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We were wed
August 2nd, 1980 in a small town in Pennsylvania.
During this time we were both in the United States Air Force serving at San
Vito AFB, Italy.
San Vito has since closed but it was an experience we will never forget.
The locals
were extremely friendly and, apart from the sin that seem to come with
poverty (i.e. petty theft etc.) when lives are not yielded to God (just as
ours was not), we were well received. We took a flight home to be married and
returned to Italy
to finish our tour of duty. We had a small wedding and spent our honeymoon in
Niagara Falls.
We were very active in our young years with sports and travel. Our final tour
was a Fort Meade,
Maryland.
After deciding not to re-enlist, we lived with my family in Miami Florida
for a stint.
Due to
strategic family planning,
getting pregnant before leaving the service, his hospital bill was not
expensive, approximately $10. Our daughter's bill, on the other hand, was in
the thousands. I must add that I was employed by the time our daughter came
around so medical insurance helped with the tab. We moved back to Maryland in 1983, approximately 6 months after our son
was born at Homestead AFB, Florida.
Homestead AFB has since closed but it (my son's birth) was an experience we
will never forget.
From Florida to Maryland!
Why? You ask. Well, we had to go where the money was. I couldn't find
employment in Florida
and we started feeling we were being a burden on Mom and Dad. Yet again, I
must add that a post office job in Florida
came through within approximately a month after we got to Maryland. We decided that the secure Maryland pay was
sufficient. My daughter was in 1986 and I felt the mission was complete. At
the birth of our first (which I had hoped would be our last) my wife's first
words when we had a private moment together was "I still want my
girl". Needless to say, it was a relief that the second was a girl. Yet
another time we will never forget. In 1988 we decided that my wife, Dean,
would work outside of the home, a move that I would regret some time later
although she became a successful manager. We did a civilian tour in England
where we added Brit (our
border collie) to the family and got two cats (Rogue and Beast) sometime
later.
Grace
in the 21st century
In 2000, a series of miraculous events lead us to saving faith. By faith, we decided on our church home. We will always remember
our life changing experiences. As of this writing, Dean has retired, July 2004,
and is enjoying it. My son is in his fourth year of college and UMBC, my
daughter is in her first at Goucher. I am seeing God reveal
himself through the studying
of His Word and by watching
nature. His glorious handiwork.
Purple Martins are a part of
His handiwork that I particularly enjoy.
We
celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary this year (2004) and plan to re-wed for our
25th. After the renewing of
our vows, because this time we will know what we are getting into, our
Old Marriage will have since closed but, it will be an experience we will
never forget.
Life with
Jesus, is best.
Our lives in
2005 continue to be dynamic. BJ graduated
from UMBC and will (God willing) do so again after one year with a
masters degree. Latanya is beginning her professional acting career with a
performance in Ragtime, the
musical. The month of July ends with a great celebration and we
have decided to move once again; this time to the Augusta Georgia area...
stay tuned. Feb 11, 2006; we are continuing our preparations for moving. It
appears that we will settle east of Augusta in
South Carolina.
The door continues to be open and we are taking steps on a daily basis. We
have arrived in South Carolina
and found a new church home.
We continue to pray for God’s leading. We have settled in somewhat ….
stay tuned.
Looking unto
Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the
right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
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