50 years together
"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person."
—Mignon McLaughlin
My parents, Barb & Duane Nieuwsma, will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on Tuesday! Being the dutiful daughter I am, and in lieu of a Costco sheet cake after church, I've complied a slideshow (linked below) with some snippets from their years together. And, being someone who loves to create games, I've come up with some key images to look for in this "Can you spot it..." scavenger hunt. I find myself ever thankful for this marriage, which has impacted so many people, most profoundly of course being me and my brother. I'm thankful they still like each other and have been blessed with enough good health to enjoy new adventures together. Congratulations, Mom & Dad; here's to many more...and best of luck on the game!
Sarah's Slideshow Scavenger Hunt:
Barb & Duane met at Dordt College while both playing key roles in the play Cyrano de Bergerac. Fun fact: Duane was fresh back from a two-year Army stint in Germany, and Barb was spoken for at the time, but you can't ignore the raw charm of a Nieuwsma! Can you spot them doing their makeup for the play?
Both Barb and Duane are oldest children (Barb of 4, Duane of 10). They continue to have regular sibling reunions but are each now missing one sibling (Barb's sister Patricia and Duane's brother Daryl.) Can you spot pictures of all 12 siblings? (Hint: Patricia and Daryl were Maid-of-Honor and Best Man.)
While Barb moved around a considerable amount growing up (MI, NJ, IN, MN) her parents landed in Iowa and remained there, just a four-hour drive from where Duane grew up. Can you spot that Iowa landscape (cornstalks)?
Always willing to try new things, Duane bought himself a super-8 camera just in time to capture every waking (or sleeping) moment of their first child, Joshua. (But somehow it went missing for years when their beautiful daughter Sarah came along.) Can you spot some "rare" video footage of this boy?
After living in Madison, WI; Paterson, NJ; Grand Rapids, MI; Toronto and Bowmanville, Ontario (and before moving to Liberia, West Africa, back to Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, and Byron Center, bringing Barb's move total to an alarming 26), Barb and Duane settled for some time in the country hills of Grafton, Ontario, where they shared a duplex with the Mark & Rosalie Ward family. (If it sounds like an idyllic place to raise kids, that's because it was!) They had a hobby farm, and one night, Duane called the kids down to meet a newly born lamb, which they named "Barb" (and, as legend has it, they later ate). Can you spot this sweet lamb (literally, she was very sweet).
Besides driving the 19 hours to Iowa every Christmas and summer, the family trekked to many places, including Washington, DC; NY; PEI; British Columbia; and Montana in their two-door, non-air-conditioned Mazda. (Those kids were the best travelers, but they honestly didn't know any better!) Can you spot a picture of what they looked like after a particularly long journey?
Turtleneck. Vest. Teased bangs. Braces. Unibrow. Can you spot it all on one person?
The Nieuwsmas had many pets in their day, including dogs (Lady, Tippy), cats (Mrs. Whiskers), hamsters (Fluffy), an iguana, and sea monkeys (who never lived long enough to name), but of these, the most loved (by Josh and Sarah) was cocker spaniel, Zach. Can you spot this black and white cutie?
Barb, ever the consummate hostess and teacher, has become known among the family for her deviled eggs, trying new recipes, and explaining her meals. Even though she sometimes says, "It's probably no good--you don't have to eat it," it always is good. Even when the homemade chocolate pudding turns into mousse and multiplies in the fridge. Can you spot a Barb Nieuwsma Christmas hors d'oeuvres table?
Duane and Barb share three granddaughters, Kate Jayne (15) and Elia May (13) of Sarah & Greg, and Avery Loren (11) of Josh and Meredith. Elia and her Gran were both born at Holland Hospital. Can you spot a picture of Barb holding 3-hour-old Elia at their birthplace?
Avery tried to kill her Papa in an aircraft simulator at Kalamazoo's AirZoo. (He hasn't walked straight since.) Can you spot Duane's naively excited face as they are closing the lid on him?
Duane won the "Fastest Pastor" in a drag race competition, though he's not one to brag. He is, however, one to bring his trophy to a backyard pool party. Can you spot this moment?
In lieu of taking the entire family on an all-inclusive European vacation, Barb and Duane have chosen instead to travel just the two of them (or with friends, or siblings...or strangers) to places including Alaska, The Bahamas, Scotland, and Ireland. (In fact, their most recent trip with Uncle Len & Aunt Elaine to Germany, Austria and Switzerland has been COVID postponed.) Can you spot Duane and Barb on one of their exotic vacations? Well, neither can I, as I wasn't there.
And now, without further ado, here's the slideshow:
Want to send along your congratulations? You may comment on facebook, wait until you see them again, or show your beautiful face in a video which will be shared with them on Tuesday. Click here, it's quick, easy, and COVID friendly. Shoot to talk for 10-60 seconds (you'll get as many tries as you want).