Summary of personal history since graduation:
I graduated from Calvin College in 1964 (three years and four summers). While at Calvin, I married my high school sweetheart in 1963. We will celebrate 49 years of marriage this summer (2012). My degree was in music education and I taught school music for three years. But I found that I didn't enjoy the classroom as much as I did the one on one teaching. Besides that, the babies started to arrive in rather rapid succession, so staying home had more appeal. I could still teach piano after school, by hiring a local teen to watch the kids for a few hours.
I was involved with La Leche League ( a support group for nursing mothers) for about 15 years, first as an attendee, then as a local chapter leader and eventually as a State officer who trained leaders.
Once our older children reached their teen years, Pete and I became involved in youth group at our church (Cascade CRC at that time). I also became involved in SWIM (Summer Workshop in Ministries) and trained several teams for their summer assignments. Sometimes Pete and I even drove them to their assigned locations. After about 20 years at Cascade CRC, we changed our membership to Sunshine Community, where we have been since. There I met a person who had similar interests in training teens for leadership. Together we began taking teens on Spring Break mission trips to Texas, not thinking it will develop into anything. but, in 1991 MOSES was officially founded and gained its non-profit, tax exempt status. Thousands of teens and adults have taken numerous trips with MOSES since that time. Trips have gone to Canada, Mexico, and throughout many of the United States. We have taken groups from Calvin College, Trinity College, RBC (now Kuyper), and GVSU. Numerous youth groups from area churches have taken weekend trips to Chicago, Detroit or Canada. Our larger trips (Spring Break and Mexico) are open to anyone and participants come from a wide variety of churches and schools. MOSES is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year! See more at mosesweb.org
My husband Pete had grown up hunting small game but I had never shot a gun. Once our kids were somewhat grown, he began to teach me and we began deer hunting together. Eventually, we began to book safaris to Africa and other exotic locations. He has been on many more of these than I have, but, when the opportunity presents, we like to go together. We added a trophy room to display mounts of the animals we have taken. The room is now quite full and displays lots of great memories.
We have seven biological children and then added a young man who came on a few of our MOSES trips from Wegewood Christian Youth Homes. Jon really needed and wanted a permanent family. We have "adopted" him in every way except legally. Six of our eight children are married and have children. Two live out of state, providing us with good excuses to travel to California and New Mexico each year.
The 14 grandchildren are a true blessing, but we regret that we don't see the five out-of-state ones often enough.
The Lore has granted both Pete and me with good health, although we notice some aches and pains as the points begin to get some arthritis. Some of our dear friends and relatives have passed away or experienced much more serious health issues. We are grateful for the measure of health and stamina we still have and plan to use it in the Lord's service for as long as we are able.
