40th Anniversary Party

This summer marked Bill and Sarah's 40th anniversary. When The Party Planners (a.k.a. Cody and Keri) arrived in town, a celebration had to take place.

Clemmie and Emma waiting for guests to arrive:

Sarah crying as she listens to The Anniversary Song (see text below). Emma and Sophie enjoying the music:

The Anniversary Song Performers:

Guests of Honor:

Guests Randy and Sally Pierce:

Guests Paula and Chuck Schwartzmann:

Guests Uncle John and Mary Elizabeth (A. Karen stayed with Meme that night):

Guest The Sus with Emma:

Small guests:

C & K found Bill and Sarah's wedding Ironstone china at a garage sale the week before they came. Through the years almost all of theirs had broken. This table setting is what Cody remembers growing up - Ironstone with green glasses:

To the tune of "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine":

In the halls of Hendrix, I first met my wife
Sweet Sarah with whom I’d spend the rest of my life.
I’d never met anyone quite like my Bill
When he asked me to marry, I said, “Yes, I will.”

Ohhhhhh, kisses sweeter than wine
Ohhhhhh, kisses sweeter than wine

We honeymooned in Europe where we had a great time
The slideshow we made, it was really sublime.
Then it was off to study medicine at UAMS
Where I had to pass some really hard tests.

Ohhhhhh, med school really is hard
Ohhhhhh, I’d rather work in the yard!

That was in ’70, in ‘71
We welcomed Cody, the first of four sons.
Shortly thereafter we had Matt, Josh, and Dave
Oh, Lord, the blessings you gave.

Maranatha ministries and MLTS
Some of it was good, but a lot was a mess!
Brackenridge, and Bread of Life, and real estate booms,
I moved to South Austin to escape ER goons.

Royal Rangers taught ‘em to survive in the rain
While Brock and I were snoring in the back of the van.
Then before we knew it we were back in the Spa
To raise our boys upon the farm in ol’ Arkansas.
An agrarian doctor and a homeschooling marm
Buildin’ the Big House, workin’ on the farm.
Lotta Wisdom Searches and Character Clues,
Let’s put in an orchard to the chicken poop blues.

We drove around the USA to see every state
And stopped in every capital no matter how late.
“That’ll be the end of that!” I finally said,
When they threw a box of donuts at the back of my head.

Antshillvania had the whole family involved
Then around The Witness our whole summer revolved.
Family, Lake Valley, and old Trinity
God blessed us very richly with our faith community.

Wheaton, Biola, and Bellhaven for two
Grad schools ensure retirement’s long overdue.
The boys got married, and they didn’t hesitate
Oh, Lord, we’re grandparents of eight!

Forty years later, and we’re rarin’ to go
We get to thinkin’ what happened a long time ago…
We had a lot of kids, trouble, and pain,
But then, oh Lord, we’d do it again!