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message from Dana Pereau (Reunion Coordinator)
Debbie Schlenz '72
I had a great time at the reunion, and my mom did also. I am
so grateful for all your hard work! I renewed some acquaintances,
and developed a new one... Since the reunion, I have been in touch with
another alum and we are finding more and more things that we have in common,
so perhaps a real friendship will develop (or renew) because of the reunion-truly
a blessing from God. I hope you are well and rested. You seemed
so much "in your element" the day of-socializng and yet keeping things
on track...but I wonder, did you sit down for even one minute that day?
It was such a joy to meet and talk to your children. Your son and
daughter are wonderful, and you have much to be proud of. Thanks
again for all you did this year. I am so glad that you posessed
the willingness and the wherewithal to obediently provide what God had
in mind for the day! I thought the event was a huge success.
Thanks for letting me be a small part of it... Deb
Don Rogers '73
Just a note to thank all of you for the hard
work. I am very familiar with what it takes to put a function like
this together and can appreciate all that is involved. Again, thanks
for all the hard work, or as my father used to say, "God bless you until
you are better paid." Regards.
Cheryl McAlister Olson '74
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart
for all of your love and labor in this reunion. It was truly a success.
I know that for me personally it has been many many things. I can
only imagine how God has used this for all the lives that were present
this weekend. Only He knows the smallest of details of each persons
life and what they needed to get from this.
The recording session turned out GREAT! Kermit
and I went late last night to our studio to listen. He was totally
impressed that we all could still sing as well as we did with little practice.
George Link was in "heaven" and actually said, "God could take me now"
it was so cute. Everyone had a blast and was totally blessed by the
experience of singing together again with George. And all who were there
and came to watch were equally blessed...you could see it in their faces.
Please thank George Kienzle again for all of his help. The kids did
a great job. I saw them around all day...serving and helping out in every
situation. Good job! Thank you for twisting my arm and getting me
involved in this endeavor. It has been an answer to prayer for me.
Thanks again! In Him, Cheryl
Nanci Williams White 74
Thank you all for all the work you did to plan the reunion. It
was wonderful seeing old friends and renewing old friendships. I
am sure that it meant so much to the teachers to be honored in such a special
way. Thanks for everything, Nanci Williams White.
M. Pamela Ross '73
I can't say how much it has meant to me to
receive all of the Reunion e-mails and information. Unfortunately,
I was in a serious car accident last Sept. 20,02. It was truly a
miracle of our Lord that I am still alive, as I fractured my neck @ C-1
and the brain stem, amongst other places. I am still confined to
bed or couch as I continue to recover, facing a shoulder replacement and
other surgeries. It had already been 8 months since my accident when
I first heard from Dana & Sharon, and I was beginning to get a bit
down, however, as usual, God knows what we need, and being able to "be
in touch" with the planning of the Reunion for the past several weeks has
worked another miracle in my life. Even though I was unable to be
with everyone physically, I was there in spirit, and praying for all of
the hard work that went into such an awesome event. I look forward
to being down there next year, God willing, and thank all of you for the
pictures of the reunion and everything else that has taken me back to the
"good ol' days" at WCHS! God bless you all in Christ! ...cats don't
always land on their feet
Bev (Overmyer) Chick '70
Hi! The reunion was fabulous!
Thank you so, so much for all the work you guys put into it. It was
a real blessing to me! (I will write more later about that..)
What is the best way to get the addresses, emails of a few of my class
mates? I asked them for their contact info and they were going to
give it to me, then with all the excitement, it didn't happen. (They know
how to contact me, but I don't know how to contact that.) I
am looking for address, phone, email, etc., for three members of class
of 1970: Judy (Johnston) True, Cindy and Linda Wheeler (I can't remember
their married last names.)
Ed Note: As we write we are working on a network group system for everyone
to be able to input personal data and communicate with each other.
Details to follow.
Vicki Bradley Stanton '71
Thanks for all you did for the reunion. It was a very emotionally
moving time. Even my husband felt it. High school was never
a big part of my life, but I can't believe how good it was to see people.
Everything was perfect. This was way better than a stuffy dress-up
occasion at a hotel. At the school, we had lots of time (but not
enough, of course) to talk.
I haven't wanted to bother you with new ideas, but
I'm still stuck on the bio and picture thing. I'm the "keeper of
the book" for our class, and I don't want to be selfish with it.
I loved reading about our classmates! I would be happy to contact
people in our class and ask again for them to send their information.
I was thinking about putting it in a book form, but I've enclosed an email
from Rob Aldridge with another idea. If you could put me in touch
with the website person, I'll try to take it from there. I'm not
too technical, but others are. Thanks again for everything!
ED Note: We're working on it. More to follow.
Bob Webb '72
Just put a few photos on classmates.com. Just want to say thanks
again for your hard work getting the reunion together. It was fun to see
people that I haven't seen for a long time. There were a lot of nice
people there.. Seemed like everybody had a good time.
Kathy Kimber Little '62
Thanks for keeping us in the loop on the reunion, Dana. Will
it be possible for those of us who were unable to attend to purchase some
of the videos and the choir recording? I'm guessing that I'm
not the only one who would like to see/hear what happened and get the school
video also.
Jodie Takeda Caccavale '73
I wish I had more time to be there, funny how "have to" events conflict
with each other...I know you all will be blessed a hundred times over for
all the joy you brought and encourage. You guys are great!
Thanks, J.
Laurie Smith Byram '70
You guys are doing a fantastic job, we will hang with you!! Keep
up the excellent work.......
Dan Kauffman '70
From the update it sounds like all went great. I
am happy that it turned out way better than expected. I am now jealous
of those who were able to attend. Please make sure to let me know
when and the cost of the video and CD. I would like to see who all was
there and share them with my family. We will be in the area God willing
after Christmas to visit family and I am going to try and see Dave and
Annette Biering while down there but it is going to be a fast trip to D'Land
and San Diego. Thanks for all you and the rest have done for
us.
Clyde Thayer '74
I wanted to personally thank you for the efforts
you put into making the reunion such a memorable event. In many respects,
it seemed like we were just getting started when it was all over.
It was great being with the people that participated. Though commuting
3,000 miles to California just for a weekend wouldn't normally be high
on my priority list, I had a lot of fun.
If you could provide me with Jim Terry's e-mail
address, I'd greatly appreciate it. Jim was in one of the first classes
I had at WCHS as a freshman. He was a great guy then, and appears
to not have changed. I'd also like to express my appreciation to
Jim for the work he put in and his diligence in helping to move things
along. Once again, thanks so much.
Ed Note: You're right Clyde, Jim is great to work with- He carried
many of the heavy bags on this journey. :)
Denise (Swedelson) Gibson '72
I'm so glad that the reunion was such a success.
I would have loved to have been there and I was in spirit! I would
love to receive e-mails from my classmates. Please make sure I receive
all the post-reunion e-mails at risterdog@attbi.com .. If there is
a way to pass my e-mail address on to our former classmates please do so!
Thank you for all the hard work and time that you and so many others put
into making this happen!
Larry Eddy '65
Please put me on the post reunion e-mail list.
Also, thank you for all your hard work on the reunion. I had a great time,
and am looking forward to the nest one. Thanks again.
Kathy Erickson '66
It was good to meet you at the reunion - and
especially wonderful to hear how the Lord used WCHS in your life. God is
so good. Thanks for all your work toward making the reunion a success.
Knew it must've been a monumental task - but didn't know you actually quit
your other work for a few months to devote yourself to all the e-mailing
and other preparations. Wow! Just wanted to let you know how much
I appreciated the work of everyone else who worked behind the scenes as
well (enjoyed meeting your daughter-in-law, too). Wasn't it great
to see Mr. McKinley and Mrs. T again? What a treat! Thanks again
for helping make "the day" such a special one!
Lee Collins '65
Yes, to God Be the Glory... What an event. From the bottom of
my heart, thank you! I thought I would probably never come to a WCHS reunion
again, but if we have another, I'll be there!
Cheryl McAlister Olson '73
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for
all of your love and labor in this reunion. It was truly a success. I know
that for me personally it has been many many things. I can only imagine
how God has used this for all the lives that were present this weekend.
Only He knows the smallest of details of each persons life and what they
needed to get from this.
The recording session turned out GREAT!
Kermit and I went late last night to our studio to listen. He was
totally impressed that we all could still sing as well as we did with little
practice. George Link was in "heaven" and actually said, "God could
take me now" it was so cute. Everyone had a blast and was totally
blessed by the experience of singing together again with George. And all
who were there and came to watch were equally blessed...you could see it
in their faces. Please thank your brother-in-law George again for
us for all of his help.
The kids did a great job. I saw them around
all day...serving and helping out in every situation. Good job!
Thank you for twisting my arm and getting
me involved in this endeavor. It has been an answer to prayer for me.
Thanks again!
In Him.
Nanci Williams White '73
Thank you for all of the work you did to plan
our reunion. It was wonderful seeing old friends and renewing old friendships.
I am sure that it meant so much to the teachers to be honored in
such a special way. Thanks for everything,
Larry Eddy '65
Had to forward this one. Sounds like
a good idea. Judy, I had a great time at the reunion this past weekend.
Seeing Lee Collins, Ron Loori, and Bob Albright after 38 years was special.
I want to say thanks again to you, because all of your hard work
last year made this years reunion happen. Last year was the first reunion
I've had, and I know it takes a special person like you to get the ball
rolling. Great Job! Hopefully, we can gather together every year, I don't
think it has to be an extravagant two day affair, just a time to
get together and talk. We could save the big ones for 5 or 10 year intervals.
Thanks again, and keep in touch.
Phtmfan13@aol.com
Chris (Wreden) Ragge '74
Thank you for the update. I had a wonderful
time. It was a well organized "coffee"! Thank you for all your
hard work. You put together a great team. God bless,
Linda Kobzeff Payne '72
I just wanted to thank you all for all the hard
work you did to make this happen. I had a GREAT time! I admit
I was a little hesitant about coming, but was so glad I got to see everyone.
I just wish I could have stayed longer and spent more time with everyone.
If there is anything I can do to help on future reunions, please give me
a call. I'm a local! Thanks again so much!
Greg Wiedeman '70
Feel free to use any of my school testimony on your video.
I'm sure Julie would have no problem. I had a great time visiting classmates.
Even to the point I had no time to eat because my mouth was busy talking.
Looking forward to this event next year.
Ken and Annie Olson '72 and '73
Thanks so much for the blessings of last weekend
that you and so many others worked so hard to share with the rest of us
who were able to attend the reunion. It is amazing how many of those who
were not able to attend were also blessed by being able to read about what
has taken place or from hearing from those who were there with us.
Please keep me on the list of those desiring to see the updates as they
come in.
In Christ's Love
Debi (Romine) Maple '71
I have been reading all the emails, and it
looks like everyone who went to the reunion had a wonderful time. I wish
I could have been there.. My niece got married on the 20th in Colorado
Springs. So it would have been too difficult to attend the reunion. I only
went my senior year to Whittier Christian, but it was fun year. If there
is another reunion in the near future I will definitely try to be there.
I went to a WCHS reunion in 1994. I had a wonderful time at that
one. If anyone would care to contact me, my email address is dhm0908@maple-leaves.org.
I would love to hear from former classmates. I live in Phoenix, AZ, and
I enjoy having visitors. Take care all.
Pam Ross '73
God bless all ofyou for the hard work you've
been doing for months on end. With God's help, I pray that I will
be able to help out next year, in fact, if I had thought of it, or known
about the reunion sooner, I could have helped out with some of the computer
work this year.
I really need to give kudos' to whoever thought
up looking in CLASSMATES.COM for e-mail addresses, etc. Now that we will
have an up to date e-mail & snail mail address list, I can get rid
of that site! Praise God for all that you guys have done, and please
let me know if there is anything I can do by computer to help you out,
even now that the reunion is "history."
Ann Dunn '73
So glad the reunion was such a success. It was an amazing job!!!
It was so much fun to see everybody, and it was such a blessing!
The Lord has such a way of speaking to us in ways we don't even imagine
sometimes, and I am so thankful. Thanks again for all your hard work.
I hadn't attended any reunions in thirty years, but now I look forward
to them! God bless.
Eunice Briley Kearney '67
This year's reunion was not to be for me with
my husband so ill. He went home to be with the Lord Monday.
Even though this has been the most difficult year of our marriage it has
also been the best. When one learns they have a terminal illness,
you realize very quickly what matters in life. This year, though
difficult, has been such a gift. We had time to say things that people
don't always get a change to say if the loved one is taken suddenly.
I have been blessed by the constant peace and love of our Savior.
Thank you for all the prayers. Could you make sure this email gets
out to all? Thank you so much. Resting in His peace.
ED Note: Our prayers are with you Eunice. Several have asked
about you, and we have forwarded their requests.
Cynthia Wolfenberger Martinez ('72)
Thanks to everyone that helped organize this reunion. I am very sorry
I was not able to attend but I have enjoyed keeping up with all that took
place. Keep posting the post-reunion email. It's great to read that everyone
had such a wonderful time together.
Coach Caffrey
WHITTIER CHRISTIAN REUNION 1960 - 1976
To the Present and Past Faculty and Alumni.
Thank you for your invitation to the Alumni
Day. I'm sorry that I'll be out of town, for the day. I came to Whittier
Christian in the fall of 1972 to work for a very wonderful man and Principal,
Gene Birdsall. It was a great association that lasted for 23 years. I served
as football, baseball coach and athletic director during this time. I have
nothing but wonderful feelings toward the young people that [had a chance
to work with.
I am again associated with Whittier Christian
as my very able son Jon is now Head Football Coach at Whittier Christian.
This brings great joy to my life to see my son pour himself into his work
for the glory of God. It will be exciting, for our family this coming football
season and I know also for Whittier Christian High. My son lost his wife
this past March due to Cancer at the age of 30. Pray for Jon and his son
Cade age 3.
Enjoy your day and I will be looking forward
in seeing some of you at the football games this next season.
Kathy Erickson '66
It was good to meet you at the reunion - and
especially wonderful to hear how the Lord used WCHS in your life. God is
so good. Thanks for all your work toward making the reunion a success.
Knew it must've been a monumental task - but didn't know you actually quit
your other work for a few months to devote yourself to all the e-mailing
and other preparations. Wow!
Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated
the work of everyone else who worked behind the scenes as well (enjoyed
meeting your daughter-in-law, too).
Wasn't it great to see Mr. McKinley and Mrs.
T again? What a treat! It was also fun to catch up on the status
of Miss Costley's cats. A major highlight of the day for me was singing
with the choir during the rehearsal. Ah - the "glory days" revisited!
To all my friends (class of '66 or not): it
was wonderful to see you again. If any of you are ever in the San Francisco
Bay area, please come visit! Thanks again for helping make "the day"
such a special one!
Cathi Kobzeff Rohrer '70 (and we still rule)
I have been able to reconnect with a few of
you and it's amazing to read about the courses our lives have taken.
If time permits, please e-mail me and let me know how you're doing.
Sure wish I could have joined you this past week but it wasn't possible.
We were just in California in June for a family wedding. I read your
e-mails and see the pictures from the reunion (who are all those middle-aged
people anyway) and it's hard to keep the tears back - menopause is a cruel
ordeal! Anyway, let me hear from you. My e-mail address is:
cathi.rohrer@bcbsnc.com.
Fondly,
Carol (Knuteson) Yaussi '74
Thank you so very much for taking the time
to find me and tell me about the reunion! I am so grateful that you
didn't give up!
Words can never really express my sincere appreciation for all that
you and Jim and the rest of your family did to make last weekend a reality.
What a blessing it was to renew old friendships
and realize the bond we still share because of our wonderful Lord Jesus.
It was wonderful to see Mr. & Mrs. Birdsall, Mr. & Mrs. McKinley,
Mr.. & Mrs. Link, Mr. Davis, Mrs. Turnquist, and the rest of the faculty.
I can never thank them enough for the influence they had on my life during
high school. It is truly because of their sacrifice that many of us are
still living for the Lord today. Praise the Lord for their faithfulness.
A special thank you to Cheryl and her husband
for organizing and producing the chorale CD. It was such a joy to
sing with the chorale members and to be directed by Mr. Link again.
It was interesting how quickly the words and music came back after almost
30 years.
Thank you, thank you for all the numerous
hours you spent and the sacrifices made to make this reunion such a memorable
one. It was a blessed weekend that I will truly treasure.
May God richly bless you!
Lee Collins '65
Following our reunion Ron Loori ('65) suffered a serious kidney injury
while riding a bicycle in So Cal. Regarding Ron, " ... Hospital is
letting him go today. It will take 3 months for his kidney to heal, and
he will be off work for a period of time... Hats off to Gary Coover ('65)
for hospital visits and offer to drive him home to No Cal... We aren't
just high schoolers now who got together once after 38 years, we are the
Heralds of 1965, joined forever by a love for each other, and most of all,
our love for the Lord! No, you can't resign from this small group, you
are stuck with us for life. By the way, note to Bob Albright ('65):
Dixie Loori would like to sell one slightly damaged bicycle to you - do
you handle consignment sales? :)
Diana Macias '67
Well, folks...I almost did not make it to this shindig...no issues,
no problems...other than my own self doubt... Finally I said..."Diana,
what do you have to lose?" See, I never graduated from WCHS and this
has always just weighed me down heavily thru my entire life. Oh,
don't get me wrong, I graduated, but I did not go thru the process I had
been working on since 3rd grade. The fact that I went to school with
so many since Whittier Christian Elementary, these people were friends,
brothers, sisters, and then to leave in my Junior year...was the biggest
heartache I ever carried in my life. Anyway, Saturday was the very
best day in my life for many years: the faces, the smiles of oh so many
friends...that still remembered as I did.. Elva Newton it was awesome:
In my yearbook she said to smile she would always be my Big Sister. Carol,
Claudia, Dan, Reggie, David, Janet, Bob A, Don D, just so many faces that
had meant so much to me thru the best 3 years of a very long life time.
My prayers are with you and your family Eunice - you are part of that grade
school family, Tim Miller, yes, you are precious also. The biggest
THANK YOU, is to my Lord, my Jesus, for giving me the courage to attend,
to walk on water and take a leap of faith and believe I would not be ridiculed.
Thank you all for being there...AND to you bums...that I love so dearly...Scott
and Moreno...get out there next year, so we can do Mexican Dinner again.
:>)) With Love and a Great Big ol' smile....
Dennis Wiedeman '73
I was debating whether or not to even go. My thinking was, “Heck,
I haven’t seen most of these people in 30 years, haven’t kept in contact
with any them and have absolutely no investment in them any longer.
Why should I take time from my family and weekend to go see people that
I really don’t even know any more?”
- The thing I didn't count on was seeing around a half dozen people
that DID mean a lot to me, that I thought the world of when I was in high
school, and remember with even greater fondness and affection now.
And, those bonds went way past the boundaries of my own class mates in
the class of ’73.
- I was quite surprised by this whole thing and how much it DID mean
to me, once I got there.
- So, from a guy who thinks he can't be surprised by much more in his
life, thank you. I believe the investment made was an eternal investment.
It has greatly encouraged me to continue pursuing my own faith, seeing
the faithfulness of some of my classmates.
- An interesting story along that line – I have been thinking for some
time of perhaps going back to teach Bible and computers in a Christian
high school. At the reunion, I saw Linda K. I went to college
with her and her husband years ago. I was best man at their wedding.
Well, I came to find out from Linda that her husband is principal of Capistrano
Valley Christian School, which is about 15 minutes away from my house.
Now, I’m not saying that I’ll end up teaching Bible and computers at Capo
Valley Christian, but it is, indeed, interesting to me how God may be working
25 years after the fact to continue His work in the lives of His people.
Susie Martinez Myers '70
- One of the biggest blessings of attending WCHS is the fact that we
were a family and continue to be all of these years later.
Being able to visit with each again is the best thing I've done this year.
It even tops my flight in a P-51 that I had been wanting to do for years!
Heartfelt thanks to all of the committee members for all of your hard work.
- That's all for now. Thanks for a terrific reunion! I'm
looking forward to the next one.
Paula Tucker Shultz '72
- What a great day! We had such a good time over at Whittier Hills
Baptist Church at the choir recording. George was great. Cheryl
was great. Everyone was great! I'm so thankful that the recording
is good. It seemed God just smoothed our path and also gave me the
ability to play that music!! That was somewhat miraculous as I haven't
played much in recent years. Tom Dunn ('72) also played a couple of songs
and of course they were great.
- I am enjoying thinking on the day. I told my husband Randy that it
was more like a family reunion because there was such love and joy at seeing
one another. Bruce Johnston ('72), Rick Roberts ('72) and Tom Dunn
('72) are like long-lost brothers to me since we go back to 1st grade!
What a treat. The video was a lot of fun and I look forward to seeing
the footage shot Saturday.
- The Links called me on Sunday morning and Lorraine said they had
had such a good time that this was the last reunion they would go to since
nothing else could top it! They thanked me many times during the
day on Saturday too.
Sally Mayse Conrod '65 & Jim Conrod (my loving husband, who
also enjoyed the reunion)
- The reunion was truly one of the highlights of my life!! It was grand
to see each and every one of you. I thank all of you for coming such distances
just so I could see you and spend a few hours with you reliving some of
the best years of my life. I only wish the day had not passed by
so quickly and that there had been more time to spend with each of you
individually as an opportunity to get reacquainted. Let's do it again
and again!!
- Thank you teachers for attending and allowing us the opportunity
to tell you what an impact you had on our lives and how very much we all
love and esteem you.
- Thank you Coordinators for all your efforts...and a special thank
you to Lee Collins (our class coordinator). God bless all of you
and yours,
- ED Note: And a very special thanks to you Sally and Jim for bringing
Tim Miller from Loma Linda. It was great to have all of you there.
Carl Martinez, WCHS Atheltic and Marketing Director
All I can say is, the Lord has used and it looks like is continuing
to use this event in several of the lives who were in attendance. The emails
over the past few days have been of incredible encouragement...
Corinne Witt Loomis '72
- I want to add my voice to those who have let you know how wonderful
Saturday was. And to express my appreciation for all your hard work.
I was not prepared to be as touched as I was. While it was great
to see the old classmates, the thing that really made it for me was to
see the faculty. I never thought that I would see any of them this
side of Heaven and to have them assembled on the front row was just overwhelming.
- I was already sitting down when Mrs. T. entered the auditorium.
I couldn't believe it - you would have thought she was a movie star!
People crowded around her (including me!) to where she finally had to tell
people she needed to go sit down. 31 years later, I now realize what
a sacrifice these people made so that I could have an education in a Christian
environment. There are most certainly special rewards waiting for
them and a few more stars in their crowns.
- I really enjoyed the nostalgic video. The music that accompanied
it was just perfect. And it was so cool to see Mr. Davis wandering
the halls with the flashbacks to the way the campus used to look.
That brings up the only suggestion I would have. I think it would
have been so neat to have the reunion at the Nazarene church. To
wander the halls, classrooms and Room 100, the sanctuary, the benches on
the south side (or whatever is there now). That really would have
been special. Even seeing the street signs of College/Second Sts.
brought back lots of memories. My childhood home was on Second St.
before we moved to east Whittier and then Buena Park. So I ended
up my last two years just blocks from my first house. And I was saved
and baptized at that Nazarene Church.
- Well, I could go on and on, but I didn't want to let another day
go by without thanking you. Even if we did it again sometime, I don't
think it could ever rival that first-time event. It was something
I will never forget.
Kathy Erickson '66
- It was good to meet you at the reunion - and especially wonderful
to hear how the Lord used WCHS in your life. God is so good. Thanks for
all your work toward making the reunion a success. Knew it must've been
a monumental task - but didn't know you actually quit 'your other work'
for a few months to devote yourself to all the e-mailing and other preparations.
Wow!
- Just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated the work of everyone
else who worked behind the scenes as well (enjoyed meeting your
daughter-in-law, too).
- Wasn't it great to see Mr. McKinley and Mrs. T again? What a treat!
Thanks again for helping make "the day" such a special one!
Tim Novikoff '73
- I didn't want the last two days to end. I missed saying good-bye
to alot of people due to the "Choir" rehearsel and recording, which was
just incredible to do! We laughed, joked, and fell back in time again
to a familiar place and we were blessed...that's how I feel.
- I haven't slept much at all the past two nights, (I'm sure that you
haven't either with all of the work culminating into the final products).
This has been a very emotional time for me with all my memories with friends
and selfishly not wanting to let them go.
- WCHS was a freedom for me, a place to love every kind of person
and their faith ... It was a home away from home, the past two days, I
was with my brothers and sisters again, back at the old house.
- As I drove home these past two days, I reflected in silence, no radio
or cd playing, and I even drove the speed limit. I knew that I had
been magnetized in Christ again rubbing up against all the wonderfully
positive people. I felt strengthened, emotional, happy, and not wanting
that feeling to end.
- So I thought to myself, "How can I not let this end?" "How can I
be with these people, this feeling, forever?" After Saturday, I won't
see many of them, possibly ever again. In this physical world, it
is impossible, I know that, but I couldn't stop the overwhelming feeling
of the want..
- So, throwing out a quick " help my brain from spinning Lord" prayer,
God gave me the calm of realizing that I will always be with you all through
our common faith in Jesus Christ, I can sing in the choir again, play football,
run track, and walk the campus with the Lord as "principal." I don't
know if it's that way in heaven, but it sure feels good to think it so.
- Thanks for letting me tell you how I feel, I've been needing to share
a little and no one likes a call at three in the morning... God continue
to bless you, I'm sure our paths will cross again soon.
Douglas Earl Bradle '74
I really enjoyed singing again with the Chorale. The selection
was great. Over time, I think about the experience and the hair on my arms
stands straight up, that was Saturday and it's now Monday. That was the
most pleasurable experience that I have had in 25 years. I really
enjoyed the company. Makes me wish I could do the High school thing
again. My only regret is that we did not have Mrs. Smith with us.
She was a wonderful teacher and a second Mom.
Judy Mitchell '64
- I realize, by this time, you would probably like to delete the word
"reunion" from the English language but, before doing so, let me express
a quick word of gratitude. And, please, forward to those who assisted
you in this horrendous feat. When turning to Webster, it didn't do
the word 'gratitude' justice -and a simple thank you seems so ridiculously
inadequate.
- Because our class participated in a successful reunion last year,
there were only two reasons that brought me back this year: (1) The
ability to see our beloved teachers and (2) no traveling expense required
for me to attend. I must shamefully admit, I committed to attending
mumbling and grumbling the whole time. I would certainly have been
the loser if I had failed to attend this event! Even after being
told, there will still be some that will not realize your time, effort
and expense given to this event, I can only apologize for them. For
me, I say from the very bottom of my heart "thank you!" I am so sorry
I don't have the financial means to reimburse you or I would do it in a
heartbeat and not think twice about it. Instead, all I can do is
express my gratitude for the superbly planned event that was so well thought
out, orchestrated and professionally done. There should certainly
be an added jewel in your crown for this, with the recognition of "Well
done oh good and faithful servant!"
- For your commitment - THANK YOU!
- For your persevering diligence - THANK YOU!
- For your focus on doing a job well done - THANK YOU!
- For staying faithful to your commitment - THANK YOU!
Dale Ruhe '75
- I just wanted to pass along my congratulations to ... everyone involved
in putting together a first class event for the alumni of Whittier Christian
HS. I apologize for coming late in the day, but I was suffering from a
cold and got enough rest so I could speak with everyone when I arrived.
- My main goal was to visit with Mr. McKinley, Mr. Davis and Mrs. Turnquist,
which all occurred. I also ran in to so many fellow graduates (amazingly,
quite a few folks recognized me having not seen me forever and never with
a beard).
- One other positive: I connected with other members of our Class of
1975 reunion committee from 1995. We were unable to put things together
in 2000 (a couple of us had personal stuff get in the way), so I was thrilled
that we agreed to reconvene to plan for our 30-year festivities a year
from now.
Janice Birdsall Austin '71
- Just a quick note to say that I talked with both my parents last
night (we were out of town so my brother picked them up from the
airport) -- and it seems you sent them both home in tears!!!
How could you?
- Seriously, they each cried/got choked up as they individually shared
with me on the phone last night the events of the weekend! And I can't
thank you enough for all you two did to make it possible! Thank you,
thank you, thank you!
- They both said they were treated like royalty...they both excitedly
told me who all they saw, what people shared with them, the events of the
day...I think it was one of the best days (weekends!) of their lives!
My dad said (in tears) that it made him feel like maybe all those years
at WCHS counted for something...that maybe he had been able to touch a
few lives for the Lord. I told him the Lord was good to let him experience
that! It was like a "shot in the arm" for both my folks.
My only regret is that I wasn't able to be there with them. I loved
my years at WCHS -- and think often of those days! (the Class of
70 was the greatest! ) I am sorry I couldn't experience
it with them -- but how thankful I am that they were able to have that
experience!!!!!!!
- Thanks for your persistence to get them down there. The Lord
used you in a mighty way to bring honor to two of His servants in a way
they will never forget! The Lord used all of you who had a part in
the planning to bring honor to many of His choice servants -- our former
teachers! And in that way you directly honored God! May God
richly bless you for what you have done!
Dana Pereau '72
- When you arrived Friday night I was so pleased at your willingness
to do just about anything to help make this event special. Your needs
were so small, and your contribution so great. When we saw you all
come over to watch the video and have pie with us, we were really blessed,
especially since we knew that you were taking away from the precious short
time you all had to spend with each other. I know that it has been
38 years since many of you had seen each other, so to generously spend
time with us was a real treat.
- As far as your comments concerning glory, no doubt, Jim and I spent
a lot of time pulling this together, but it would not have happened without
the full team effort of every coordinator. Further, this was not
our idea; it was born of Judy Boswell Frisbie, so to her we take our hats
off.
- God bless you and all your class for making this a fabulous event.
Jim Terry '71
- Hello everyone, I want to thank you! Each of you as a member
of this reunion team contributed by investing your time and effort to make
this event a success. Contacting and persuading people to attend was a
very important part and it was a wonderful opportunity and a pleasure to
work with such a positive, motivated and dedicated team.
- Again, thank you all so very much for everything and thank the Lord
for this wonderful event!
Lee Collins '65
Yes, To God Be the Glory! What an event. From the bottom of my
heart, thank you! I thought I would probably never come to a WCHS reunion
again, but if we have another, I'll be there!
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