In the beginning…the beginning being 1948…God created…

Two teenagers, starry-eyed, full of hopes and dreams, but both wearing roller skates. And God said, “Let there be love”, and behold, it was so.

In 1949, Don & Vera hung up their roller skates in exchange for a wedding gown and a new double breasted suit, and they stood before the altar of God, and promised to love and cherish ‘til death do us part. And behold, it was good.

And they set up house; well, it wasn’t a house. It wasn’t an apartment either. It was an upstairs flat without a private bathroom, but they called it home. And they furnished it with love.

In August, 1950, God blessed them with a child. And Vera brought forth her firstborn son, while Don was out playing baseball. And they named him Russell. And God said, “Let there be love”, and behold, it was so.

They rented a house, and furnished it with early attic, hand-me-downs, and love.

In 1952, a daughter was born, and they named her Debbie. And God said, “Let there be love”, and behold, it was so.

And they moved again; bought a house. Not three bedroom, just three room. With fruit trees, and a huge garden, and bridal wreath bushes for playing hide-and-seek, a chicken coop behind the garage, and a dog named Trixie. And they furnished their new home…with love.

In 1956 another daughter was born. They named her Joyce. And God said “Let there be love”, and behold, it was so. And the doctor said “Don you’ll never get a baseball team this way”!

In 1959, a son was born. They named him Mark. And God said. “Let there be love”, and behold, it was so.

In 1960 the floods came and filled the house, and the water receded, and the mud stayed. And they replaced the waterlogged furniture, and cleaned and scrubbed and scoured and moved back in. And they refurnished their home … with love.

And there were chicken pox, and measles, a few broken bones and stitches along the way. And catching fireflies at night, and fishing at the lake with mom always catching the most fish with her bamboo pole, and raking huge piles of leaves in the fall, and a rose bush in the front yard in the spring. And the years were lean, but rich in love.

And the kids grew, and filled the house to overflowing, and Don and Vera said “We need to move”. So they built a house, their dream house, with three bedrooms and lots of closets. And on a cold winter day in 1963 they filled their new home with all their earthly possessions, and four noisy kids, and furnished their home … with love.

And the Lord said “Look at that room! I’ll bless them once again!” And He sent them a son; they named him Bruce. And God said, “Let there be love”, and behold it was so.

And there was another dog, named Traveler, and two calves to raise each spring, a horse named King, rabbits and chickens, and even some baby ducks one year. The ducks were Bruce’s. He cried when dad had them butchered.

And mom cried too. For Bruce.

And we went sledding in the winter, and played family baseball in the summer. And Grandpa and Grandma lived next door. We had our family picnics under the big shade trees.

And in their spare time, dad fought fires, and mom taught Sunday school.

And in 1969 Russell graduated from High School, packed his bags, and went to school in Milford.

And Bruce packed his schoolbag, and went to kindergarten.

And the first 20 years were over… overflowing… with love.

 In 1971 Russell graduated from school in Milford, joined the navy, and left for California.

And Debbie graduated from high school, and left to attend college in Kansas.

The following year Russ returned home to marry Kathy Ortmeier. And God said, “Let there be love for the in-laws too”, and behold, it was so. Then Russ took his Navy duffel bag, and his new bride, and left for Okinawa.

In 1974 Joyce graduated from high school and went to work and Debbie graduated from college and went to Michigan.

1976 was the year we broke Dad’s bank account. In April, Joyce married Dennis Suhr and set up  house across the street. And God said, “Let there be love”, and behold, it was so.

The same year Debbie brought home a bearded stranger from Michigan. And in September she and Jim Kirsch were married: then returned to Michigan to live. And God said, “Another in-law? Let there be love”, and behold, it was so.

1976 also brought the first grandchild. And mom was about to start a new hobby… making baby quilts!

And in 1977, Mark graduated from high school and started school in Milford.

In 1978 Mom and Dad flew to Spain to visit Russ & Kathy, and do some sight-seeing. While back home, Mark wrecked the family car.

In 1979 Debbie and Jim gave up the city life and moved back to Nebraska… Mark graduated from Milford, and two weeks later married Karen Throener. And God said, “Another? Let there be love”, and behold, it was so.

In 1982 Bruce graduated from high school and attended college in Seward. Finally, an empty nest! But there were also, already, 7 grandchildren!

In 1983 Russ and Kathy were living in London, England. Mom and Dad took a trip to see them, along with Buckingham Palace, Parliment, and Westminster Abbey.

1986, Bruce graduated from college and moved to California. Dad once told us, “move far enough away so we have somewhere to go on vacation”. Dad, we tried. From Michigan, to Spain, to Texas, to England, and this year, to California.

Well Dad, Mom, 40 years ago, did you dream it would be like this. 40 years of living in West Point?

38 years with Norco Feeds?

There are five kids,

And four in-laws,

And 12 grandchildren.

The kids are all gone, but all the closets are still full.

Dad never did get his ball team.

But we did get a wonderful home to grow up in.

A home full of love.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for behold, it was very good.