Happy 60th Birthday, Dad!

Words cannot adequately describe what a great husband, father, friend, servant, and leader you are. Here is our attempt (your kids and their spouses) to appreciate and honor you on your special day. 

1. I have such fun memories of staying up late playing Rook in Samaipata. - Ellen

2. I like how you make Pirate’s Eyes quite delicious. - Karen

3. The time you taught me to ride a bike. - Gary

4. The times you’ve visited us in Nicaragua on my birthday and bought Pops Ice Cream. - Luke

5. I like watching “Spies Like Us” with you.  - Thomas

6. The time you took us out to eat when visiting KC. - Gary and Madison

7. I like how you would frequently pick me up from Iglesia Bautista Biblia Abierta when I was heavily involved with the Deaf ministry. - Karen

8. I loved when you would take me to McDonald’s for breakfast or to a donut shop on the way to school when I was in 2nd grade. - Ellen

9. The time we worked on my scooter I had for a bit. - Gary

10. Talking football with you and watching games on TV together. - Luke

11. I love how much you love Judy and will do anything for her.  - Thomas

12. I loved going to make airport runs with you in Bolivia. - Karen

13. The time you bought us a gift card to a restaurant for our anniversary. - Gary and Madison

14. I love hearing stories about growing up in Mexico or your days at Moody. - Ellen

15. I like how you crossed yourself whenever the Trinity was invoked at an Orthodox church service.  - Thomas

16. The times you took me to go flying in the Cesna. - Gary

17. The time you drove a group of us up to Volcan Pacaya. - Luke

18. I blame you for my addiction to Wendy’s Frostys. I agree, chocolate is the only flavor it should come in! - Karen

19. The time you taught me to curve a soccer ball. - Gary

20. I like riding bikes in Colorado with you.  - Thomas

21. I always think of you when I watch movies involving lots of stunts/action of cars and planes. I think “If Dad was watching this he would tell me exactly why this situation is scientifically, aerodynamically (or whatever) completely unrealistic.” - Ellen

22. The time you took me to the river to go 4-wheeling. - Gary

23. I like how you take Snickers out to go potty when you come to visit. - Karen

24. Always saving the little "free" stuff hotels provide. - Luke

25. The time you fell down the stairs at the Blakely’s house. - Gary and Madison

26. The cruise was the best vacation we’ve ever been on. I’m so glad you convinced Judy to go. Fun times!  - Thomas

27. The time you allowed me to drive the Toyota truck and I got it stuck in the sand. - Gary

28. The time we played chess on a life size chess board in Guatemala. - Luke

29. The time you rescued me when my clutch gave out. - Gary

30. I loved traveling with you to Guatemala for Christmas of ’14. Such a fun time! You made me a giraffe out of cardboard tubes left over from wrapping paper. - Karen

31.That time when I was in first grade and you super-glued my lunch box back together after I had dropped it while riding on your motorcycle with you. - Ellen

32. The times you took me to the junk yards to pull parts for cars. - Gary

33. The time we waited out the rain at the gas station while on motorcycles in Nicaragua. - Luke

34. I love the sound of your breathing machine that lulls me to sleep at night.  zzzzzz  - Thomas

35. The time you rescued me from the roof of the 3rd house. - Gary

36. I loved that you and mom came to Dallas for our marriage ceremony on November 13th …and the dinner afterwards. Very special. - Karen

37. You can always rig up something in any situation. - Ellen

38. The time we rented mopeds in Honduras. - Luke

39. The time we fixed up a car with cardboard and duct tape. - Gary

40. The time we drove to Houston at 2 am to deliver a bed in Granddaddy’s pickup. - Gary

41. I like how you drove us to various Orthodox churches in Colorado.  - Thomas

42. I loved having you get me saltenas as a treat during mid-morning. - Karen

43. The times you taught me all about cars. - Gary

44. I remember helping you at the SAM base during the summer of ’98. I would answer phones, make copies, and pay solitaire. It granted me such secretarial organizational skills I carry on into the present life. - Karen

45.The time we had to stay at the Base several days because our road was too flooded for our truck to make it back home. - Ellen

 

46. The times we use to play soccer on the xbox. - Gary

47. I liked creating Karen’s Kitchen and making everything out of potatoes because that’s all that we had. ‘This Spuds for you” was an item. - Karen

48. I’m so glad you taught me to play guitar and that we share a love for music. - Ellen

49. The time you painted the H on the Passport for me. - Gary

50. Always looking for ways to fix up stuff in our house or car. - Luke

51. I like helping you make Judy happy with doing the letterboxing and following clues.  - Thomas

52. The infamous chairs you attached on top of our truck. - Ellen

53.The time you haggled the price down of the repair for the 4-wheeler. - Gary

54. I loved that you and mom drove all over Guatemala trying to find me that Orthodox orphanage. 

We finally found it! Maybe next time I’ll go in and visit. - Karen

55.  The time we camped out in the tree house at SAM base. - Gary

56. I like how you make changes in your own schedule to accommodate our need for church. - Thomas

57.  If there is a way to find a pun in a situation, you usually say it. - Luke  

58. The time you allowed me to take the Cesna simulator home to play with. - Gary

59. I loved that you took me to the Orthodox church in Guatemala City on Christmas day. - Karen

60. I’m so thankful for how patient you were with me in middle school when I was in tears over math. - Ellen

WE LOVE YOU, DAD!  Happy 60th Birthday!