50th Anniversary Party!

We did it! There were about 70-80 people in attendance on Saturday afternoon. We arrived around noon to decorate with stars and set up the slide show. Sam did an awesome job of putting the show together (with Sandy's help) and then he kept the music going for the four hours. Great job, Sam!

We set up Janine's cake and it looked great (and tasted great too according to those who got a piece). Mom and Dad had fun cutting the first piece and serving each other.

Keith was very busy taking photos of everyone. You can see the slide show at the top right. He took about 300 and Katie took about 200. Soooo, there are a few to see.

It was great seeing people we hadn't seen in years like Mrs. Canterbury. I heard she is at least 90! Wow, what an honor that she would come to be with us. My cousin, Ted, and his wife, Kelly, came from Connecticut. That made Dad very happy. We are looking forward to getting to know them better.

All seven of us kids did a "remember when" talk. David's was the funniest remembrance with his making sounds (burps) into the tape player when he was supposed to be reading a psalm into it as part of his discipline for something he shouldn't have done. Josh's remembrance was the most touching as he talked about my parent's influence on his decisions. Several people other than family also spoke and told stories. It was an interesting and fun hour of storytelling. We also sang Mom's song, Sing Forth the Praise, as a family.

Mike is pretty good at hosting and "thinking on his feet"; must be why he is a preacher.

The grandkids sang "Catch a Falling Star" which was the song Mom and Dad sang to each other when they were dating.

The food was very good. We started with fruit and cheese appetizers followed by salad bar, roast beef, ham, potatoes and a vegetable.

I think Mom and Dad felt loved and honored. What a great way to do this. Why do people wait to honor others after they are dead?