Flashback Friday: The family Dad made

Last week I started the Flashback Friday's in honor of my dad's birthday. I focused on the family he was born into and his early childhood. I was only going to do two parts, but after reconsidering, I decided to do three parts, becuase I couldn't fit it into two parts. Next week I will focus on the family his family made.

My mom and dad started dating during high school. My mom must have thought my dad needed a little help picking out his clothes, so she bought him these pants. Obviously, they were still in the googly-eye phase of their relationship, becuase he wore them.
My mom graduated from high school in 1974. Sorry, dad, about your eyes being closed, it was the only one I could find. That is my grandpa Villa on the other side of my dad. As a father of 5 girls, I can remember him saying that "I only raised one son" referring to my dad. My dad ate dinner at my mom's house every night for years while they dated. My dad and my grandpa were close and always had a special bond. My dad even did the bulk of my grandpa's care when my grandpa was on hospice before he died.
They got married in 1977 here in San Diego in my great Grandma Holzers back yard. They eloped, and apparently, it was so spur of the moment, that my dad didn't even have time for a hair cut. It was Memorial day weekend and the start of a new family and new chapter in dad's life.
My parents finished college and my dad got a job in San Jose and then in Bakersfield where they lived when my brother Michael was born. Since I wasn't alive at this point, and my mom didn't give me that album, I don't have any pictures from that time in my parents life. The pictures I have pick up in December of 1982, when my dad's family life REALLY took a turn for the better.

Yes, that is me as a baby.
For the years surrounding my birth, my dad worked as a school teacher in northern California. I think he may have bought those glasses special for the part, becuase what kind of math and science teacher would he have been without them? I am pretty sure his glasses alone may have gotten him the job.

My dad has always enjoyed the outdoors and fresh air. They used to take us camping.
And I know this blog isn't about me, but these two pictures of me look just like Elizabeth. Wow.
Around the time when I was 2 (I think-my memory of those years is a bit fuzzy), my parents felt the call of God on their lives to be missionaries. This was something that would shape my parents (and their kids) lives forever.

You know how they say to dress for the job you want? This picture may be the reason my dad became a missionary. If this doesn't scream missionary, what does?
My dad finished up seminary and we were off on this new adventure.
About a year before we moved to Spain, my brother Daniel was born. I don't have too many pictures of this either, as my mom hasn't lent me the other albums (hint, hint, mom) to scan.

Here is our family shortly after moving to Spain.
I think this was around the same time, and contrary to the pictorial evidence, Michael and I both had two legs, not one.
A couple more years and my sweet sister Maria was born.
We were still living in Spain at that point. And you know how looks can be deceiving? Well, these aren't. We really were that happy and slightly nerdy. Okay, maybe a little more than slightly.
In 1997, my dad made the decision to move back to the US. I am pretty sure it was one of the harder decisions he ever had to make. Although at the time, I don't think Michael or I took it too well (Maria and Daniel were still kind of young), I think we both have tremendous respect for my dad's willingness to obey God. It took an incredible amount of courage, strength and faith. I am so thankful for my dad's godly example.
As you can see, my dad is carrying two water bottles on our yosimitee hike. There is significance in this. Aside from Maria (who shares in my dad's love for fitness), the rest of us were just walking (and probably complaining-at least I was). My dad has a tremendous servants heart. Although he had high standards for us, he always gave twice as much as he asked. For example, we might have to be poor, but he would be poorer. We might have to work hard, but he would work harder. Whenever I hear about servant leadership, I always think of my dad, becuase he really did lead our family by example and by truly being a servant.

The last thing that I think that my dad did right, when creating his own family, was being happily married. My parents never fought in front of us, and the most upset I ever remember seeing my dad, was when someone (*cough* Michael *cough*) sassed my mom. The last spanking my dad ever gave me was for being disrespectful to my mom. It was very clear that dad had mom's side and that disrespecting her was out of the question.
I am so thankful for the family God gave me. The family God gave me was the family my dad made. I am thankful for the love, sacrifice and prayers that my dad (and mom too, of course, but it isn't her birthday month) put into that family. As my siblings and I branch off into our own families, I know we all benefit from the legacy my dad has given us.

Next Friday I will finish off with the last part of this three part series, becuase as I was thinking about it, the story of this family really doesn't stop here.