On This Day . . .

I need to put a disclaimer on this post, at the very beginning. This is one of those personal trips down memory lane written in a public forum. It does seem a bit presumptuous to post it here. I'm counting on my experience being similar to other women. When I look back, I rejoice at what God has done.

Thirty six years ago, I gave birth to a son—my firstborn. It was an incredible experience. I was taken by surprise at the overwhelming love that I felt for him. I identified with Eve—as if I were the first person to ever give birth to a son. I could not stop smiling. One of the nurses handed me a note with his statistics—his weight and height and she wrote on the note, “He’s beautiful!”


I thought, “It’s not just me. She’s seen lots of babies and she thinks he is the most beautiful baby, also!”

I was embarrassed when I took Andy to church for the first time because I could not stop smiling. I tried to look modest but I was so happy. I imagined that everyone else was jealous of me and I felt sorry for them and so blessed that I had this beautiful child.

That thought lasted for a very long time. I remember when Dale and I would go look at our boys sleeping, just before we went to bed at night, we would marvel to each other over how cute they were. I wondered, “How did God take our very ordinary [at best] genes and create these two marvelous and adorable children?”

And now both of my sons are married and fathers—wonderful fathers of five beautiful children [combined]—three delightful boys and two very special little girls! Children truly are a blessing from the Lord.

Also, on this day . . . sixteen years ago, my husband, Bob, asked me to marry him. It was after a very long day and I was very tired. I had been a wedding coordinator for a Hawaiian couple and I needed to be a delicate arbitrator for a few small details. There were lots and lots of decorations to help take down and put away. My feet ached and I was exhausted. My hubby who was not yet my hubby had helped with many details and crawled around on the platform wiring for sound and making changes as part of the tech crew. I knew that he was tired also. So when at a late dinner, he said, “Will you marry me?” I responded in somewhat of a tired exasperated way, “Yes. I already told you, yes.” After that he dug a beautiful diamond ring out of his pocket that he had been carrying around all day. I was very surprised and immediately changed my attitude. He told me how hard it had been to wait until dinner to ask me. Oh my, I am so thankful that he didn’t change his mind. We wanted to share our excitement with someone and so we went and told Paul and D’Ann, my first husband’s brother and his wife. We knew that they would be glad with us.


Here is a picture of us when we were much younger, celebrating our engagement.

I’ve been remembering my son’s birthdays . . . the cakes. . .


Cubs games. . . and lots more . . .



I am very grateful for my husband who still loves me though he knows me and my flaws so very well.

September 9th . . . On this day, I like to remember.