Sun., July 4, 2010
(30 years)
30 years ago, Apr. 25, 1980, I was driving Mom, April (almost 5 yrs old), Nate (almost 4 yrs old), Tiffany (2 yrs old) and Briana (10 months old) to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa so you could all return to the United States and have some time to get acquainted and visit with Grandpa & Grandma Juber in the Seattle, WA area. Since Tiff and Bri were born on Okinawa during our 3-yr. Air Force tour of duty--family in the States had never seen them. April turned 2 the week we left the States for Okinawa and Nate celebrated his 1st birthday on Okinawa.
As we drove to the base, except for the Armed Forces Radio Network news broadcasting through the radio, the car was very quiet and the atmosphere was very somber. Suddenly, a news alert . . . the radio announcer said Pres. Jimmy Carter had launched an invasion into Iran to free hostages the Iranians had taken at the U.S. Embassy. The invasion and attempted hostage rescue failed miserably. U.S. helicopters crashed and military personnel were killed. The radio announcer went on to say that military dependents would be allowed to leave the island of Okinawa, but military personnel with permanent change of station (PCS) orders were immediately frozen on Okinawa until further notice. The entire island went into high alert.
After a very emotional good-bye, Mom took the 4 of you on a Flying Tiger aircraft the military had leased for the trip to the States. The cargo plane had been reconfigured to accommodate passengers. Mom was issued a Dole pineapple box that was to be used as Bri’s bed during the 16-hr. flight from Kadena to Travis Air Force Base, CA (near San Francisco). Mom was amazing as she single-handedly cared for all of you in a trip half-way around the world to California. She then overcame serious challenges getting you from Travis AFB to the San Francisco civilian airport for your trip to Seattle.
Mount St. Helens volcano (Washington) erupted, causing massive devastation and ash fall-out just before you all arrived in Seattle. After Mom got you all settled in Seattle, she went to Portland, OR to pick up a lovely new 1980 Plymouth Volare, mocha brown, station wagon that we had ordered through the Base Exchange (BX) on Okinawa. From the time she got the car until we were all reunited in Provo, the engine compartment was filled with volcanic ash from the eruption.
After spending several weeks in Seattle, Mom drove you to Provo, UT to get acquainted and spend time with Grandpa and Grandma Boulter until my return.
Now to the heart of this story . . .
It was 30 yrs. ago today (July 4, 1980) that I had celebrated my last 4th of July, by myself, on Okinawa. You see, being in Japan, I was one-day ahead of you here, in the States. I remember sitting alone the night of the 4th of July, in the midst of hundreds of military men and women and their families on a football field at Camp Butler (the Marine Corps base where we lived), watching the fireworks display, anxiously waiting for time to pass so I could get on a plane and return to the States.
In the early morning hours of July 5, 1980 (Okinawa time), I flew out of Kadena AB enroute to San Francisco. During my long flight home, you were celebrating the 4th of July with Grandpa & Grandma Boulter at their home in Provo. I remember Mom telling me how all of you and Grandpa & Grandma climbed on their roof to watch the fireworks show that originated at BYU.
Earlier this week as I spoke with Grandma Boulter, she fondly remembered that 4th of July on the roof with all of you. She laughed and excitedly recounted her memories of that night 30 years ago. She giggled, remembering how she and Grandpa were able to climb the ladder to get onto the roof that night.
My, how time flies when you’re having fun . . .
Faithful mother caring for 4 little ones under the age of 6 as they traveled half-way around the world.
Baby Bri, issued a Dole pineapple box for her bed.
Half a mountain blown away in a volcanic eruption (Mount St. Helens).
New car with an engine compartment full of volcanic ash.
4th of July, alone in Okinawa.
4th of July in Provo, atop Grandpa & Grandma’s roof.
Aug. 3, 1981 (13 months later) . . . Serena, our first civilian baby, serenely brought more of heaven into our home.
Mar. 24, 1983 . . . Heather arrived to bless our family on Grandma Emma Boulter’s birthday.
Family moves from Okinawa to Las Vegas to Orem to Mesa to Gilbert.
Bolt, Coqui and Kadena.
Grade school, Jr. High, High School.
School reports, dates, volleyball, chorus, graduations (or as Leyna says, “getting kicked out” of school).
More dates . . . then spouses . . . then special little ones from the pre-existence.
Challenges in which our family and individual faith and testimony have been tested, refined and further developed.
30 years of life, challenges, growth and miracles
Yes, each of you is counted a divine, precious miracle to Mom and me.
Where much is given, much is required.
It’s not over yet.
May we all be united in love, faith and testimony, counted worthy to receive, witness and testify of miracles yet to come into our lives.
I love you,
Dad
When I count my blessings . . .
I count you twice.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.
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