July 5, a day to remember in our family, the day we welcomed Jane Elizabeth into our family and into the world.  As our first child, born at Shirati Hospital in Tanzania, she has a special place in our memories and hearts.  We can not even begin to be thankful enough for this gift of grace.  Jane has been in step with us for all of her 63 years and fills a huge place in our lives as next-door neighbor.  She brought Glenn into the picture, her devoted husband, another gift of grace.  Our lives have been entwined in a beautiful way through the years, especially the last 16 years, as neighbors.   The rooms that they built on for us when we need to scale down have served many people since built.  Bless these dear ones.

So, as we celebrate Jane’s birthday today we do so with joy, gratitude and a full heart.  She has been a gift to us for all these many years and continues to be until this day.

Here she is squeezed between Mom and Dad as we board the motorcycle for our visit to the lake shore, an outing we enjoyed often.  Our house is in the background.  This is before Paul was born.  Jane is our first born and the only daughter.  The joy she has brought into our lives is beyond telling, until today, her birthday.