Feathers from Gram-E's Nest: Happy Birthday Wes!

March 6, 2009 and Wes is celebrating his 69th birthday in Atlanta, Georgia ~ alone!

I think He celebrated it last year alone there too! What a bummer! So Shelly and I decided to surprise him with a video and bring his family to him ~ so I went on the hunt to find some fun pictures to scan! I found this card signed by His Mom! Hum! Is this a glimpse into what kind of little boy he was? Trouble?

Wes remembers that his Mom gave him a "Long leash" but often didn't realize that he was no longer at the end of the leash. Once she caught him with a rake trying to catch the wheels of a train moving fast along the track behind their house! But he lived through all the adventures and grew up & turned out "GREAT!"

Well, we know where all that "Cute Christensen Chub" comes from!

"Mom! I need some privacy!"
Mom puts up sheet for privacy and then pulls out a camera!

Fishing with the family ~ and with Grandpa Waldie ~ highlights of growing up!

Huge accomplishment: He graduated even though he rarely opened the books he brought home each night!

Off At Trinity College in Chicago, Wes did some studying! Or maybe this was Navy Flight School?

Success! He got his wings! And I, Esther, have NEVER heard him complain about having to go to work! How blessed to find the perfect career! He's lived the Winged Life! Literally!

Duty as a Navy Pilot in the Philippines and flying off Carriers in the Vietnam war!

Pretty Exciting life!

Below: It's amazing that the Navy puts such young kids in the cockpits.
This is the guy I used to watch fly in. He'd open the cockpit while the plane was still moving, stand up and wave at me!
The look is not for me ~ That's his "Wow! That was a super fun flight!" look!

Ah, the dreaded "Dress Whites" ~ so hard to keep immaculate and pressed perfect!
How I dreaded doing the final press and perhaps scorching with the iron! Ugh! Wes would have to wear to "Change of Commands" or inspections.

We're married! And the Groomsmen were all there!!! Some of them were on alert for the war and would have had to leave at a moment notice! Wes left 2 weeks after we were married and was gone 7 months!

Two happy people! Neither of us like being the center of attention!

Now that looks says it all!

Our cake was a gift from Neldam's Bakery where I worked while at CAL.

Saying Goodbye! Wes' 3rd tour of duty in the Philippines and Vietnam areas.
Shelly was 6 weeks old. I think she's saying, "But, Daddy, why do you have to go?"
He has his uniform slacks on and soon left not knowing if he'd ever see her again since the Vietnam War was heating up and he'd be flying over North Vietnam.

Wes has had fish every since I married him! I have taken care of those fish for 45 years while he traveled the world. This tank was broken by Shelly at age three when she was swinging a toy on a string and accidently hit the tank! So Wes got a BIG tank! Alas!

Wes went with Continental Airlines and we lived in this apartment at the end of the runway!

5530 Bayridge Road, Rancho Palos Verdes
Our first home! I think I see Rachel, Julie and Jackie [Mike's Jack] in the picture above!

Not so many candles compared to now!

Rolling Hills Covenant Church Directory picture

Bright Promise ~ what a great horse!

Wes ~ the best cook in the family! I can't wait until he retires and takes over the kitchen!

How many candles are on that cake?

You sure don't look 50, Wes!!!
Uff da! What Wes' Mom used to say a lot!
That's a Norwegian Marzipan cake! Yum!

Now I turn 50! And it's celebrated at the Gosby House in Pacific Grove.
The whole city celebrated that night with fireworks over the water!

Our Front porch on Hitching Post ~ when we had the big ferns!

Keeping up with the kids! It got harder as they got older. Wes loved to fly down the mountain at top speed and would go over the jumps right behind them. Once he disappeared as his poles and skies flew everywhere!

Oh, dear! He found someone's bunny hat!

MGM Grand Air! What an airline! What a great 8 years for Wes!
And topped off by 2 around the world trips!

God-Stretching time! Wes loved to fly! He was most comfortable as Captain on the jetliner!
His own boss! Suddenly he's in the office as Vice President of Operations MGM Grand Air!
Learning to trust and rely on the Lord as he was out of his comfort zone!