more photo books :)

 

Abby’s ~

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly offers exclusive layouts and designs so you can make your book just the way you want.

 

Daniel’s ~

Click here to view this photo book larger

Start your own Shutterfly Photo Book today.

Leap Year Day #5 {20 years}

 

 

Leap Year Day of 1992 was a very special day.  It was a Saturday morning when the phone rang…

Twenty years. 

Twenty years ago, I’d made a very casual and distant acquaintance with Tim at church.  I didn’t approach him to speak ever, nor do I recall him approaching me.  Ever.  We did talk to each other when we acted as judges for the married couples’ games after the church’s Valentine’s dinner.   We were the only non-couple adults in attendance.  And while it was fun {when I wasn’t being intimidated by his brother}, it wasn’t the beginnings of any romance.  And I knew better than to hope.

I had no hopes of a relationship with Tim for reasons I’ll not detail ~ except to say I knew he’d heard discouraging things from another man I’d previously dated.  Being the only single woman in a small church with three bachelor members… I had no reason to think any of them were my Mr. Right.

I remember towards the end of the February, praying again that God would continue to work in my heart and life to make me worthy to be the wife of some godly man somewhere.  And to help me to be content to wait. 

And since I have no clue where he’s at,  Lord, You will have to bring him into my life somehow.  Please?

Something else I didn’t know was that Tim had asked our pastor’s opinion of me.  And that Pastor R. had encouraged Tim to date me ~ if he was looking to get married.   Tim was 27 years old and had recently completed his service to the US Navy, but he was not looking for a wife.  Or so he thought.

February 29.  Saturday morning, I was very surprised to find Tim on the phone.  Calling me.  For a date.  Tonight.  {I remember thinking, If you make me wait a whole week until next Saturday, I’ll go crazy!  ha ha  So much for praying for patience.}

So it was that Tim took me out to dinner on Saturday, February 29, 1992, to a great Italian restaurant in Madison near the UW campus ~ Lombardino’s.  On the wall it said, “A meal without wine is like a man without a wife.”  I didn’t point it out to Tim.

We had a great time {Tim seemed to agree} talking, talking, talking.  We sat in his car for a long time still talking.  Which he concluded by telling me he wasn’t looking to get married.  He was thinking about joining a singles’ group at another church, hoping I’d come with him to some of their activities.  If I saw something I wanted to do together, I should let him know.

We met again for a political meeting, saw each other at church.  His dad passed away in April, so I attended the funeral with another woman from our church.  We signed up for a singles’ retreat at a camp where the director asked us to consider the difference between dating and courting.  hmmm?  We were still operating at the friendship level it seemed.  At some point he began to offer me ride if he saw me walking home from church.  Which of course provided more opportunity for conversation.

In May we went out for pizza a couple times and attended an evangelistic meeting at another church.  He still gave me rides home from church with good conversations.

In June I went home to Iowa for a couple weeks.  Tim called once to check on me.  I told my folks I’d found a “keeper.”

In July we shifted gears.  We were out with friends July 3rd most of the night.  Then Tim took me to the church picnic on the 4th.  Our first public appearance at a church function together.  Which lasted through the evening’s fireworks at the park.  Sunday we had dinner with friends newly aware of our relationship.  Out for dinner, protests at an abortion clinic, Sunday afternoon walks, dinner at my apartment with friends, popcorn on my porch, and more.

{by the way, we never did find that singles’ group}

 

October ~ Learning teamwork:  baking a chocolate cake … without a recipe.

 

After agreeing to accompany me home to Iowa for another visit in August, Tim decided I should meet more of his family.  July 31 he took a flying leap down a stairway followed by a refrigerator.  That night I met his mom and sisters before we went bowling.    August 4th found us at Great America with the teens from church.  Riding roller coasters.  Sharing lunch.  Making wedding plans.  While we stood in line for a ride, Tim said, “What would your parents think if I met them one weekend and we got married the next?”  {“Be always sure you’re right, then go ahead,” says Davy Crockett ~ but we didn’t elope.}  The next day we went shopping for rings.  Marianne and I found for a dress for me and cloth for bridesmaids another day.  We met with Pastor W. for our first pre-marital counsel.  And soon we went home to Iowa.  After lunch Tim asked my folks for permission to marry me….

{insert picture of us with Marianne & David and Stacy & Matt in Iowa ~ Why oh why can’t I find it??}

Six months after Leap Year Day ~ Saturday, August 29, 1992 ~ Tim again took me to Lombardino’s in Madison.  And said, “Do I have to ask you again?” 

Another fast three months {and lots of ice cream at Marianne & David’s house}… and it was November 27 when we said our vows:

…until death parts us,

or until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.

 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Happy Leap Year Day!

18th birthday!

 

Happy birthday, Kate!

Katherine Ruth was born on Grandparent’s Day of 1993 ~ Sunday, September 12

 

…1994…

First steps taken in August ~ First sibling born in December

 

…1995…

    

 

…1996…

 

…1998…

 

{and then the scanner decided to take a break, so we’ll have to live with family photos}

 

…2000 … 2001…

  

 

…2002…

(Kate is second from left with sisters and cousins)

 

 

…2003… 

friends

new calves and gardens

 

 

 

…2004…

 

…2005…

  

  

 

…2006…

 

…2010…

  

   

Happy 17th Birthday in Prague!

 

   

 

…2011…

      

   

    

{Photos by Sarah Engle}

 

  

   

  

 

 

{No, I wasn’t up until 1am to do this post… But I was 18 years ago to birth this girl!}

9/11/2001

Was it only yesterday?  or a lifetime ago?

September 11, 2001.  I was focused on getting some schoolwork done with our older children.  We were also preparing for a small birthday party with family and friends for Kate, who would be 8 years old the next day.  It was Tuesday - thus we had the party a day early.  (We couldn't have a birthday party on a Wednesday night while we were at church.)  Kate was so excited.  Eight was her favorite number ~ and her 8th birthday meant marvelous things in her world.

Sometime that morning my friend Marianne called from Wisconsin.  "Turn on your TV."  I did, but soon I shut it off again.  I didn't feel I could let my little children see the horrendous pictures and videos just then.  Without knowing what they would see ...or remember of it for the rest of their lives.

I did load them all into the van that afternoon.  Then we sat in line to buy gas.  I can't tell you what the price was by 4pm, but it had gone up drastically through the day.  I didn't know where it would stop.  And when you drive a laaaarrrgge van, the price of gas seems important.  And I think I needed to do something.  Not that it helped anyone.

It was a rather interesting birthday party.  We had the TV on some ~ the videos weren't live at that point.  It was still so unreal... but incredibly true.

Click here for credits to Luke Cremin's photo of Trade Center.

Happy 16th birthday! (post #298)

 

to our Artist…

born Monday, December 19, 1994

    

 

1995

 

1996

                        

 

1997

Her daddy thought it was funny, so he took a picture.  {ahem}

…then she butchered her hair just before I was going to take them for a “professional” photo for a Christmas card

Busy, busy girl.

Her grandma told me, “She’ll be the one that gets things done.”  Bless her heart.

 

1998

By March her bangs had grown out enough to be pretty  :-)

In May both girls needed a bob…  The need for repetitive head washing for ring worm and my 9-month-ish belly was a challenging combination.  The (big) little sister finally arrived mid-June.

 

            

 

      

 

1999

              

 

2000

             

                   

(Where did that bald boy come from??)

 

2001

     

    

 

2002

        

  

   

 

2003

  

            

 

2004

   

 

2005

               

 

2006

   

 

2007

                    

          

 

2008

   

            

                    

  

       

 

2009

  

  

   

    

 

                    

         

              

 

2010