For Better or Worse........

Sixty-three years ago today Andrew George Lampiris and Marjorie Elizabeth Curtis were united in Holy Matrimony in front of the same parlor windows that Ethel Leona Pearce and Wilbert Curtis had exchanged their vows.
July 21, 1945--the Second World War was just about ending and Andy and Margie met in the USO in Sault Ste Marie, MI where Margie played the piano for the soldiers and sailors guarding the Soo Locks.
Andy, however was not guarding the Soo
Locks!! After serving five years in the Pacific in New Guinea and Australia, he was sent to Miami for two weeks of R&R. In February, after that short vacation, he was sent back to Chicago where he was placed in charge of prisoners of war from both Japan and Germany. They boarded these prisoners onto trucks and trains and took them up the Wisconsin coast to the Upper Penninsula of MI to a Prisoner of War Camp in Raco, MI. Almost noone in the area even realized that they were housing prisoners right down the road from their rural farms.
When Andy came into the Soo, and walked into the USO where Margie was serving cookies, she almost immediately whispered to her girlfriend,"He's the one --I'm going to marry that man." They were an unlikely pair--- They really came from different worlds--He was a Catholic from Chicago and she was a Presbyterian from Dafter, MI--a very small farming area outside of the Soo.
But they were very much in love and by July of that same year they were married. Margie finished her time working at the Soo Locks Tower and Andy was released from the Army after 6 years of service. They moved to Chicago and had to live with his parents for two years before they could find an apartment.

This is the house we bought when I was five years old. This is my brother Andy at age 5 1/2, I was almost 8 and my sister Nancy was born that year in October--1954.

My parents first Christmas in 1945---Chicago.
Every summer, my dear dad put my brother and sister, mom and myself on a train and we went to stay on the farm for about 6 weeks. He stayed back in the hot city and worked for us!!

I think this is about 10 years ago at their home in Florida. My sister Nan and myself.

They have not only been kind loving parents, but they have made choices to love each other till death do us part!!!

I love them both and thank the Lord for giving them to me!!!

Happy Anniversary to you.......................................................

The Sea of Gallilee?????

Summer is flying by so very quickly and it is my very favorite time of year. I am happy to wake to birds singing and sunshine pouring in the window!! Yesterday our dear friends of 36 years came for 24 hours from China!!

They have been there almost 10 years and they are our age. They are definitely not in the track for accumulating wealth and stuff. There eyes are looking at very needy people. Pray for them--if you read this Don and Shirley Emerson. They are celebrating their 40th anniversary tomorrow!!

Sunday we were scheduled to have a 46 person baptism at 10:30 at the lake. At about 7:30 Jonathan called from the beach saying the tents would not stay up and sand was blowing everywhere--could Bill please hurry and come because there were a lot of Eyores there and he needed some positive voices!! The sound and set up guys had worked so hard, but we had forgotten to pray about the wind!! The sun was beautiful and warm, but the white caps were strong and high! The Lord took care of everything--it was fantastic to see those dear parts of the family show publically that they wanted to walk with Jesus. Pray for them--God knows who they are. I really felt like we were on the shore where Jesus taught on the Sea of Gallilee. When we were in Israel, we got to be there and even go out in a boat where Bill was able to speak in the same place that Jesus had been--what an awesome privilege!! The people sitting around Lake Michigan looked like I picture those incredible times with Jesus. Only Gallilee had a lot of stones and rocks and we had lucious sand--everywhere!!!

Two of those baptized, were Emma and Liam and they got to be baptized by their dad, David. I am very thankful for each of our precious children and grandchildren. I know that I have no greater joy in life but to see them walk in Truth. And in this day of confusion--I am even more thankful for Jesus who said He was the Way the Truth and the Life!!! He is definitely my Life and Strength!!! I love Him more than paper can hold!!!

We could not make life without Him!!

A Happier Summer

July is moving so quickly--it almost seems impossible!! At this time last year our year of grief was just starting and we had no idea of how sad it would become. The tears and pain come less frequently, but some of what has occurred is still so incomprehensible!! But this is a new year of my life--the 62nd!!! Wow how very old.

This last week has been wonderful for us with all 22 of our family with us!! Andy and Lynn leave at 5 in the morning for North Canton --Lynn is very anxious to see her very ill father--Garry. He is one of the dearest most faithful men of Jesus that I know. He is battling lung and thyroid cancer.

Some of the fun things we enjoyed together were 3 birthdays Katie, Liam and myself, the fourth of July, lots of swimming, fireworks with a great view and just being together with 10 cousins. Bill and I are incredibly blessed by our dear Lord. Our children, like us are far from perfect, but they are so so special and we love them dearly!!! In photos it went like this.....