

-          Learned to parent together

-          Laughed through the joyous times and cried together through the hard ones.

-          Been on our knees for our children, our parents, and the Church

-          Shouldered side by side through difficult times

-Guided our parents to the grave and

felt the pain of loss TOGETHER

God has blessed our endeavors.

—  As we built our FOREVER family in those early years, we were able to show Bethany and Marshall the Church all over the world.

—  They’ve seen that working with God’s people can be rewarding and a challenge.

—  They’ve seen us suffer defeat and watched Terry get up and go back to work the next day.

—  They’ve watched him struggle with pain and fill each day with purposeful work.

 We have been blessed beyond measure!  

Blessed and Thankful

 The Fall temperature and colors have been late in coming - but the blessings of this season cause me to be completely and entirely thankful.

Our Grands are flourishing -- they have wonderful teachers and one is learning to thrive in a less than ideal classroom.  Our kids are busy with their lives giving back and aiming to make their community a better place.

Terry and I  tag-teamed it in one of his classes that is a favorite of mine to teach -- bridging poverty .Our years together working with Kids University and the Common Good have given us a window into the many difficulties that people in poverty are facing.  

Mind you, Fall has not been without its challenges - Terry's sciatic pain is through the roof - the car acted up-- challenges in teaching 6 classes for Terry - but in every instance God has been so faithful.  Terry has forged through like he has handled all of his health issues with faith and strength.  Dec. 8 he was given an epidural that helped relieve pain and enable him to enjoy the holidays.

Fall in Oklahoma brings OSU football for this family.  Marshall and Katie shared OSU tickets with Bethany and Mat as they all supported their favorite POKES. 

 The Bell Farm in Edmond has lots of deer and Marshall has set up deer feeders and a deer blind.  Clara woke up early on a Saturday morning and joined him with hot cocoa and lots of chatter.

Bethany has given a lot of time volunteering to assist at the HUB Community Outreach, campaign for a friend running for their local school board,  Run for Fun at the Kids school, and Aware - an Alzheimer's organization to help families in Oklahoma.

Thanksgiving was a lovely time together at Bethany & Mat's home.  Mat smoked a delicious turkey.

We all brought our favorite dishes.  Jim's brother, Tom and his partner, Randy joined us.

Christmas was a delightful time in Edmond and Tulsa.  Terry and I went over to babysit the 3 C/s while Marshall and Katie had a night out before the

festivities began. 

There were lots of gifts under the tree for these 3 -- however their favorite toy the whole 3 days was Pawpaw's walker!!!

Jim and Jan hosted a special Christmas Dinner at their Tulsa home.

Everyone had the best time!  Our Clan of 14 is loud and loving!

These two guys put together an 1800+ Lego set of the Coliseum that Jack received for Christmas.  The Coliseum was a favorite of Jack's on their Italy trip this summer.