40 years

Forty years. Nearly a lifetime. Forty years ago today, May 3, 1971, my wonderful husband reported for his first day at Caterpillar Tractor Company. He was young.... just 19 years, 1 and 1/2 months old....just a year out of high school. He had heard that CAT offered good pay and good benefits and steady work. He didn't think college was for him....and he was beginning to think about getting married, and he knew he'd need a good job to support his future wife. So he went with a friend, signed up, and was thrilled to get the call that he was "hired"!! Little did he know that 40 years later, he would still be working for "Big Yellow"! During his time there, he has passed all these milestones:
He got married in 1972; his children were born in 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1988, and 1990; lost his father in 1979; began building our home in 1979 (without the help of his father, whom he had greatly counted on); was nearly killed in a car accident in 1981; built (with his brother) a new house for his mother after hers burned to the ground; finally moved into our mostly-finished new home, built with his own hands, in 1982; served on the local school board for 16 years; suffered 2 heart attacks; has seen 5 of 6 children graduate from college; has seen 4 children marry and have a combined 13 grandchildren (with 1 more on the way!); has faithfully honored his wife for 39 years; and has wonderfully provided for his family for 40 meritorious years!

I cannot thank him enough for his service. He has not only "served" CAT, he has served our family and provided well for us; he has served God with his integrity and faithfulness; and he has served ME, by enabling me to fulfill my desire to be a stay-at-home mother. He has been a constant support and encourager. He has been my best friend and closest confidant. I cannot thank him enough for sharing his life with me. I salute the best gift God has ever given me! Congratulations, Dearest, for reaching this wonderful milestone in your life! And though it seems too inadequate: THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!!

the last night

This is the last night. We take the youngest of our six beautiful, wonderful blessings from God, to college in the morning. How is it possible that he is 18 already...... How can he be going off to college already..... How has he changed into a man in front of my eyes.....without me really seeing it? And yet....the memories come .....I did see him getting taller.....I did hear his voice getting deeper.....I did see his impish grin turn into a charming smile....I did see him running faster, jumping higher, swinging harder....I did buy him bigger shoes.... But it happened so fast. I could not take it in. And I could not hold on..... After tomorrow, it will never be the same. He enters a new world....a new world of challenges, of making decisions, of new friends, of new responsibilities.....and I cannot go with him. Oh, my heart will go with him........ but my eyes won't see him every morning. I won't be able to kiss him goodbye every morning. I won't be able to ask him every afternoon: "How was your day?" I won't be able to wish him good night every night, as I go to bed and he stays up later. No, the time to let go is suddenly....and finally....here. It is time to give him his wings. The nest is empty. It has been a long, wonderful, marvelous journey. It is time to turn the page. I knew it was coming. But I could never be ready....it came in a blink. Once there were two. Now we will be two again.

rascals.

finn and miette have become great partners in crime. they can often be heard giggling together. its cute.

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY KATIE-DID!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDDO! Can't believe you're 5!!! We thank God for the blessing of you...and the joy (and laughter) you bring to our family on a daily basis. This picture reminds me of how quickly you're growing up...both because of the picture of you at 14mths in the background of this and because of you pretending to be grown up!!! We love you very much, blondie!!!

(this is an old photo....heard the girls giggling downstairs and came down to find this....Katie with a wad of nursing pads shoved under her shirt!)

IT'S JUSTIN'S TURN FOR A BIRTHDAY!!!

Happy Birthday tomorrow, Justin!!! I'm giving this tribute tonight....not knowing what tomorrow's schedule is going to be. (May not make it to the computer!) Just looking at some old pictures this morning.....remembering bringing you home from the hospital to Taylor Rd., but then seeing you learn to walk on Murphy Rd.!!! My, how the years have flown!!! Hope you have a GREAT day!
Love you forever,
Mom

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JASON!!!!

It's the eldest "geraldskids" birthday!! Happy Birthday, Jason! Hope you have a great day!

Shes' Twenty!!!

OK....looks like no one is reading this....however, I must pay tribute to my now-twenty-year-old! Where have the years gone?!!! Seems like just yesterday that she was running around jabbering with her pacifier in her mouth....or up on the coffee table entertaining us....or running track....or playing basketball....or playing shortstop.... or playing clarinet in marching band..... And now she's no longer even a teenager! :( I love you Caitlyn....miss you a ton.....and hope you have a fabulously happy birthday!!! love you forever!!

PICTURES, PLEASE

Okay....we'll see who's actually checking this blog any more....besides me!! I'm anxious to see some more pictures put up here! I LOVE to see pictures......so when you update your own blogs, try and dump some over here!! And Caitlyn....have you learned how to use your new camera yet?! Let's see some pictures from this school year!! I'll be waiting..........!!

SHE DID IT!!!

Here's to Caron....on fulfilling her goal of running a marathon by age 30!!! Congratulations!!!

IT'S BIRTHDAY TIME!!

I'm not good at posting.....but want to wish Corrie a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY today! It's been a wild day, but hope it's been sorta good for you! I just remembered that we didn't even sing "happy birthday to you"....seems like we were always trying to be quiet....or whatever! So I'm singing it to myself...to you!

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU............."