Glenn's 60th Birthday

On Sunday Glenn celebrated his 60th birthday.  I absolutely had nothing planned special for him.  He knew that.  However, we made it special anyway.

We decided to drive 45 minutes away to the Santa Domingo Hotel in Antigua and have a leisurely breakfast at the Sunday Buffet.  We had never been there for breakfast before.  Wow!  It was delicious.  We sat at the table and slowly worked through specialty omelets and crepes made to order, fruit of all kinds, café con leche, etc., all of which were delicious. This turned out to be our brunch.

We sat at the table watching the FaceBook Birthday greetings.  Our children had a special 'posting' of 60 things that they are thankful for about their dad.  

Read their post here or read below.

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 Cessna. - Gary

17. The time you drove a group of us up to Volcán 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 Cessna 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!

Thank you Ellen and Luke for putting this together for Dad.  

Thank you Karen, Thomas, Gary and Madison for being a part of this beautiful message of love for Dad. 

We laughed, we cried, and smiled as we read how you are thankful for your Dad. 

 Happy Birthday, Glenn.