Blending Our Family… 45 Years Later
Guest blogger, David Appelhof, shares his experience with us in creating a blended, faith-filled family. I love the way he and his wife, Diane, had a goal beginning with Jesus as the center of their family life. A special thank you to Diane and David for sharing the story of blending their family.
xoBecky
Years ago when Diane and I were dating, we each had two children. I had a son who was 15 and a daughter 13. Diane had two boys, 8 and 10. Early in our relationship, we were asked “What was our greatest passion as a couple?”
Neither of us had an immediate answer, but as our relationship matured it became evident in the way we lived our life together and in the goal we set for ourselves as parents.
Our GOAL became…… to do the very best job in BLENDING our kids into a Christ centered, loving, and caring FAMILY.
Once we made the commitment to get married, we created a list to accomplish our goal.
First, we decided we needed to find a home suitable for our new family that provided each of the kids with their own room. Next, we searched out a church within the community that would not only work for Diane and myself, but also had an outstanding youth program. In preparation for our wedding, we both felt strongly that we wanted to have the four children participate in the service. We also included this Family Prayer into the service.
Dear Lord, we ask you to bless the unifying of these two families, that together they will share in richness and happiness, that they will give each other the strength to handle the new role they are assuming by living and experiencing life together.
We ask that Derek and Grant bring their loving spirit to share with Greg, Lee, and David. That Lee Ann experience a new found satisfaction by this union of Diane and David, and that she give to Derek and Grant and Diane, the love that she has the ability to give, that Gregory give to Grant and Derek the leadership that a big brother has the opportunity to provide.
And finally, we ask that Diane and David bring a spiritual life to these four beautiful children so that they will, together live a life meaningful to the Glory of God. Amen
Looking back 45 years, while still a member of the above mentioned church with many good friends, Diane and I are proud of the way that this “passion” has played out in our lives. Not that there haven’t been bumps in the road……but all in all, our family has blended very well!
Diane and I are truly blessed with an expanded family now comprising of 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren (plus one coming in January).
Praise the Lord…..GOD is good!
Dave, a son of an Episcopal minister grew up in Michigan and Ohio. Diane a daughter of a Register of Deeds and mother a teacher, grew up in Cambridge, MN. Once married, Diane and Dave lived in Bloomington, where Dave was in business and Diane was a second grade teacher.
David, thank you for your heartfelt post and your endorsement for Faithful Grandparenting: Practical Ideas for Connecting the Generations!
“Loved the book! Faithful Grandparenting is a wonderful guide for grandparents. It not only provides a strong Christian influence, but calls for logical, commonsense grandparenting. I love the way the authors have empowered the reader to highlight key points with the check-off boxes. Being a former athlete and coach, I especially loved the inclusion “Rules of an Athlete.” It is “right-on” advice for kids as student athletes! Faithful Grandparenting is a great contribution to grandparents, present and future!”
-Dave Appelhof, grandparent of 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandkids
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Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash