Dear friends and family,

I want to thank you for coming to help me celebrate my 50th birthday.  It was a bit overwhelming to have as many as 72 come, far more than I ever expected, and so many from out of town.  I sincerely meant what I said that night about how blessed I am to have so many good friends and a supportive family.  Even if I don't see some of you that often anymore, you have all made a difference and touched my life as much as I may have done the same for you.  I had a great time, I only wish I'd had more time to actually sit and talk with each of you individually.

It hasn't really sunk in yet, I can't really be 50, can I?  Can it really be 33 years since I graduated from Rosemount High?  Is it possibly 29 years since many of us formed Tower Youth at Trinity United, and almost that long since I first became a youth leader?  I could go on, 23 years since I moved to Morrisburg to do full time youth work with the Seaway Valley Youth Project, 19 years since Darren and I recorded some pretty good music...  And so on...

Do you know Harry Chapin's song called "All My Life's a Circle"?  If I'd actually played my guitar at the party, I think I would've started with that.  Indeed, moving back into the house I grew up in after being away from it for 30 years, and going back to Trinity and leading a youth group and teaching Sunday School there again makes me feel like my life has come full circle, and it feels good and right.  Just like it feels good and right to be working where I'm working now.

I've found you a thousand times, I guess you've done the same

But then we lose each other, it's just like a children's game

As I see you here again, the thought runs through my mind

Our love is like a circle, let's go round one more time

All my life's a circle, sunrise and sundown

The moon rolls through the nighttime till the daybreak comes around

All my life's a circle, but I can't tell you why

The seasons are spinning round again, the years keep rolling by

The thing that came to mind so often lately is how easily we lose touch.  Lives are busy, there's always something else to do, it even took me almost a week to find the time to write this.  But it seems to me that at least those of us with e-mail ought to do a better job of staying in touch.  I may not be that great at initiating e-mail, but I always do my best to answer every one I get.  Let's try and do better at staying in touch, life is too short.

Thanks again for sharing my special night with me, and thank you for being a part of my life.

with love,

Gary