What have you been up to for the past 40 years?
I obtained my teaching degree from Western, then went into the Army. I spent 3 years on Active duty and another 18 in the Oregon Army Nat'l Guard. I retired from the Guard in November, 2006, as a Sergeant First Class. Sometimes I still miss it, but it seems that God is calling me to other adventures. I taught for many years in a high school alternative program. I have also worked with incarcerated youth. I am currently teaching 3rd/4th grade. I married a fellow Guardsman, was married twelve years, and have been divorced six years. My boys and I have been involved in Boy Scouts and are Civil War re-enactors. I gave up playing music for many years while raising my boys, but taught my middle son some fundamentals of music and he played in his middle school and high school bands. Now I am working with my youngest son, teaching him how to play the electric guitar, as he will be starting in band next year. I am teaching myself to play a variety of musical instruments, including the baritone horn, the piano, and the fife-so Andrew and I can be a drummer and fifer with the 116th Pennsylvania, Northwest Civil War Council. He already has a period drum from Gettysburg. We are active in our church and I participate in the contemporary choir. We all love the outdoors and I particularly like hiking. A new adventure for me is that I have been asked to co-lead a Daisy (kindergarten-age) group of Girl Scouts starting in the fall. Never having had a girl, this will be quite an adventure. I have two boys at home-Justin and Andrew- and we live a rather modest life in a rather modest little house. We are fairly happy and, although we are few, we are a family. My middle son, William, lives with his father. I have tried to teach the boys that we welcome all in the name of Christ, and that people are welcome to find rest here. I don't know what the future holds for us, but I trust in God's mercy and care.
