Then and Now

The "kids" were around this weekend and gave us a gift, a nice photo frame with places for two photos.  The top slot is marked "that was then" and the bottom, "this is now" and

Lanny and Nancy

40 Happy Years

July 17, 1970

This was then.

Weren't we young and innocent? 

This was our 2nd apartment.  We lived at Jackson Street efficiency apartments a mere couple of months -- just long enough to get Himself to National Guard Summer Camp and back, and long enough for me to find my temporary job of typing addresses on envelopes for Good Will donation requests.  (Now, there is a story for another day!)  We left the one-room efficiency apartment and moved up the street to Carroll Apartments where we actually had a bedroom, a small back porch and a bat or two.  It wasn't long and we were out looking at an upstairs apartment at 1503 Rebecca Street, liking the view and the two bedrooms, kitchen, livingroom and two big storage rooms.  We were sold!

We started our family and soon had two pretty girls, a matched set, I always said.

I think my eyes and Erica's soaked

T-shirt indicates she and I were spending a lot of night-time, quality time, teething together. 

Third babe was a boy.  Busy boy.

We celebrated holidays with Grandparents.

A 4th child, a petite little girl.

This is Easter with Gramma Sychra at Gramma and Grampa Hofs.

And cousins!  Always fun with cousins.

Times were changing. 

Children growing up. 

Milestones reached and rites of passages.

Junior Proms

Birthday dinners.

Family photos

with enthusiastic children!

Proms and more proms.

Our first in Creston was beautiful with blooming crab trees.

Himself and I rested while we could; conserving energy for future events!

Homecomings would become a distanct memory and there would be

a Wedding!

and a second

And more weddings.

Whew, added together,

from birth to wedding

that is a lot of hard work!

And a lot of fun.

A bunch of love.

Many an Adventure.

a disappointment or two.

Successes and set backs.

And always love. 

And this is now.

Happy 40th, Himself.

I love you true.

Hey you,
meet you right back in a minute,
a heart-beat, for our 50th.

See you all then!