My goodness, Dad, your birthday is here! It’s hard to believe a year has passed! We had a great party for you last year, didn’t we? A beautiful cake, a great family gathering! I loved seeing Todd sit with you to reminisce for a while..And to have Norm and Kathy there was such a blessing!

Dad’s Ninetieth Birthday Party

I remember your saying, “I never thought I’d live to be ninety years old!” Certainly none of us think that far ahead! But you did live that long. And when I think back over the years, I realize more and more that you left strong imprints on our lives ~ lessons well learned.
Just yesterday Todd and Leah were here for lunch. She’s a junior in high school now. And she told us recently that physics is her “best” subject in school ~ no kidding! So she’s definitely inherited the family talent for science, like many others in the family! Anyway, I told her that if she wanted to pursue her goals in life, they HAD to include a higher education. Her abilities are God-given and will provide a GREAT advantage in the real world!

Dad & my brother David

Later on I realized that I sounded just like you! Yes, your words to my brothers and myself were coming right out of my mouth! So often in our lives you emphasized the importance of an education! You and mother always said that a good education would serve us well throughout life. I never forgot those words. And all three of us “kids” finished our Master’s degrees, to yours’ and Mother’s delight. I know that was a source of great satisfaction to you both, and I’m so glad.

If I remember correctly, you wrote on the back of the birthday party photo that there were seven family members pictured who had completed Master’s Degrees. Well, ALL the grandkids have worked very hard to stay in school, and most have finished college. Now we even have a niece with a PhD in Chemistry and a nephew pursuing a PhD in Math! Your children AND grandchildren are following your advice, and we’ll continue to do so. And we’ve seen the proof that you were right!

Thank you, Dad! And THANKS, Mother!

Happy Birthday, Dad! Please kiss Mother for me! Enjoy heaven for me today!