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| Our wedding day |
A Traditional Romance
Like many families, mine has been with me through thick
and thin. Through health problems in high school and college, numerous sporting events, injuries, ER visits, struggles in
school, and questions about my career, they've stuck by me. They may not always have the answers, and they may not even like
the questions sometimes. But being there is invaluable. They are a treasured part of my life. Their love for me taught
me to search and pray for that one true romance that would become a part of the family in which I was raised.
Just
when I had nearly given up, I got to know Aaron, and we quickly became inseparable. Although our friendship did not
seem a likely garden for romance in the beginning, just months after we began dating we married. I hope to build a family
with Aaron that is as joyful and God-fearing as my family of origin.
Aaron's sister, Sarah, is engaged to married to Jonathan this
December. She is currently working at an accounting firm in Kansas City, while Jonathan is an insurance adjuster
who works all over the nation. Our whole family is looking forward to the wedding!
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| PAPA'S LARRIVEE, 2000 |
My dad, Jay, has been a hero to me all my life. He is a talented guitarist with innumerable classic rock riffs stored in
his head. It used to seem like he'd read every book written, and his memory for numbers and facts still astounds me. He
works as a university professor and coordinator of a master's program at a state school in Wisconsin. He gave up the chance
at a lucrative high profile accounting career to spend more time with his family, a choice that makes us all feel very special.
Someday I hope to be a professor just like him - well, maybe a different subject...
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| Swinging with Katrina |
Foundations of Family
Raised on the North Shore of Lake Superior, my parents met in junior high and married at 18, just out of high school. They
have done everything together, from college classes to business ventures, to building their dream home. Watching them work
through marriage and keep a romance alive for 28 years has been a lesson in life for all of us. A healthy marriage and happy
home are perhaps the most valuable gifts they have ever given their children.
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| Grandpa Ken & Grandma Nel with Katy |
The Thuls
Ken is the agency manager of a life insurance company in
St. Cloud, MN. His favorite hobby is probably his gun collection or hunting and fishing. Janel works part-time,
but has been a work-at-home mother for most of her life. She loves spending time with the girls and is an absolutely
perfect grandmother and mother-in-law! Together they have completely remodeled their home, and done a great job raising
three kids.
Nick is Aaron's youngest sibling. He has a degree from SJU
as well, but is considering a major career move to law. He is currently living and working in Minneapolis, after a stint
in Japan just out of college.
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| MAMA MAKING POTS |
My mother, Debra, is an amazing artist with a flair for pottery and prints. She taught us all to draw everything from cars
to people realistically, if not artistically. She is a master of the feminine arts, from beautiful handwriting to mouth-watering
cooking, sewing to decorating the house. She has dedicated her life to teaching and training her children, and a variety
of Christian ministries. Currently she is ministering to prisoners in federal institutions via a Bible education program
and serving the college-age church in our area.
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| Uncle Scott plays with Katy |
Scott has had a lot of turmoil and triumph in the last
year of his life! He is going through a divorce right now, in a new relationship, and working on graduating this December
with his Associate Degree in Criminal Justice. He is excited to be looking into job opportunities all over the nation
as a police officer with unique experiences in DCI.
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| Ben with girls, Nov. 2005 |
My youngest brother, Benjamin, is now a college junior at UW-Eau Claire, majoring in math and physics
(it must run in the blood!). He is an avid snowboarder, dabbles in modern art and photography, landscaping, woodworking
and baseball. He is also an excellent guitarist, following in my father's footsteps on acoustic and electric guitar.
He plays rhythm and lead guitar for the Edge's worship band, and also plays with the main church band a few Sundays a month.
His newest interest is his girlfriend, Megan!
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| CUTTING THE CAKE, 2001 |
Daniel and Melissa got married in June, 2001. Daniel was
heading into his sophmore year of college, as was Melissa. She is a lot like him - homeschooled, from a close-knit Christian
family, raised in the country. Now he is a double math and physics major at the same university my father teaches at, and
runs sound for the Edge. He also enjoys snowboarding, playing pool, and reading. He's always been a bookworm! Melissa is very
involved in her own business as a history consultant, and also works full time as an Event Coordinator for the Chippewa Valley
Museum. She has recently taken up knitting, and also enjoys potting and snowboarding!
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