A Father’s Thoughts to his Daughter... April

Fri., July 23, 2010

(35 years ago)

Early this morning I spent time in the Mesa Temple reflecting on all of you and events that occurred 35 years ago.

July 23, 1975, 4:00 a.m., I left Lackland Air Force Base after completing 6 weeks of Basic Training and 2 weeks in Casual Status – hanging around Lackland until the government made arrangements to get me to Lowry AFB in Aurora, CO (suburb east of Denver).  My time in Casual Status consisted of scrubbing lots of toilets and floors and sitting around.

On this day, 35 yrs. ago, Mom scurried around the Denver airport as my arrival gate was changed a couple of times.  She was 8 months pregnant with April.  When I landed, I only got to see her for a few minutes.  It was an emotional reunion.  I was thrilled to see her again.  Then I was ordered to get on a government bus and I was taken to in-process at Lowry.  Mom picked me up about 5:00 p.m. and we went to Grandpa and Grandma Juber’s home for supper.

After supper, Mom was helping clear the table and cleaning dishes when the small of her back began to ache.  Once we arrived at our home – a trailer in the trailer park just east of Grandpa and Grandma’s place, Mom’s lower back pains continued.  Little did we know it was the beginning of a long and sleepless night.

Mom had visited with her OB dr. a few days prior to my return from Basic Training.  She had enrolled us in Lamaze classes.  She had a stack of childbirth manuals at the house.  By 10:30 p.m. she was soaking in the tub, trying to relieve her back pain and I was reading one of her manuals, reviewing the signs of labor.  By midnight, very much against Mom’s will, we were on our way to Fitzsimons Army Medical Center.

It was quite a homecoming 35 years ago, today . . . culminating April’s birth the next day -- July 24, 1975.  Yes, Mom felt like a pioneer that day.

FYI – The military charged us $11 for April’s birth.  Later, I questioned why the military charged us $13 for Nate.  I felt it was discriminatory and an excessive charge -- things appear that way when your gross pay is less than $600/month.  The nurse summed up the difference in one word . . . circumcision.  Oh!  Ouch!  Oh!

After April’s birth, on my way home from the hospital, I stopped at the Post Exchange (PX) to buy a high-chair for our little girl.  When I returned to the hospital later that day, I was excited to tell Mom of my thoughtful purchase.  She laughed and informed me that it would be several months before April would be able to use it.  Oh well, if she had developed any quicker, we were prepared.

We’re blessed to have Mom and April in our lives.

I love you,

Dad

     Family . . . all because two people fell in love.

     A mother holds her children’s hands for a moment . . .

                                                                     she holds their hearts for a lifetime.