Dear MICC Family,

Judy and I have had the blessing in recent months of getting to be close to our grandchildren (and their pretty cool parents.) Judy was able to be present for the birth of our two most recent ones, Andre Jansen and Seth Perez. What a rich blessing.

Many of you were here in church on March 2 to hear our son Nathan preach. That following Saturday, Nathan, Harmony and their precious baby Andre boarded a westbound 747 and headed off toward Indonesia. They serve Christ as missionaries there, and we appreciate the love and support so many of you extend toward them (and us) as they are so far away. In travel hours, Merauke, Papua Indonesia is just about three days away from Seattle.

Grand parenting is pretty new to us. Our first grandson was born in February of 2004. That was also a leap year, and there was some nervousness about the possibility that Samuel would be born on February 29. He was born on Jennifer’s due date, the 24th. Jenn is a CPA, and maybe not coincidentally delivered her other two boys on their exact due dates also. Sam had a late birthday celebration with his aunts and uncles at our house. Judy and I decided that we like “4” way better than 2 ½. My parents were able to enjoy all of their grandchildren fairly frequently. Our kids especially loved to ride with Grandpa on his noisy old lawn mower.

Reaching back just one generation was not the case in my life. My Mother’s parents died tragically within one week of each other of separate causes as young adults in 1927. Mom and her two sisters lived in a parade of homes as foster children. Mom was only five at the time her parents passed away. We have only a tiny handful of photos, and postcards my granddad sent to my grandmother from Europe.

My Dad’s parents didn’t die young, but I didn’t know them for a different reason. They lived about one generation earlier than the grandparents of kids I grew up with. My Grandpa Jansen was born in 1867 and Grandma in 1868. Grandpa died 10 years before my birth at 74. Grandma lived to extreme old age—98, but I only saw her one time, when my parents took me back to Illinois from Oregon to see “all the relatives” the summer I was 13 in 1964. Grandma was 96 and still pretty sharp as I recall. I can say I saw my grandmother, but I didn’t really know her. Dad had lots of stories, being one of 8 kids and near the last of the line himself.

We cherish the fact that we can have access to our kids with so much more ease than previous generations. People are living longer than ever and it’s terrific to allow the young people in our families to energize us and provide lots of laughter in the walls.

Let me preach a second. Why not pick up the phone if you haven’t talked to your kids or “grands” in awhile? Life is very short, and your voice is one of the most precious gifts your family members can cherish.

What prompted my writing about my family is actually a current news item. Some of you will know the name Frank Buckles. Frank, like my grandfather, served his country in World War I. Mr. Buckles has the amazing distinction of being the last American survivor of the Great War, and was honored by President Bush in a ceremony at the White House this month. Hats off to Frank and all the “doughboys” who fought bravely for our country’s freedom. Frank also served in the Pacific theater during WWII.

 

Grace and Peace to you all,
Pastor Jim Jansen