Judi Craig

Judy and Dean

Hard to believe 40 years has gone by since we graduated from high school. Harder to believe is that Dean & I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary June 7th. It just doesn't seem like we are old enough to be married 40 years. Dean says we were 3 & 5 when we got married! Main thing is that though we were young we had found the right one and have been blessed to grow up together and grow old together. (the old part will start someday)

Our sons Chad (36) & Trevor (33) are both pastors at the Boise Vineyard Church. They were always best friends growing up and have remained that way, so enjoy the opportunity to work together. They both have great wives that have become the daughters we didn't have and have blessed our lives with fun grand kids. Chad & Jamie have 4 children---Kona 11, Stephen 9, Bonnie J 6 & Renton 4. Trevor & Andrea have almost 2 children. Patience 2 & another beautiful daughter due in November. Both families live only 2 miles from us, so we are blessed to get to hug the kids often and have the opportunity to really know and enjoy them. They will keep us young as we get good exercise just keeping up with them.

My Family		My Grandkids

Dean quit Hewlett Packard a few years ago and has been doing some beautiful art work on his own. He does incredible bronze sculptures that are so life like. He is restoring a 13' X 4' 200+ year old stained glass window for the Boise Vineyard that will be installed soon. He also enjoys passing on his skills and is working with some others to start an art school in the Boise area.

I have learned a lot about casting bronze, choosing patinas & working with the foundry and the business end of our adventure. We are enjoying working together and the opportunity we have to talk to people and encourage them. We also realize there is a lot to marketing. Any marketing experts out there? We use a foundry in Hayden and after the reunion will be picking up our "Martin Luther King" sculpture for the Black History Museum in Boise.

We look forward to seeing all of you at the reunion and so appreciate all the hard work the committee has done to make it all come together. A special "Thank You" to Bill for the web page and for the numerous calls he has made to locate people and to give those of us a bad time for not getting our information in.

July 19th Update - Note to all my classmates

Being not to computer savvy and having just got my information in a few days ago, here it is the weekend before the reunion and I just read the updates on all of you. Sounds like we have all had very blessed lives and reading the accounts has made me smile, laugh, reminisce and cry. My heart has been touched by the number of classmates, their spouses or their children that have had serious health issues to deal with. Here is a excerpt from my writing for the 30th reunion.

"At our 20 year reunion I had made a career change from banking and was working for 2 eye surgeons as their assistant. It was interesting and challenging and I loved it. I thought I had found my niche in life, but 6 years ago I was shocked to be diagnosed with a brain tumor. We know these things happen, but to other people. Sometimes we are those other people. Fortunately, the tumor was benign but very life changing. I have found a deeper appreciation of life itself, family, friends and have seen how Jesus can bring good things out of bad situations. I started a support group for people that have had brain surgery that has been very rewarding. So many wonderful people that I never would have had the opportunity to meet except thru a common experience. Even brain tumors can be a blessing in disguise."

I am thankful to report that July 20th will be the 16th anniversary since that brain surgery. My life has been rich beyond measure in the gift of more years as well as having a terrific & supportive family. In reading your accounts I see you are pushing ahead looking for new stabilizing drugs, walking out final years with sick mates and finding new faith in Jesus because of situations that have changed your life. In many ways we are the blessed ones as our hearts have been tendered for others going thru tough times and we don't take life for granted but know each day is a gift in itself. My faith has been strengthened and my heart has been touched by everyones courage.

Judi