Wow! Where have 30 years gone? A reminder of the brevity of our lives, our life as a shadow!!
As most of you may recall I joined the LC Class of '79 only for our Senior year as our family had recently moved to Whatcom County in the spring of '78 from the Midwest.
Upon graduation I took some business classes at WCC part time. Meanwhile building my dairy enterprise.
In 1985 I married my wife Joanne, who hailed from Richmond BC, over the next 17 years we would dairy at 2 locations first near Lynden and then by Sumas. In this time we were blessed with 10 children, 8 sons and 2 daughters. In 2002 my roots from Iowa seemed to be beckoning as we relocated our dairy to Hull, Iowa, 25 miles from where I was born and raised.
Our children are all here with us, and since coming here we have received 1 more son for a total of 11. Yet myself and Joanne have left behind our parents and all our siblings in Whatcom County and BC.
More recently one of our sons has married and several more seem poised in that direction. We have become grandparents (a great blessing). This spring 2 of our sons have joined the Army National Guard, and at this time are in basic training at Fort Sill, OK. A reminder that freedom is not free nor cheap!
I like to joke of my wife, who after 23 years of marriage and living as a Canadian in the States, has recently become a US Citizen. I guess she finally decided she is going to stay here!!
Todd Van Middendorp
