Happy 62nd anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Happy 62nd anniversary, dear Mom and Dad!

I find it hard to believe, but you've remained together through thick and thin, the good times and the tough.

You've remained true and faithful to each other.

It's rather astounding in the world in which we live.

Not many seem to take marriage vows seriously and they divorce right, left and center.

But I'm thankful you two decided before God to remain dedicated to one another, forsaking all others. You didn't give up at the first glitch, or separate when your first son died prematurely, 60 years ago. 

Your love for God has strengthened you, and Christ's love has held and carried you through life's storms and joys.

This, to me, is what marriage is all about.

May God bless you richly on your special day.

Love from Robert and Loretta

I sent special greetings to CTV morning news, and they put a special anniversary greeting on TV last Friday.

HERE is the link to the clip. 

My parent's greeting is number five in the greetings for the morning.

  

My parent's 61st anniversary!

Congratulations to my dear parents, Jack & Susie Williams, on their 61st wedding anniversary today!

In today's mixed up world, which doesn't seem to have a clue what true marriage is or how to maintain it, it's amazing that a couple are still together after 61 years.

The government should give them a medal or some acknowledgement, but of course that is probably not feasible.

The marriage was made before God and is precious in His eyes.

He takes note and is aware of the unions made before Him and breakable only by death.

After all, there are no marriages in Heaven; none made and none kept. It's a sobering thought.

May the Lord deeply bless you, dear Mom and Dad.

Love from Loretta & Robert.

Happy 60th anniversary, Mom & Dad!

Today, September 3, is my parent's 60th wedding anniversary.

I created a special album for them, and printed the pages and put them in a white binder I purchased from Dollarama as Michael's Craft store had nothing suitable.

The binder has a clear sleeve on the outside, so last night I made a cover for it.

It was fun to work with paper again. It's a medium I enjoy crafting with!

I made each of these pages, plus others, using copies of their original wedding photos.

I layered the photos in the Picmonkey program which is free online.

I upgraded to Royale version so there are more options to choose from.

I always thought my parents looked like movie stars!

My mom was 22 and my dad was 26. They were married in a pretty garden setting at the homestead in Amity Oregon, where my mom was born. I think it's very romantic to be married at the place where you were born and raised. However, my mom dearly wanted a church wedding. At the time, for some strange and unknown reason, the church she attended would not perform marriages in the sanctuary. So you either had to marry at the justice of the peace, rent a hall, or use a garden.

Times changed shortly after that, fortunately, and that church now performs marriages in a proper church building. Another thing that church wouldn't allow, and still don't, is a wedding ring. To me, marriage is a very solemn and holy occasion, and a wedding band represents that state.

I designed this layered card in Picmonkey. It was fun!

I used a lace background, and added a cropped photo of my parents with their wedding gifts.

They opened them after the wedding ceremony, had cake and punch, and dashed off on a trip to the Oregon coast for their honeymoon. They spent a few nights there, then returned to my mom's home with a rented trailer. They loaded up my mom's personal items, including a bedroom set, and headed for the Canadian border along a one lane highway. They arrived late in the evening, and were halted by the border guards to see the paper work for the trailer. Alas, my dad had neglected to fill out any paper work, so they were there until nearly midnight listing the items.

My parents began life in a rented apartment in a house on W 12th Avenue in Vancouver.

The house is still standing. They were on the second floor, and had to share a bathroom.

My mom had a hard time adjusting to city life on a very busy street.

But I'm so glad she and my dad stuck it out all these years.

There were good times and bad, as in every life.

Their love for God made them strong and helped cement their marriage.

In all situations they looked to Him for their strength and hope.

After their first son, Martin James, died due to a premature birth in 1957, they raised four daughters; Loretta, Leona, Marlene, and Marie. They bought three houses in their married life, including a brand new modern home on Monmouth Avenue in Vancouver, close to Sir Wilfred Grenfell School which we all attended. Their 4th home is a condo where they still reside in Burnaby, and where they have been for 17 years.

Happy 60th anniversary, dear Mom and Dad!

God bless you on your special day!

By Loretta Houben

60 years ago...true love!

Isn't this romantic?

My parents, Jack and Susie Williams, first met on February 20, 1955.

That's 60 years ago! 

They are still together after all these years.

What do you think is the reason for sticking together all this time?

I believe it's because of their strong faith in God, and their determination to make their marriage work through the good times and the bad.

Of course there are many ups and downs in a marriage. It takes dedication and perseverance and patience to live with each other through thick and thin.

I will interview them and post some more about their lives together.

Loretta Houben

Happy 59th anniversary to my dear parents!

By Loretta Houben

Labour Day and a 58th Anniversary!

On Labour Day, Sept 2, 2013 we invited our family over for a celebration.

We had a feast planned, which was to be eaten on our new deck!

Plus it was also to celebrate my parent's 58th wedding anniversary on Sept 3.

But it was so hot and muggy outside, we had to eat inside.

Our new deck, installed by a friend of the family, is wonderful.

However it needs a railing around it, and some sort of awning so it's not quite finished.

My parents admiring the new deck and my flower garden.

You can see we live in the big city. The skyline is growing.

The land they stand on used to be a fruit orchard, then a warehouse site.

Robert BBQing marinated sweet and sour chicken and beef strips.

We love our new deck!

Mmm...my Mom brought a macaroni salad, and I made a 7th heaven salad.

We also had crackers and Brie cheese and corn on the cob.

Kelsie loves bubbles!

She tries to catch them. She loves it when company comes over.

We had tea and a black forest sponge cake from St. Germain's bakery.

Happy 58th anniversary, dear Mom and Dad!

God bless you both.

by Loretta Williams Houben

September...a new month.

On Sept 3, 1955, my parents were married in a pretty garden wedding.

I've blogged about this before, but it will be 58 years they've been married this year!

Imagine being married to one spouse for so long. I think you'd be very attached to one another for sure! My parents are both Christians and love the Lord with all their hearts. Their faith has been an anchor in their married life. They also share many of the same interests.

Happy anniversary, dear Mom and Dad!

On another note, it's a new month with only 4 months left in 2013.

The summer has whizzed past, with July being the driest month ever on record in Vancouver history. It pleased us immensely, let me assure you.

August was a month of renovations. A new front side fence was added, and a beautiful new back deck. We plan to have a deck party tomorrow in celebration of my parent's 58th, and the new deck.

Linda P's husband Fil did the work. He's a very good carpenter.

He's also working on a front fence. I'll post photos at a later date.

It's also back to school time for all those lucky children out there.

Suffice it to say that I'm relieved I don't have children to raise in these days, with all the horrific problems out there, and the complete lack of morals in the world. (or it seems that way to me)

But somehow people muddle through! I'm glad I have the Lord to turn to, and the Word of God as my firm foundation. Underneath are the everlasting arms! (Deuteronomy 33:27)

It was 40 years ago I started High School in complete trepidation. 1973 was a very difficult year for me, as all my elementary school friends moved away or were in completely different classes. I also had to get glasses for nearsightedness and in some ways it helped, and in others it didn't as I hated wearing glasses and thought all my beauty had vanished! It's certainly interesting to read my diary for those years. 35 years ago, on Sept 2, I began my first office job at Canarim Corporation downtown at the corner of Granville and Hastings St.

Here's what I wrote in my journal about it all:

"I can't wait until I get my first paycheck, which should be next Friday. Karen Hunter phoned me Friday night, and offered me a job that she has quit. It is on Granville and Hastings, and is in an office on the 13th floor! I will do mostly filing, but also some typing and mailing. I will get paid $3.50 an hour, and work from 8:30-3:30. I accepted her offer, because I need to gain experience, and I would like some spending money. I am to start on Tuesday. I am quite nervous of course. Today we all went to Frank Baker's Attic, a nice restaurant with antiques. Afterwards we stopped by the place where I am to work, and 13 floors is a long way up! The building is modern, which is good, for then it won't be dingy." 

(Written on Sept 3, 1978)

By Loretta Williams Houben

Memory Monday...my parent's first home

In June 2006 we took my Dad out, and on the way downtown, we stopped at this old house, #133 on W 12th Ave in Vancouver.This is the place where my Dad brought my Mom in September 1955, after marrying her in the USA. My Mom was in a state of shock, as W 12th Ave has always been a busy street, and it was a few blocks from City Hall. She had a difficult time adjusting to the bustle of Vancouver in 1955, as she was born and raised on a very quiet farm in Amity, Oregon.

My parents lived on the second floor at the front, just above the porch.

They had to share a bathroom with the other tenants!

I'm so glad we stopped and got this picture. The house is still there.

Afterwards we went to the Vancouver Museum to see the neon sign display.

It's fun to do things with my Dad!

2021: I posted the following photos this year, as I think they should be included in Dad's history.

On our way downtown, going down Kingsway, we turned right on Clark Drive, then left on E 20th Avenue, and stopped at 1267 E 20th. Dad wanted a picture outside this house, which is where Paul and Elizabeth Plesko once lived in the 1950's. It was still standing in 2006 but it was torn down in 2018 so I'm glad I got a photo. This house is where my Mom, Susie, stayed with her friend Rita in the spring of 1955 when she came to visit Vancouver on the Greyhound bus. Paul Plesko set a tape recorder under the couch to tape their conversation when Dad came over to visit. But they whispered sweet nothings which the tape recorder couldn't pick up!

Here are a few photos in the Vancouver Museum. Robert and Dad standing beside the boy mummy from Egypt, I believe. He lay there for years but I think he's properly put away now, although I think he should be buried!

Here is Dad standing beside the neon "Jesus, light of the world" sign, which the museum kindly kept after the Apostolic Faith church, which my Dad attended all his life and helped build and was also an usher and in the choir for years, closed and sold and relocated to Langley BC in 2001.

By Loretta Houben