Since it’s been 12 years since I last blogged this is only a test.

Iraq

This is David with a DVD message for Sam

40 years "Lessons Learned & Victories won"

Today, April 18th, is the 4oth anniversary of Kathleen and Ken Boyd. I thought I would share the significance of that, and some memories of the past 40 years. We were young, really young, I was 20, and recently commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army, Kathleen was 18 (and she reminded me 1/2), that is 18 1/2. Our wedding party consisted of 3 of my also recently commissioned friends, Tom Weisenbeck, Jim Smart, and Pastor Secker the base Chaplin. Life was good, my base pay was $323.00 per month plus a housing allowance of $100. Kathleen worked at a local western store, Hack's Army and Western, and earned the astounding sum of $1.25 per hour. At the end of the month, usually around the 25th or so, we would be out of money, and eat the rest of the month's meals at the Officers Club on Post, all officer's could charge their meals, and pay for them at the next pay period. Just proves that Ronald Reagan did not invent deficient spending, we knew about it in 1968. I received orders for Viet Nam in August 1968, and was to report in October of the same year. We had been married 6 months when I arrived in country. During this time Kathleen re-adjusted to living in the Bay Area and worked, while I was overseas. Our 1st Anniversary was spent in Hawaii courtesy of the the RR program, and the United States Government. Upon my return home in late October 1969, I was assigned to the Oakland Army Depot, which allowed us to stay in the Bay Area we grew up in. After my discharge in February of 1970 I went to work for Kathleen's family, at their paint store in Richmond CA. Kathleen continued to work at various jobs until we got the welcome news that we were expecting Carrie in September of 1971. Carrie was a real celebrity, 1st grandchild for my parents, and a welcome new granddaughter for John, and Verline, Kathleen's parents. Life moved on, Kathleen a stay at home mom, and me at the paint store, almost 2 years later Bridget was born. During this time (soon after Bridget came home) Kathleen was diagnosed with a growth on her thyroid, and surgery was required. This threw us off track, as Bridget was a nursed baby, and we had to adapt to giving her a special formula (goats milk and a lot of other stuff like yeast, and boy did I think it smelled bad) but she flourished. Kathleen recovered, (with what she tells Carrie's girls is her "pirate scar") and we moved forward. Around this time a great deal of turmoil was occurring at the paint store, and life, which had been so settled. became tougher and tougher to handle. Kathleen's parents were estranged, and as an employee, and son-in-law, I felt in the middle of all of it. Somehow (it all seemed to make sense at the time) I decided that a move was in order, not just a little move, but one all the way to Ellsworth KS. Life Lesson number 1. Don't assume as the male you can just make things work as you see fit. Ellsworth was a disaster, a virtual "culture shock" for the both of us. Not only was it hot, really, really hot, we lived in a 75 year old house with no air conditioning, no friends, and what looked like no future. After 3 months we threw in the towel, this move had severely tested our young marriage, and we decided to move back to the bay area. With all this turmoil in our own lives going on, and the county itself embroiled in Watergate, things were more than bleak. Lesson number 2. Faith, trust, and a godly woman is always the answer, nothing else of this world can compete with those principles. So what happened next resulted in 28years, in of all places, Seward NE. I took a position as a sales representative for Aid Association for Lutherans, and off we moved in Oct of 1976, a 1975 red Fiat sedan, and a U-Haul, across the vast plains of Nebraska. After settling in a small two bedroom house, we experienced our first winter on the prairie. Something we will remember a long time after living, and growing up in the Bay Area. Seward will always hold a special place in our hearts, it's were we learned though hard work, perseverance, and tears, how to hold a marriage together. Some of our fondest memories are based in Nebraska, it's where our first son Zachary was born, and then David, and of course there's Tim. Three boys to go with the two girls, they were, and still are, quite a handful. Life in Seward was filled with family, friends, and church. There were school plays, volleyball games, basketball games, baseball games, football games, do you see a trend here? I think over the years mom and I have developed a incurable case of "bleacher butt", but we wouldn't trade it for anything else. Lesson number 3. When you think you have all your kids in place, think again. God has other plans. Family planning was something we pretty well left up to God, at least that's what I say now, coming from a two child family, I am guessing that is what I thought was the average, and the acceptable amount. Boy was I surprised to find out that not only was I the father of 5 children, there was one more on the way. Bridget by this time had enough, if this baby was another boy, she was moving out. She made her arrangements with the Nantkes family, and I think at least for a while, was serious about moving if another boy appeared on the scene. Thankfully we got to keep Bridget at home because Eirinn, and all that she is, came to live with us. During all of this time I had continued to serve in the Nebraska National Guard, I just couldn't get the military out of my system, and the additional money each month helped. I think the Army had always been "special" for me and the guard provided me with the opportunity to lead, and to accomplish some inner needs. Soon after Eirinn was born, we moved to another home on Pinewood in Seward which was attached to a large city park, it proved to be a good move, the boys had a close area to play all of their sports, they were within calling distance, and we had the added attraction of no neighbors to the back of us. During this time Carrie,, and Bridget, were attending Concordia College in Seward. The boys were home schooled, and life in general was very good. We got our final surprise when we found out that 6 was not enough, there was to be one more, this one who we call Allegra was babied by all of us, Carrie and Bridget were 18 & 20, and loved watching her, and taking her, and Eirinn, to the campus. The final major change in our lives in Seward were two fold, we decided to attempt to find a place in the county to live, and I decided that a change from AAL would be good for me, and the family. Though God's providence he provided us with an opportunity to buy the 80 acre farm, and 100 year old farm house from a good family, who wanted nothing more that a "good" family to live on it after they left. The memories of the farm are still shared at every family get together, the stories like fish stories, get bigger, and bigger, with each telling, and you forget the things that drove you crazy, like the $250 per month propane bills in the winter, and the bitter cold that whistled through the windows, and the dust that rolled in the house all summer from the road that was just to close to the house. Lesson number 4. Memories are the glue that hold families together. I am finding as I grow more "seasoned" to listen to those good memories, the bad seem to fade into the background. I smile each time I hear all of you talk about the good times, the funny times, it seems to make it all worthwhile. While we lived in Nebraska for some 28 years, we were blessed to have an opportunity to make one more significant change in our lives. I had grown weary of the pressure of investment sales, and insurance selling. Kathleen was, as always, very supportive of my feelings, and needs. It was getting increasingly harder and harder to make ends meet. As I contemplated looking for another line of employment, I was faced with the reality that I was 52 years old, and not many companies were looking for 50 something men. Through what can only be God's divine providence, I applied for a position at the Servicemaster Corp and was hired. I was officed right in Seward, but after a little less than a year, was offered a position with more compensation, more supervisory responsibility, and the requirement to move to Colorado. After Kathleen, and I spent much time discussing the opportunity, we decided to accept the new conditions, and SM was gracious in allowing me plenty of time to transition. We needed to sell the farm, which took over a year, not many people in spite of its charm, were willing to take on a 100 year old cash cow, and all that goes with keeping it up. Again God stepped in and provided us with a buyer, and in August of 2005 off we went lock,, stock and barrel (the barrel is still in the garage) to Elizabeth Colorado. Lesson number 5. When you think you are too old to start over, think again. At last the conclusion, Kathleen and I have been married 40 years today! There have been good times, sad times, times of trouble, and times of great satisfaction. Through it all I would not even for one moment, change any of it. At age 60 I am still working on figuring out how all of this "marriage" thing works, but I can assure you I know how it doesn't work. It will not work if:

1. If life is all about you.

2. If you don't have God as the guiding light in your family.

3. If you can't forgive.

4. If you can't tell the truth.

5. If money, and position, are the most important reasons you work each day.

6. If you can't say I'm sorry I was wrong.



40 years and counting, lets see what the next years bring!!

Back to commitment

Well so far I have failed miserably in my commitment to Blog. A few things at work have changed which hopefully will now allow me have a little more free time. I have taken to working from home 3-4 days per week, which saves me a minimum of 2+ hours per day of commute time. So watch for more especially a "Special" section on the 18th of April. Until then cross your fingers that I can honor my "blogging commitment".