Our family began during the first year with the arrival of our first child who was prematurely born and weighed less than four pounds, (to be exact 3 lb.15 1/2oz.). John visited me every day at the hospital when she was born. This became a routine that he repeated many times as our family increased. It was during our seventh year of marriage and expecting our seventh child, that we sold our home and left for an adventurous move to California. The time we spent there was a great learning experience for us, with many happy memories as well as some disappointments. After three years we decided to return to Vermont. I would like to say that God has His way to turn all things into good. After my return to Vermont I came to realize, that I had received a physical healing while we were in California. We returned with a family that had now grown in number to eight children.
Our return to Vermont meant starting all over again for the third time in less than ten years. Looking back at this now sounds crazy, but at that time, we were young and adventurous. My husband always found work and we would soon have ourselves moving forward. Needless to say, we had very little time for a social life; and soon we were to realize that we were celebrating our Fifteenth Wedding Anniversary. At this time, our family had grown to the number of
TWELVE CHILDREN
And you might have to scroll a bit to see the whole picture
...Sorry about that...
Most of the children reached their teenage years throughout the decades of the late 60's and the 70's,the last in early 80's. These decades brought about many changes. It was a time, when new standards and beliefs were intruduced, changing many of the values that we had known and enjoyed. It was through the grace of God, that we managed to pass through these years of change holding onto our strong convictions.
Here are some group pix when they were a bit older.
us at the time when our youngest was 3 years old and the older children were going through their teenage years. And another with the children a little older.
YES AGAIN!
We succeeded to pass on and to instill in our children the social and religious values that we cherished. Our children, in turn, are now passing these values on to their children.
This is "just being "me" at about the time when I began a second career. I worked for approximately twenty-six years and retired in 1994. My work schedule was planned around the children, who were always my priority and John would be home with them. The children did grow up and here is a picture of the children and I do believe in this picture there were some new grandchildren about to present themselves.
in the late 80's.
Here is a picture of us....such as they are.....
in the late 70's.
John and me again in 1979"
The kids are now married married except for one. They have blessed us with many beautiful grandchildren, the number is 31 to be exact. We already have seven great-grandchildren!
Thank you for all that you are and do - john
