Jayne and I met while I was in the United States Air Force and stationed at Tinker AFB in Del City, OK. Jayne was the neighbor of a friend that I worked with. I met Jayne several times while visiting with friends and we were casual friends for about a year before we had our first date. I proposed to her after about 3 months into our dating. About 6 months after that first date, we were married. I was 22 and Jayne was 20 when we were married.
Genesis 2:18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
My enlistment was up in December of 1978 and we were married February 3rd 1979. We had a small wedding at Jayne’s sister’s house with only family in attendance. We did have a small reception afterwards with friends.
I told her to HANG ON; THIS IS GOING TO BE A WILD RIDE! And so far this marriage has been quite the adventure.
We did not have a honeymoon, but we did move to St. Simons Island, Georgia about 10 days after our wedding day. We had moved in order to try to get a job in the FAA as I applied in the Southeast US. We took these 2 days of driving as our “Honeymoon”. So starts the adventure.
Matthew 19:6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
We lived on St. Simons for about 8 months and had a wonderful summer there. We had a catamaran sailboat, 2 ten speed bicycles, and went to the beach as much as we could. We were always dreaming about our future together and could not wait for our career to begin.
September 1979 we received word that I was going to be hired with the FAA in Savannah Georgia. For 2 weeks I went to Savannah for indoctrination and then we moved back to Oklahoma City for my schooling.
So from February to October 1979 we actually moved 4 times. Ah the adventures in life! I graduated from the FAA Academy in January 1980 and we moved back to Savannah to begin our new life in the FAA. [5 moves in 11 months]
While we were in Savannah our daughter Heather was born. Most importantly, this is where I gave my life to the Lord. We stayed in Savannah for about 14 months then got a job in South Florida. We moved to Fort Lauderdale in March of 1981. [Married 2 years and have relocated 7 times.]
We lived in the Fort Lauderdale area for a little over 10 years and moved 3 times while we were there. [10 moves in 12 years] While we were living in South Florida our son Bryan was born.
June 1991 we moved out of South Florida to South Louisiana for a job promotion, most importantly this is where my children and I were baptized. We lived in Sulphur, Louisiana for 14 months at 2 different locations. November 1992 we moved to College Station, Texas for another job promotion. We decided to build a new home there and while we were waiting for the house to be complete we lived in 2 different locations. [So now we are at 15 moves in 13 years]
2 years in College Station then on to Amarillo, Texas for 2 years, fortunately only 1 move there. We then headed back east in August 1996 when we came to Virginia and most likely our final resting spot. We first stayed in a hotel for 2 weeks, then a long term stay hotel for a month, then an apartment for 2 months while our house was being built.
Now we are at present day, a total of 20 moves in our 32 years of marriage. Sounds exhausting don’t it? It has been an adventure that’s for sure.
But all these moves and we still survived the hard times as well as the good times of our marriage. I have to give credit to God in keeping our home together and Jayne who is the Chief Operating Officer of the day to day operations.
We lived on St. Simons for about 8 months and had a wonderful summer there. We had a catamaran sailboat, 2 ten speed bicycles, and went to the beach as much as we could. We were always dreaming about our future together and could not wait for our career to begin.
September 1979 we received word that I was going to be hired with the FAA in Savannah Georgia. For 2 weeks I went to Savannah for indoctrination and then we moved back to Oklahoma City for my schooling.
So from February to October 1979 we actually moved 4 times. Ah the adventures in life! I graduated from the FAA Academy in January 1980 and we moved back to Savannah to begin our new life in the FAA. [5 moves in 11 months]
While we were in Savannah our daughter Heather was born. Most importantly, this is where I gave my life to the Lord. We stayed in Savannah for about 14 months then got a job in South Florida. We moved to Fort Lauderdale in March of 1981. [Married 2 years and have relocated 7 times.]
We lived in the Fort Lauderdale area for a little over 10 years and moved 3 times while we were there. [10 moves in 12 years] While we were living in South Florida our son Bryan was born.
June 1991 we moved out of South Florida to South Louisiana for a job promotion, most importantly this is where my children and I were baptized. We lived in Sulphur, Louisiana for 14 months at 2 different locations. November 1992 we moved to College Station, Texas for another job promotion. We decided to build a new home there and while we were waiting for the house to be complete we lived in 2 different locations. [So now we are at 15 moves in 13 years]
2 years in College Station then on to Amarillo, Texas for 2 years, fortunately only 1 move there. We then headed back east in August 1996 when we came to Virginia and most likely our final resting spot. We first stayed in a hotel for 2 weeks, then a long term stay hotel for a month, then an apartment for 2 months while our house was being built.
Now we are at present day, a total of 20 moves in our 32 years of marriage. Sounds exhausting don’t it? It has been an adventure that’s for sure.
But all these moves and we still survived the hard times as well as the good times of our marriage. I have to give credit to God in keeping our home together and Jayne who is the Chief Operating Officer of the day to day operations.
There are 2 chapters and verses in the Bible that jump right out at me about keeping a family together and building a Christian household. First is:
Joshua 24:15: But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
The other chapter is Psalm 127: Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.
Also during these 32 years we have traveled countless number of times and we like to revisit those places that we once resided, except for Amarillo! Life with Jayne has truly been an adventure and I would not want to change anything about this life. We have met thousands of people and have made hundreds of friends.
Jayne and I often lament about our times living on St. Simons Island, where life was so simple, no worries except each other. Oh, in so far as the moving from house to house thing, yeah we are still looking for that final house where we can finally get back to the beach.
Happy Anniversary Jayne, you are my adventure!
The other chapter is Psalm 127: Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.
Also during these 32 years we have traveled countless number of times and we like to revisit those places that we once resided, except for Amarillo! Life with Jayne has truly been an adventure and I would not want to change anything about this life. We have met thousands of people and have made hundreds of friends.
Jayne and I often lament about our times living on St. Simons Island, where life was so simple, no worries except each other. Oh, in so far as the moving from house to house thing, yeah we are still looking for that final house where we can finally get back to the beach.
Happy Anniversary Jayne, you are my adventure!
