Today is a BIG day in the life of two of the most important people in our lives! BIG, like once-in-a-lifetime kind of BIG! Today marks 50 YEARS since Michael's aunt and uncle, who are very affectionately known around these parts as Tony and Gin-Gin, were married. A 50th wedding anniversary!!! WOW! Such an accomplishment! And they have not just stayed married, they have continued to love another. They are loving and caring to one another. And the role they have played in our lives can't be understated! Who knew that way back in 1990.....
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| They would be such a HUGE part of our lives in the decades to come! Gin-gin was an honorary mom at our wedding since Michael's own mother had just passed away 6 months before. I had no idea how she would so beautifully fill the role of mother-in-law (in all the BEST ways!) that I would have had vacant. She's been such a blessing to me, over and over again! She shops with me, she buys the BEST cards for birthdays and anniversaries, she calls to check on me, she proudly makes me a member of her Republican Women's club, she cheers me on and so faithfully tells me what a great job I've done raising the boys, she reads my blog 😍, I really could go on and on! I'm so grateful for you Gin! But this blog post isn't just about Gin, it's about the dynamic duo! From the very first moments when they declared themselves "Tony and Gin-Gin", they've jumped in and been such a presence and delight in our lives. Look at these absolutely adorable jewels that I uncovered!!! |
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| I'm quite sure no one else in the Air Force was EVER serenaded by Lt. Col. Callanan! |
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| Can't you see the love in these photos!! And it's mutual on everyone's parts!! |
I remember one year, I surprised Michael and we flew out to LA to see Kenny G live in concert. Tony and Gin went to our hotel room before we arrived and filled our room with goodies. Tony mentioned that they had to tell the front desk that we were "their kids" in order for them to get in. He hoped we didn't mind. I remember being so humbled by that. OF COURSE we didn't mind! We have felt like "their kids" always. They've been grandparents to the boys, they've been like another set of parents to us, loving, caring, cheering us on!
Even when I'm sure they thought we were completely berserk for the choice to homeschool, they never let us know. But they sure did let us know when they saw good things in us and in our boys. Tony even had the system director of Navstar GPS personally write 8 year old Jonathan and Jeremy a personal congratulations letter when they won the science fair using GPS as a subject! That's just the way they roll. Cheer and encourage!
They've help fund the boys' college, because way back in 1995 they wanted to do something. WOW!! And as usual, they've been so encouraging to the boys as they have pursued their degrees and are moving away from our nest.
How many people have 3 sets of grandparents cheering them on every step of the way?!
God knew all those years ago that our hearts and lives had a spot that only they could fill. And that their hearts had a spot created just for us. Way beyond "aunt and uncle" closeness. For that we are so grateful!!!
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| Tony was in the Air Force and has been such a great example of a true American: Hardworking, Patriotic, faithful, fun! He's volunteers at the air museum in Torrance and shares his knowledge and love for flight with the visitors. Gin-Gin has so faithfully served by his side as an Air Force wife for 50 years and is the quintessential hostess. She's faithfully served the Bay Area Republican Women's Club for so many years. She's set a great example for staying involved in your community and doing your part to make your corner of the world the best it can be. Even all these years in California hasn't made them crazy liberals! ;-) And I think they are just glad we aren't either! We certainly share conservative values all the way around. That in itself is such a blessing! |
They love watching football together. There will probably always be disagreement with the Eagles play the Cowboys and when the Cyclones play the Longhorns, but that's the way they like it. A little spice to make the sweet just right.
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| We are so proud of these two! We love you both SO MUCH!! We are delighted to spend a GOLDEN day, celebrating such a GOLDEN pair!! So to wrap up this celebration, here's 50 memories Michael, the boys and I have of our lives with you (there are so many more, but here's what came up first):
1. Gin being an honorary mom on Peggy's behalf at our wedding.
2. The "just married" shirts you gave Michael and me to wear on our honeymoon.
3. The Schnauzer love you always gave to Max and Gretchen.
4. Gin's saying "I knew it! I just knew it!" when we told her we were expecting.
5. Gin's coming to help when Jonathan and Jeremy were babies.
6. Tony and Gin coming together for a visit when Jonathan and Jeremy were just a couple of months old.
7. Trips together to places like Ft. Walton Beach, FL
8. La Brea tarpits
9. Disneyland
10, Lego Land
11. San Diego
12. Austin
13. Your cute care package the first time all the boys came to visit Orange County.
14. Evenings at the Embassy Suites during happy hour during our six week vacation (well six week work project for Michael in Rancho Santa Margarita; six week vacation for the boys and me!)
15. Your trip with Michael to see John Glenn on his space shuttle launch
16. The flight suit and army suits you sent to Jonathan and Jeremy on their 8th birthday
17. With your own personal flight patches attached!
18. The letter you had written by a GPS program director after they won the 2nd grade science fair.
19. Tony sharing flight stories and telling about River Rat reunions
20. Your sending cookies with the presidential candidates' pictures on them in 2008.
21. Super thoughtful Christmas ornaments every year
22. Your handling gracefully Josiah breaking your screen door
23. And the light fixture on the same trip!
24. Trader Joe's goodies
25. Your participating and sharing at all the boys' 13th birthday celebrations
26. Shopping trips to Savers and Macy's
27. Tony calling during an Aggie game to say he's "lighting candles" for the Aggies
28. Or if they are playing Iowa State to issue a "cyclone warning"!
29. Your amazing greeting cards for every birthday, anniversary, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, Easter.....
30. How you would write on the boys' birthday cards "You now have ____ shares in your Van Guard Star Fund for your future"
31. How excited and grateful they were when they were old enough to actually understand what that meant!!
32. How you set up those funds and it paid for all of Jonathan and Jeremy's Bachelor's degree that they didn't pay in CLEP fees!
33. How that's doing the same for Jeffrey right now!
34. Christmas in California
35. Christmas in San Antonio
36. Christmas dishes-Spode Christmas tree-all thanks to you!
37. Taking Jonathan and Jeremy to the Ronald Reagan library when they came out to visit alone
38. Republican Women's luncheons and fashion shows
39. You calling us "your kids". Yep, we do the same. It's not just "less complicated", it's true!!
40. Scardinos
41. Kinkaid's
42. Blue Water Grill
43. Those cute black lacy pants that Gin and I both have! 😁
44. Sports Illustrated for Kids subscriptions for years
45. And Money Magazine and Consumer Reports when they were older
46. Beautiful evenings spent out on your back patio visiting and watching football or Fox News
47. Being at your house playing while the boys were at Worldview in Santa Clarita.
48. Gin-gin and Josiah playing Wii bowling
49. Tony totally rockin' it on Blazing Angels on the Wii
50. All your love, generosity and support for all these years!
WE LOVE YOU!!!!💖💖💖
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2 comments:
Love reading all these facts that had not come up before. So thankful for both of them and the love and care they've shown to all of you.
Congratulation, Tony and Gin! Have a great celebration for a job well done!
Happy Anniversary Tony & Gin! Sweet post! :-)
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