Dear Grandkids,
2 weeks ago I celebrated my 60th birthday. Today, your Nona joins me in the 60 year old club. We have been married for almost 37 of those years. Genesis 2:18 says, “Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Your Nona was definitely made especially for me. She is the perfect “fit” for me. She is an awesome wife, mother, and grandmother. I wanted to write down some things about her that you may or may not know – you can ask her more about these some time when you are older.
- She was born at Baptist Hospital in Winston Salem and then grew up in Kernersville, NC.
- She had childhood TB (tuberculosis) when she was 2 years old. For some reason she began asking for a pink Christmas tree at this time but got a pink angel that still adorns our Christmas tree each year.
- She grew up with a mom and a dad who loved each other, with 2 older sisters that she is very close to, and a beloved dog (a dachshund) named Snoopy.
- She was a cheerleader for the Kernersville Raiders in the Pop Warner League.
- She attended East Forsyth High School in Winston-Salem and was the valedictorian of her graduating class in 1976.
- She was Chief of the Eaglettes – a dance team that performed with the marching band at her high school football games.
- She graduated from UNC-Greensboro in 1980 and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.
- She attended NC State University where she received her Master’s Degree in Counseling.
- She grew up attending Sedge Garden United Methodist Church. She became a follower of Jesus through the influence of her sister Anne while in college. And then began attending a baptist church after we got married.
- She loves the Lord, treasures His Word, and is continually learning what it means to abide in Christ.
- She met the man who would be her future husband (that would be me) in Galveston, Texas on a Campus Crusade for Christ Beach Project in June of 1979.
- She began running that summer when she saw me running and didn’t stop for 35 years – until I encouraged her to transition to walking in her late 50s.
- She broke her back when she was in college.
- She worked as a medical receptionist for a surgeon before she became a mom.
- She loves being a mom. She has 3 awesome kids who have grown up to be 3 awesome adults who became awesome parents themselves with awesome kids of their own.
- She spent many years meeting with other moms each week to pray for your parents (and the other mom’s kids) – which accounts in no small way as to why your parents are so awesome.
- She was a stay at home mom until your parents were fairly independent then worked as a school counselor at Carrington Middle School for about 13 years.
- She just retired from that job so that she has more time to hang out with you and to help your parents anyway that she can.
- She has generally had good health but was involved in a scooter accident in India in 2011 that has caused some ongoing issues.
- She has lived in 5 cities: Kernersville NC (1958-1976), Greensboro NC (1976-1980), Raleigh NC (1980-1981), Ipswich MA (1981-1983), Raleigh NC (1983-1993), and Durham, NC (1993- present)
- She watches very little television but she does love 2 shows: Jeopardy and The Amazing Race.
- She loves to cook and bake and make Nona bread for you. She loves to work outside in the yard and to grow flowers – especially Iris’ because they were favorites of her Mom.
- She is meticulous when it comes to details and especially values organization.
- She is a beach lover (Sunset Beach is her favorite) and especially loves the weeks at the beach that she can spend with you.
- She considers herself incredibly blessed and lives gratefully for all that the Lord has done for her and in her.
- Her grandma name for you all came about this way: None of the options that she came up were approved by your parents so as grandchild #1 approached we had NO NAme. So she became Nona.
- You will notice from these pictures that she is still a stunning woman even in her “senior” years. She has most definitely aged better than me.
Hopefully you will have a chance to talk to her today and wish her a very happy birthday. I promise that it will be the highlight of her day.
Never ever forget that you are very loved!
Pop Pop
Thanks babe! Some of those years were not my best photo ops! Thankful for this life together!