And Those Birthdays Just Keep Adding Up!

Since we had just returned from being gone for two weeks to Texas, I asked George what he wanted to do for his birthday.  His reply:  "Just get caught up at work, then watch the Florida-Georgia football game."  Basically, just veg!  We ended up having a very nice day--except for the maddening Florida-Georgia game.  We were so disappointed with Florida losing, but other than that we had a very peaceful day.   That being said, I want to share a few pictures of George through the years and remind him how much he means to me and our family.

 

Yes, crew cuts and bow ties were in fashion!  He has always looked very handsome, right?!

 

He had wonderful parents who taught him to work hard, be organized, get a good education, and love the Lord.

 I know they encouraged him to be polite even when he wasn't exactly thrilled about doing what he had to do!  Hah!  (Not a date--he and the little girl were mascots for the Gold and Green Ball.)
He, also, learned responsibility through being a crossing guard across Roosevelt Blvd., no less!   Well, it was only a two-lane road at that time.  Every time we drive that way, he reminds me about this great responsibility he had!  (Third back on the right.)

And his parents always made sure they went together as a family to church.  They had a love for the Lord and for the gospel which definitely was instilled in George had a young age.


They were great parents and got him braces for his teeth.  (Sorry no pictures with the braces on.)

 In school, he always had lots of friends and one year was definitely the teacher's pet when she asked him to walk her dog every day during school because she had to bring him for some reason?  Is that legal to do as a teacher?  Anyway, he loved getting out in the fresh air--the dog and George!  (Sitting third back on the right.)


Yes, George truly loved sports right from day one.  Here he was playing on a little basketball team with his brother, Dwayne, (3rd from left).  George (4th from left)

He was a star basketball player for the Robert E. Lee Fightin' Generals while he was in high school.  He went out to Ricks College in Idaho to tryout for their basketball team, although he already had a baseball scholarship there, and that's when he was hurt during try-outs by a kid undercutting him during a lay-up which ended up affecting his back his entire life.


After high school graduation, he headed off for Ricks College in a little town of Rexburg, Idaho.  He had absolutely no idea where Rexburg was, let alone he wasn't even sure about Idaho!  Hah! 

 In addition to playing baseball for the college, he also was elected to the leadership committee.  I met him during his second year at Ricks while he was serving on this committee. 

After one semester of his sophomore year, he headed off for two years on a Mormon Mission to the Western States Mission, with headquarters in Denver, Colorado.

 He loved serving the people and preaching the gospel.

 Sparing you the details, we were engaged about a year after he returned, and by that time we both were attending school at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

We dressed up in period costumes (actually my sister Joyce's melodrama outfit and my grandpa's suit) for another fun engagement picture.

We were married June 5, 1968, in the Idaho Falls Temple and have now been married 45 years!

Through the years after our marriage, George continued his education and got his masters' degree when we had six children, and four years later with seven children, got his doctorate--all these years, working a full-time job, and being very busy in his church callings.

Through the years, George has definitely shown that his kids mean everything to him.

We took many vacations together as they were growing up.  Most Christmases, instead of buying lots of presents, we would take a Christmas vacation which held many more memories than gifts did, we felt.

He has always been one of the most loyal, dedicated Brigham Young University fans there is, even cheering for them over his beloved Florida team if they played each other!  This love for the Cougars was definitely conveyed to his children as they grew up sitting together as a family at all the home football games from when they were little babies.

Each and every grandchild is so loved and cared for, just like his own kids.  They are all remembered in his prayers!

His church callings are always something he has been so dedicated to.  Nothing is a sacrifice for the Lord after all the blessings he has been given, he feels.

 And, yes, George loves working with his colleagues in the Business Affairs Department for the school district.  They are some of the finest and hardest-working men and women he has ever worked with!  He is really going to have a hard time retiring because he loves his job so much!

So, what do I see in George's future?

Well, he is not a fan of the snow and cold, so I highly doubt we will ever go back to face that again.

He will continue to love ice cream and continually tell me not to buy it any more--even though he secretly could eat it every day in as big a cone as this is, if possible.

 His love for Diet-Coke/Diet Dr. Pepper with a few squirts of vanilla (combined in his own unique recipe which he won't share with just anyone) will never die.

He'll continue to share it with the grand kids.  He has a real soft heart for those requests!

 Hopefully, we can continue to see parts of the world we haven't seen or go back to some of our favorites.  George loves Europe!

 And lastly, I know he hopes to serve his family and the Lord in any way that he can in order to make a positive difference in others' lives.

Happy Birthday, George!  Love you lots!