Happy 40th Anniversary!

Jeff and I celebrate 40 years of marriage today!

We are so grateful for the union God decreed and for the love and blessings throughout these 40 years.  As I wrote in my A-Z posting, we were such an "unlikely" pair.  I was the shy, backward, sheltered girl from a strong Christian home that was in church every time the doors were opened.  Jeff, on the other hand, was the popular, all-sports jock, played in a rock band, and did not have a godly heritage.  I can only credit our attraction to the divine intervention of God.  Jeff had had several girlfriends and had been dating for a couple of years.  However, because of my shyness, I did not have a boyfriend nor had I even had a single date.  The attraction began in our Junior year of High School.  Our desks were right beside each other in Mrs. Hiland's history class.  However it wasn't till the fall of our Senior year that we had our first date, which was my very first date.  We went to Pittsburg to see the movie, "Love Story."  We dated off and on our Senior year but it wasn't until our Senior Trip to the Lake of the Ozarks that we verbalized our love to each other.  In the fall after graduating, Jeff moved to Topeka, Kansas where he was a student at Washburn University, playing football and studing to be a lawyer.  We made the decision before he left, that we would not tie each other down and would be free to date others.  Which we did, however, when God got a hold of his heart in the Spring of that second semester, then it became apparent that it was meant for us to be together. Jeff moved back home after completing that year and we became engaged in the summer.  We started attending a little mission church in Pittsburg, Kansas, where Jeff began his spiritual journey of commitment and dedication to the Lord.  Jeff enrolled in Pittsburg State University that fall and I was working full time at McNally's in Pittsburg. We intended to marry in May of the next year (1973) but decided in October or so that we didn't want to wait and set the date as December 22nd....his last day of finals/college semester.  My poor Mom had to put it in high gear to get my wedding dress made and all the other things arranged.  She did a great job on my dress and our wedding was very pretty. 

After the wedding, we lived in Girard in a small apartment for a few months but because we were working, Jeff going to school, and going to the mission church all in Pittsburg, we decided to buy a mobile home and live in a nice mobile home park on 20th Street in Pittsburg, KS.  That also was the hand of God as Jeff was then hired by the mobile home park to work for them during the duration that he was in college.

Jeff surrendered to the ministry on his 21st birthday at Saginaw church camp near Joplin, Mo.  After he graduated from Pitt State, we moved to Independence, Kansas, where he was on staff with Ernie Watson at Highland Park Baptist Church.

From there, we moved to Tyler, Texas where we worked and he attended the BMAA Seminary in Jacksonville.  Jeff has pastored churches in Kansas, Missouri, Texas and Arkansas as well as worked/taught on several college campuses and worked in the BMA Missions office which allowed him to travel world-wide for several years. 

To commerate these 40 years, I created a photo book of our family pictures down through the years and gave to Jeff earlier this month.  I am posting many of those pictures in an album on Facebook but for this blog, I just took pictures of the book itself to put here.  The pictures bring back so many memories.  It also reminded us of how quickly time passes, how fast your children grow up, and how much water under the bridge there is!  

And through it all.....God has been so, so good to us!

So many of you have walked this journey with us -- all the way or only a short distance -- and for that we are also very thankful. 

Ministry has brought so many wonderful friendships along the way. 

I have some dear girlfriends who have lost their husbands early to accident and/or disease and so I want to cherish every day of my marriage and the days we have together. 

Thank you, Lord, thank you!!

(If you doubleclick on the picture, it will enlarge).......  

Book Cover

 We were married at my home church, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, rural Girard, KS in 1972.  My Uncle Marvin Boore officiated the ceremony

 We had a small ceremony and only invited immediate and extended family.

Steve Williams and Sheryl Ragonesse who were our best friends, and at that time husband and wife, stood up with us:

 Yes, royal blue was our color!

 Baby, toddler and Senior pictures of us

 First picture below was on our Senior trip when we realized we were in love

Second picture was at a fraternity party at Washburn University when Jeff "pinned" me

Last picture was what we put in the local newspapers to announce our engagement

 Miscellanous pictures of the early years of marriage and our first pet, Buttons

 First picture below: we always had so much fun during those Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Garland, Kansas days when we would dress up for Halloween parties, have haunted houses, etc.  Not something many churches do now with a change in our culture, etc.

The second picture was when I was pregnant with our first child, Josh:

 It took a while before we were blessed with children, but we sure were happy when we did get our kiddos!  Our firstborn, Joshua Jerome born in 1977 (his wife Erika, joined our family in 1999).

 2-1/2 years later, Andrew Ryan joined our family in 1980 (and then Carman became a part of our family in 2005).

 And then to complete our family circle, Rachel Ann was born in 1985 (and Jonathan joined us in 2012).

 More pictures as our children grew......

 Fun picture from above that I enlarged below.....this was during our days at Calvary Baptist Church, Mesquite, Texas.  We had a 50's party!

 The kids became teenagers......and we all survived!

 Pictures at Disneyworld or the beach nearby....wonderful memories!

 More vacation pictures below....all except for the motorcycle pic....that was Jeff's dad's motorcyle.  I wish I had some pictures of Jeff and I in the very early days of our marriage when Jeff owned his own motorcycle.  We had a lot of fun riding it (there are many days he wishes he still had a motorcycle).  However, we sold it while still living in Pittsburg to put the money toward the building pledge committment we had made for the new church building (that is now Meadowside Baptist Church).

 Our 25th....1997

 We went on a Caribbean cruise that next summer to celebrate our 25th.

 Additional pictures of our family as our kids grew into adults.  Even though some of these family dynamics have changed, I did include them in my book as these seasons of our lives were important to us.

 Josh as a blondie......I liked it!

 Pictures during vacations.....most of these were with Mom and my sisters and their husbands:

 Holy Land trips......

 And then begin the pictures of the "icing" on the cake of our union.  And yes, there are probably more pictures of the grandbabies than there are of the kids.......but that's just the way it is when you become a grandparent!

 My only real "text" mistake....second picture should say, "Laine's 1st Birthday"

 Ellie's first six months....

 

 It was after the completion of the book, that we were told the news that "Baby Mac" will be Copeland Ware McCrary.  We are looking so forward to meeting our grandson!

 And this is the back of the book..........it was a lot of work over several months of searching pictures, scanning, then trying to create with an on-line program.  But Jeff was very pleased and we will both cherish the memories the book holds and are praying that God will allow us to make many more precious memories in the days, months and years ahead and if Jesus delays His return, we will celebrate #50!!

We are having a GRANDSON!!

We are just thrilled beyond words that a little boy is joining our family!!

As my friend said, "You have your two little princesses, now you are getting a prince!"

Precious baby Copeland -- your DeDe and Papa are so, so excited that God has decreed you are a boy and that you are growing healthy in your momma's womb.  We look so forward to meeting you and watching you grow!! 

We love you so much already!!

Catching Up....Fall 2012

I started writing this post a couple of days ago and then got very side-tracked as I took a trip down memory lane in re-reading all my blog postings since I began this blog in 2007.  Wow…..so much has happened in our lives – mostly all good things, but there have been some very sad and tough days as well (of course, I didn’t blog about most of those tough days). 

As this is the season of Thanksgiving, I am so very grateful for the many, many blessings that God has given to me and my family and so thankful for His sustaining grace and comfort during those difficult days. 

Oh, thank you, Lord Jesus!

It seems the Fall is always a very busy time for us.  But I do love this time of year, with the changing of the seasons, the beautiful colors (that seem to be more vibrant than ever this year), and all the traveling we are privileged to do. 

I really like this Fall collage I made of the granddaughters J:  (If you double-click on any of the pictures, you will be able to enlarge it)

Another cute pic of the girls taken a month or so ago:

Our first Fall outing was to the Pastor’s Oasis in Branson, Missouri.  We are so appreciative of our church sending us every year! We stay in one of the prettiest hotels, Chateau on the Lake, and enjoy an inspiring and fun program by the DiscipleGuide Ministries, plus lots of free time to shop, rest, go to a show, etc.  It’s always a “breath of fresh air” for us!  Such a beautiful view outside our hotel window:

Always good to spend time with friends....Toya Aultman and Mary Mooney

Also enjoyed time with Aaron and Jenae Polok (and the Mooneys)

Eating a delicious breakfast at Billy Gail's....

 

Our ladies Bible study finished up another great study, “When Godly People Do Ungodly Things.”  It was a very timely reminder to us that we live in such a depraved world and Satan is alive and active in seducing us.  So thankful for the ladies who participated.  The morning group met at my home and the evening group met at Tina LaTurner’s – thanks, Tina!

Mom, Holly (my cousin) and I made a visit to Arkansas and Texas during October.  We first traveled to Conway, AR to Rob and Kaye’s home.  We enjoyed spending a little time with Adrienne and her family during the afternoon and then joining the Antioch Home Group that meets in Kaye and Rob's home that night.  Kaye then joined us as we traveled on to Bev and Don’s home in Tyler, Texas the next day.  It was a great weekend visiting with the Ferrell family.  It was our first time to meet little Alex, Shannan and Mike’s youngest. 

It was wonderful to spend time with Bev's daughters and all the grandchildren (as well as my brother-in-law, Don's extended family)!

Before heading to church Sunday morning (Kaye is taking the picture)

Thanks for hosting us, Bev (and Kaye too while in Arkansas)

We didn’t get to see the girls on Halloween but am thankful for these cute pictures of them:

LADY BUG

FANCY NANCY

Trick or Treating at J.J.'s and E's:

Wearing E's wig....

Good fall picture of Andy's family....

 

This was the year for electing a President.  We were sure praying about that, desiring that the newly-elected President would be one that stands for the principals of God’s Word.  Consequently, we were disappointed at the outcome.  We must make a greater effort to pray for President Obama that God would work in his heart to turn to Him and that God WILL bring revival to America!!

We once again returned to Branson the first of November for the annual Senior Adult Conference.  Another fine event hosted by DiscipleGuide.  It’s always refreshing, encouraging and a lot of fun and we traveled with such a great group of folks!  It was nice that Mom joined our FBC group this year, too.

Our daughter-in-law, Carman had originally planned to have a garage sale the first November and had asked me to come stay with the girls on Friday and Saturday to help her out.  So Jeff and I had made plans to do so.  However, time didn’t allow Carm and Andy to get the sale organized but they wanted us to come down anyway and so we gladly went down just for the day and had such a fun time!  I had taken a gift bag for each of the girls as their Halloween gift.

The weather in November has just been delightful!!  While Andy & Carman took Ellie to the doctor for her six month check-up, we took Laine to the Promenade Mall for some playtime and then walked down to Build-A-Bear….where she picked out her first bear and named her “Pumpkin.”

Doing sweet things to the heart she would place within her bear...rubbing her cheek here (also kissed it, etc.)

Aunt Ray Ray, Baby Mac and Uncle Jonathan came to the kids to visit for a while after we got home from the Mall.  We anxiously await the news next month if Baby Mac is a boy or a girl.  Looking so forward to meeting our third grandchild!

Yes, I do have my Christmas decorating done.  I love the fruit of the hard work in getting it all up and having it up for several weeks to enjoy.

What a fun time….getting to attend Laine’s first ballet recital this past week!!  And she did so, so good!  It doesn’t seem possible that she is old enough to do this…..she is growing up too fast!  It was neat to return to the church (where the recital was held) that I worked at when we lived in NWA and to see some of the folks that I had worked with while there. The first picture was taken during rehearsal and the rest are during the recital.  They did their ballet to the song, "Away in a Manger."  So sweet!

With a proud Mom and Dad at the reception afterwards

It’s our kids’ turn to do Thanksgiving with their spouses’ families, so they won’t be coming to Kansas.  We have been blessed to be invited by several church families to join them for Thanksgiving (thank you, everyone!).  We accepted the first invitation and so had to decline the other sweet invites.  Mom will be coming down to spend the day with us as well.

Jeff and I will once again return to Branson before 2012 is over.  We have been greatly blessed with wonderful accommodations for 6 days to celebrate 40 years of marriage.  That doesn’t seem possible either – Wow!  We plan to attend some Christmas shows while there and just enjoy celebrating our lives together.  Here is another fun collage down through those 40 years.  The picture on the left was early in 1972 (before marriage) when I attended a fraternity banquet at Washburn University where Jeff was attending…..it was the night the Jeff “pinned” me J (a fraternity tradition to let a girl know you are serious about her...yes that dress is so ugly, but at the time, it was very fashionable - ha!).  The middle picture was taken at our 25^th Wedding Anniversary in 1997 and the picture on the right was taken on our way to our 40^th High School class reunion in 2011.  Yep – a lot of life and aging in between those years!

We are praying for you, dear friends, that God will richly bless your Thanksgiving as well as all your Christmas activities and that you will feel His presence in the midst of it all and remember to have a thankful heart!