44 Years of Love, Life, and Music

 44 Years of Love, Life, and Music

Today marks 44 years since we said, "I do." It's hard to believe how fast time has flown. We've been through so much together—laughter, tears, adventures, and everyday moments that somehow became the best memories.

One thing that has always been a constant in our lives is music. No matter where we were or what we were going through, there was always a song playing in the background, marking a moment in time. So, as we celebrate this milestone, I thought it’d be fun to take a trip down memory lane with some of the songs that were popular back when we were dating and newlyweds. These songs take me right back to those early days and remind me just how lucky I am to have spent all these years with you.

🎶 "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" – Queen 

Love is wild, unpredictable, and sometimes downright crazy—but in the best way. This song always makes me smile because, in many ways, that’s exactly what those first few years of marriage felt like—exciting, fun, and full of adventure.

🎶 "It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me" – Billy Joel 

Trends come and go, but some things never change. That’s how I feel about us. No matter how much the world has shifted around us, we’ve always stayed true to who we are. Like Billy Joel says, "It’s always been the same old scene"—and that’s just fine by me.

🎶 "Working My Way Back to You" – The Spinners

Marriage isn’t perfect. We’ve had our ups and downs, busy seasons, and times when we our marriage took a back seat to kids activities. But no matter what, we always found our way back to each other.

🎶 "Lost in Love" – Air Supply 

This one takes me right back to the early days—when we were young (at least I was-LOL), in love, and just figuring out life together. Sometimes, love can feel overwhelming, it's a feeling like no other. I think that’s what makes it so special.

🎶 "With You I’m Born Again" – Billy Preston & Syreeta 

Through the years, we’ve grown and changed, but every new chapter in our life together has felt like a fresh start. That’s the beautiful thing about love—it doesn’t stay the same, it deepens, evolves, and gives us new beginnings over and over again.

🎶 "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)" – Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer 

Let’s be real—sometimes marriage means standing your ground and speaking your mind! We’ve had our fair share of moments, but in the end, love always wins. And sometimes, all it takes is a good disco anthem to remind us that we can get through anything together.

🎶 "Fame" – Irene Cara 

Life is an adventure, and I love that we’ve always encouraged each other to chase our dreams. Whether it was big career moves, personal goals, or just trying something new, we’ve been each other’s biggest cheerleaders.

🎶 "Hurt So Bad" – Linda Ronstadt

Love isn’t just about the happy moments—it’s about sticking together through the hard ones, too. There have been times when we’ve had to be strong for each other, when life didn’t go the way we planned. But through it all, we’ve never let go of each other.

🎶 "Lady" – Kenny Rogers 

This song says it all. No matter how many years go by, you are still the love of my life, my best friend, and my home.

🎶 "Hungry Heart" – Bruce Springsteen 

Marriage is a journey, and looking back, I love all the twists and turns we’ve taken. We’ve built a life together that’s been full of adventure, and I wouldn’t change a single thing.

44 Years and Counting

It’s amazing how a song can bring back a feeling, a moment, or a memory. These songs remind me of our journey—how we started, how we grew, and how we’ve held onto each other through everything.

Kirk and I were getting together at the end of the disco movement and while that movement was fun at the end of my college career my music choices became more nuanced. Kirk was more of a Linda Ronstadt fan and I was more of a Queen fan. I guess the saying "opposites attract" is true. 

44 years later, and I still wouldn’t trade this crazy little thing called love for anything.

What songs bring back special memories for you? Let me know—I’d love to hear them!

AI Disclosure 

I got ideas for this blog post using ChatGPT. I selected the song titles  and AI wrote the descriptions underneath each song title. I proofread and edited it and wrote the ending . The music notes are from AI.

Those Thursday Places: Leaving our Battle Creek Home after Thirty One Years

There are a lot of memories when you live in one house for thirty-one years. My husband and I have been sharing our favorite memories of living at 309 N. Moorland Drive in Battle Creek, Michigan since we decided to downsize and move to Kalamazoo, Michigan. 

It started a little over a year ago in Spring of 2021. Kirk and I decided it was time to think about moving to a more manageable place as we age. We both saw our parents having to move in their late 80's because of health problems and we didn't want our kids to have to deal with that. Plus, I'm a little bit of a control freak and wanted to make the decision myself, with Kirk's input, of course. 

We decided we would get our Battle Creek house ready for sale, have a couple of garage sales, and look at apartments in Kalamazoo. We did not want the stress of trying to sell a house and buy a condominium at the same time with the way the real estate market was, and still is. I never realized how tight the rental market was.

First, I made a list of apartment possibilities in the Kalamazoo and Portage Michigan area. We took a day and did some drive by's to make sure they were in areas that we would want to live in. I made pro and con lists on the way. Moving Tip: Look at the cars in the parking lot. They tell a lot about the renters and the management. The next step was to set up some appointments to see what was available. We wanted a three-bedroom apartment, but those are hard to find.

Kirk outside our new home.

Every place we looked didn't have any availability. It was discouraging. Finally, we visited SaddleCreek at the Preserve, in Texas Township. It is on the west side of Kalamazoo. Rinda, the leasing agent, was wonderful. She didn't have any available apartments but took the time to show us an apartment and talk to us about when an apartment might become available. This was late April and she thought late August or September. When someone moves out of Saddle Creek, the entire apartment is upgraded. Although, it was a two-bedroom, Kirk and I really liked the development, the location, Rinda, and the apartments. This was the only place we put money down to reserve a spot. I am so thankful we did.

Was it hard to say goodbye to our home, our neighbors, and our friends? It was, but this move has been one of the best things we ever did. It was a hectic summer and Kirk's mom died about a week before the sale on our house closed and our move. The move was tiring. I'm not able to lift as much weight as when we moved 31 years ago! 

I have never once thought we made a mistake. The hardest part for me was getting rid of all the things I saved for my kids. Can you believe they didn't want their baby clothes, scrapbooks, toys from the 80's, or their Boy and Girl Scout books, uniforms, or badges? All those things and more I had saved. I took a lot of pictures and found good homes for most of it. I saved one tub of things per child and put the tubs in a closet.

We have many good memories of our time in Battle Creek. Here are a few:

• Kirsten and Travis starting Kindergarten and going through 12th grade in the Battle Creek Lakeview school district.
• Kirsten's success with music and theater in Battle Creek.
• Travis's success with DECA (Distributed Education Clubs of America).
• Soccer, baseball, softball, track, and golf matches. Many soccer games and track meets in the rain. 
• Kirk and I coaching youth soccer.
• Kirk's success as an elementary school counselor and being awarded Elementary Counselor of the Year twice.
• My volunteer successes at fundraising for PTA and Lakeview's Show Choir Spartanaires.
• Making the house a home.
• Doing too many house projects ourselves.
• All the celebrations-our special tree trimming parties.
• Numerous birthday celebrations.
• Getting to know Kirsten's and Travis's friends who would visit.
• Many Mario Kart competitions. "Who hit me? I'm in last place!"
• Engagement parties for Kirsten and Chase, Travis and Alayna.
• Dog sitting my grand pups, Ella, Study, and Caesar.
• Enjoying the gardens and gazebo in Spring, Summer, and Fall.
• Summer fun including bike rides, trips to the school playground, playing in the pool, looking at stars, playing volleyball, and more.
• Kirsten running into the basketball hoop with the car and Travis never letting her forget it.
• Travis getting caught with liquor in the trunk. It was confiscated and returned on his 21st birthday.
• and so much more.

It was a wonderful place to raise children. We could have grown older in our house, but it was time to put Battle Creek behind us and move on. We will now begin to make new memories in our new home.

Rest in Peace, Betty

I hit the jackpot when I married Kirk. I got a loving, mother-in-law too. I am not just saying that because this is a memorial to her, I truly did get a wonderful one.

Chase, Kirsten, Betty, Alayna, 

Travis, Jim

Elizabeth "Betty" Lorraine Corcoran Leyndyke died at the age of 93. She lived every one of those days with strength and grace. Betty's death will be felt by the family for a very long time. 

This part is hard to write, but I feel it is important to understand why her death certificate's cause of death was accidental. Betty had a number of ailments which any one of them could have been the cause of death. She suffered from crohn's disease, heart disease, severe arthritis, and more.

Betty had been suffering with a sore toe for a few months when she went to see a podiatrist. She had a follow up appointment with the podiatrist and an infection was discovered. She went to the hospital on September 2nd, and ended up needing a toe amputation, the infection had spread. The family had hoped that she would go home upon healing. She went into the hospital feeling pretty good except for the toe. The toe next to the big toe was amputated and for some reason she never rebounded. She had the surgery under local anesthesia.

Kirk and I went to see her the next week. We were told she was delirious, uncommunicative, and not eating. We walked in the room and were greated with a huge smile. Betty wasn't 100% but she knew who we were. She was having trouble swallowing and was on some type of a liquid diet. She did get a few things mixed up, but so do I. We visited for a couple of hours. We left and Kirk talked to her aide. We were told she would be ready to go to a rehab facility once a bed could be found for her. Sometime between Wednesday when we visited and Sunday when she was moved, something happened because she was moved to an inpatient hospice care facility.

Unfortunately, Kirk wasn't notified of this until he called the hospital and they told him where she was placed. Family communication is not their strong suit. I'm not going into any more of the family dynamics but it was a stressful week to say the least.

Betty was placed in Faith Hospice in Byron Center, MI on a Sunday night. Wednesday during the day she fell. No x-rays were taken until Friday. She had broken her hip and shoulder. It is from this point on, in my opinion, that Betty was kept so sedated she couldn't wake up. My daughter, Kirsten, Kirk, and I visited Betty on a Sunday and she never woke up, and we tried talking to her. It was so sad to see her like this. 

The family had had a care meeting on a Friday, which Kirk attended, imminent death was not mentioned. The doctor felt she had months to live. She died four days later.

The day she died, September 28th, we got a call from Joanne, Kirk's sister, that Betty's breathing had changed. We decided to go and be there with Betty. We missed saying good bye to her by minutes. 

I know that people don't live forever, but to think that a loved one is placed in the care of hospice, she falls, and dies from complications of that fall. I have so many questions for Faith Hospice, but I am sure we will never get any anwsers.

Betty was born 20 July 1928 to Bertrand and Leona (Dollaway) Corcoran. She married James Marvin Leyndyke on 24 June 1950. They were married for 71 years. She died 28 September 2021 in Byron Township, Kent, Michigan. 

Betty you will always be remembered by me and my family. This was a hard loss to accept. Betty's obituary can be found here: 

Yes, There Really is a Kalamazoo!

Yes, There Really is a Kalamazoo!

My summer and early fall was an extremely busy one. Kirk and I decided we were going to sell our Battle Creek home and move to Kalamazoo. We spent May through August getting the house ready to list for sale. If you would like to see the finished product check here.

Kirk and I lived here for 32 years. I thought it would be hard to leave, but it wasn't. I was excited for what our senior years would bring us. We decided on Kalamazoo for a number of reasons. We liked the area and felt it had more to offer. It was closer to our aging parents. It was closer to Chicago area, where our daughter lives. It just felt like a good fit. I had lived in Kalamazoo for four years during college. Kirk, Travis, Kirsten, and I lived here for one year before we found housing in Battle Creek. 

We sold our house within 5 hours of opening showings and at a very good price. The housing market is crazy. Kirk and I decided we didn't want to get in a bidding war and the stress of buying and selling at the same time so we looked for an apartment to rent. We started in May and it wasn't until August that we were at the top of a waiting list. Renting an apartment is as crazy as the housing market. Our thought is we would wait for things to calm down and look for a condo. Now, I'm not sure what we will do. I like where we are so much. 

We found just what we wanted. A walk in level apartment (no stairs), 2 bedrooms, in apartment washer and dryer, and two bathrooms. A third bedroom would have been nice, but those are few and far between. We found all that and more at Saddle Creek apartments in Texas Township/Kalamazoo. We took possession on Oct 1st, moved on Oct 4th, and closed on our house Oct 6th. It all came together in the end.

I couldn't be happier. I love it. We have a screened in porch that overlooks Al Sabo Nature Preserve. The entire apartment was upgraded to include new appliances, carpeting, paint, blinds, and bathrooms. The main bedroom suite is big enough for us to finally get a king size bed! I enjoy having two full bathrooms. 

Kirk and I are using the second bedroom as an office. We are sharing it. It is working out so far. It is just nice to be settled. We have a storage area in the basement and that needs to be organized, but for the most part we are done in the apartment.

IF you have been a reader of my blog for awhile, you may remember that I had a very nice office at the Moorland house. It was in a spare bedroom. I had wanted to take the furniture from there. I planned to take anything screwed into the walls down, but the realtor said to leave it because it would show that room could be an office. She said we would exclude it on the purchase agreement. In my excitement to have a great offer on the house I didn't catch that she didn't exclude it. It all had to stay except for two white bookcases. I was disappointed at first but then realized that it was all custom to that room. We asked the buyers if they wanted the bookcases and ended up leaving it all. It made moving easier, I didn't have to patch and paint walls in that room.

Sharing the office has been a challenge due to having less work space, but I know how to pack a closet! The banker's boxes and plastic ones will be my winter project. They are filled with pictures and documents from our parents. Some of it is our mess.

One thing about downsizing and moving to an apartment is no raking the leaves, weeding the gardens, and upkeeping a sixty year old home. I plan to use that time for genealogy and blogging. 

35 Moments That Took My Breath Away on Our Anniversary

"Moments that take our breath away" are the best kind of moments.  I have had a number of breathtaking moments in the past 35 years.  I mention 35 years because my husband, Kirk, and I are celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary today.  It is a special occasion for us.  We plan to do a quiet, romantic dinner at Mangia, Mangia restaurant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, tonight. Our other anniversary celebration is taking what I am calling, "The Great Big New England Genealogy Tour".

The moments that take my breath away have been those moments spent with family.  Share my 35 moments that took my breath away with me.

1. Meeting Kirk
2. Our first date at Windjammers Restaurant in Lexington, Michigan
3. Our engagement after a dinner at Windjammer's Restaurant.
4. Our Wedding Day!
5. Our honeymoon to Toronto, Canada
6. Setting up our first apartment as husband and wife, in Deckerville, Michigan
7. Living in married student housing, the summer Kirk went to graduate school at Central Michigan University
8. Celebrating with Kirk upon the completion of his obtaining a Master's Degree in School Counseling
9. Seeing a positive sign on the pregnancy strip, telling me we were having a baby
10. The birth of our first child, Kirsten
11. Buying our first house in Deckerville, Michigan
12. Seeing the second positive sign on a pregnancy test kit and hoping it was a boy
13. Having Kirk with me as we are told I miscarried at 20 weeks of pregnancy
14. Grieving as a couple, Kirk was so strong, through this miscarriage
15. Finding out I was pregnant again
16. Celebrating Kirk's first job as an elementary school counselor at Harbor Springs, Michigan
17. The ride to the hospital, from Harbor Springs to Petoskey. over the railroad tracks to deliver our son, Travis, 45 minutes after arriving at the hospital
18. Growing as a family of four, living in Harbor Springs, Michigan
19. Celebrating Kirk's second elementary counselor job with a move to Kalamazoo, Michigan
20. Taking Kirsten for her first day of preschool at Milwood Cooperative Preschool in Kalamazoo.
21. Moving to Battle Creek, Michigan to be in the city where Kirk worked
22. Buying our second house in Lakeview area of Battle Creek, Michigan
23. Walking Kirsten to her first day of Kindergarten at Riverside Elementary School
24. Taking Travis to his first day of preschool at Woodlawn Preschool in Battle Creek
25. Walking Travis to his first day of Kindergarten at Riverside Elementary School
26. Watching Kirsten walk across the platform to receive her high school diploma
27. Visiting Kirsten at college at Milliken University in Decatur, Illinois, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre
28. Meeting Chase, who would become our son in law, and getting to know him
29. Watching Travis accept his high school diploma at Lakeview School District, Battle Creek
30. Visiting Travis at Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, where he received his BAA in Sports Management 
31. Meeting Alayna, who would become our daughter in law, and getting to know her
32. Seeing Kirsten marry Chase Agnello-Dean
33. Seeing Travis marry Alayna DeSalvo
34. Watching Kirk as a wonderful role model and father to Kirsten and Travis.
35. Many beautiful moments in the last 35 years that has me looking forward to all the moments that will take our breath away in the future.

I could go on and on as I have many moments that took my breath away over the past 35 years.  Below you will see the start of our beautiful life and where we are today.

Mr. and Mrs. Kirk and Brenda Leyndyke

21 March 1981

St. John's Lutheran Church, Palms, Michigan

The Leyndyke Family

Christmas in Battle Creek, Michigan

Front Row: Brenda, Ella the Dog, Kirsten, Alayna

Back Row: Kirk, Chase, Travis

Happy Birthday, Kirk!

Kirk Anthony Leyndyke

17 April

Twins Kirk Anthony and Karen Anne were born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to

James and Elizabeth Leyndyke.

Kirk graduated from Forest Hills High School, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Kirk and I were married in 1981, in Palms, Michigan.

Kirk is a wonderful father and husband, who brings peace, joy and love to our family.

Kirk is a retired, school counselor from Lakeview School District, Battle Creek, Michigan


Happy Birthday, Kirk

Those Thursday Places: Wah Wah Tay See Way, Battle Creek, Michigan

Travis and Kirsten , December 1988, on Wah Wah Tay See Way in Battle Creek, Michigan

Moving to Battle Creek, aka The Cereal City, was our third move in as many years.  We were hoping it would be one of our last moves for awhile.  Kirsten and Travis were really good about the moves. We had a few nights of transition at bed time, but they handled it very well.  I am not so sure about me.  I never felt that I was able to get everything unpacked during those years.

The Wah Wah Tay See Way home enabled us to become part of the community that Kirk worked in.  We were of the belief that it was important to spend your pay check in the community that supported it.  Kirk was a public school employee.  It is interesting how that philosophy has changed over the years.  Overall, we never regretted it as Kirsten and Travis got a wonderful education, but at times I think it would have been nice to distance ourselves a little bit.  It was hard to be a parent and a school employee at the same time while advocating for your children and their education.

We moved into this home in the spring of the 1988, just before school was out for the summer.  The first summer in Battle Creek was filled with exploring the city.  It was like playing tourist, but coming home to your own bed at night.  Battle Creek had a lot to offer that summer and we tried to take advantage of it.

Our Family at the World's Largest, now Longest, Breakfast Table

We went to our first World's Longest Breakfast Table in 1988!  It was our kick off to our first summer in Battle Creek. Battle Creek has long been associated as the place that cereal was invented and what better place to have a cereal festival.  The Cereal Festival and World's Longest Breakfast Table was started in 1956 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Kellogg's Company.  Over the years Post and Ralston have joined the Festival and made it quite the event to go to. The Breakfast Table experience has changed throughout the years, but the year we attended you found a seat at the table and you were served cereal, milk, tang, and doughnut holes. Now, you stop at centralized tables and serve yourself.  Kirsten and Travis enjoyed it.  Tony the Tiger was a favorite character to get your picture taken with as well as Toucan Sam, Snap, Crackle and Pop and others, all roaming around the area.

Next, was a visit to Binder Park Zoo.  Our family spent many hours riding the train, seeing many animals, visiting the gift shop and more.  We bought a family membership to the zoo and we were able to visit it whenever we wanted to without paying more money for the entrance fee.  The stroller got a great workout that summer at the zoo.

 Travis discovering hot air balloons for the first time.  

The balloons are coming, the balloons are coming!

The Balloon Festival was another fun part of our summer.  Each year Battle Creek has held some type of a balloon festival, or air show.  The first few years we were in Battle Creek the balloons were awesome.  Kirsten and Travis loved seeing the hot air balloons flying over our house.  The one week festival let us enjoy many different balloon sightings throughout the city.  The specialty balloons were their favorite.  They enjoyed finding Sugar Bear, Mickey Mouse, the Sun with Sunglasses and Tony the Tiger.  They thought the balloons were 'Grrrre-at'.

Moi, Travis and Kirsten at Cornwell's.  I remember it being 100 degrees that day, it was hot!  The outfit Kirsten had on looked like a strawberry.  So many people would comment on it when she would wear it.  Travis was a tow headed cutie. who always had a smile on his face.

A trip to Cornwell's Turkey Farm was a must see place that summer.  The 'Turkey Farm' is a fun, family friendly place where you can get a delicious turkey dinner all year round.  Kirsten and Travis enjoyed going to the Turkey Farm to see the turkeys, some roaming around freely and others in the barn.  An old fashioned ice cream parlor, game room, candy corner, and gift shop were fun to explore.

The Turtle Pool, I wish I had a video of us bringing it home. We brought it home on the top of a Toyota Corolla, when we got to the end of our block, Kirk took it off the car and carried it home.

This was the first summer I remember Kirsten and Travis playing well together.  I have always felt I hit the jackpot with great kids.  I know every mother says that, but I don't remember my children fighting.  Yes, they had the occasional disagreement as they grew up, but Kirsten was a very, loving, older sister and Travis was a very, easy-going child.  

Playing firefighters with the Fisher Price Fire Truck play set.

They loved the kiddie pool in the backyard and a small slide on the back, screened in porch.  The brown chair, above, was a favorite place of theirs.  Kirsten would 'read' books to Travis, they would play fire fighters, share a bowl of popcorn, and just hang out in it.  I really enjoyed them that summer.  It was a relaxing and fun time with lots to do and see.

Kirsten, ready for her first day at Woodlawn Preschool, September, 1988.

The summer ended and Kirk went back to school and so did Kirsten.  Kirsten attended Woodlawn Preschool.  This was her second year in Preschool.  Woodlawn Preschool had the parents line their cars up along 22nd Street in Battle Creek and staff would open the door for each child and escort them into the school.  Travis, about 20 months old at the time, was in his car seat in the back seat with Kirsten. The minute the car door closed, Travis started crying.  He wanted to go with her. We would pick up Kirsten the same way, lining up on 22nd Street, and he would be so happy when he spotted 'sis', his name for her, waiting on the porch for her turn to go home.  I have always credited Woodlawn with creating in Kirsten a life long love of music. She loved music time at Woodlawn.

The singing career gets it start!

Music was always a big part of our day at this age.  Kirsten loved Sharon, Lois and Bram and their "Elephant Show".  She would have to dress up when the show came on and she would sing her heart out. She loved I Am Slowly Going Crazy, Skinnamarink, and If I Knew You Were Coming I'd Have Baked a Cake songs.   Travis would be in the same room playing, but his love was Raffi.  Raffi would come on and he would be the one singing.  He loved Baby Beluga, Six Little Ducks, and Shake My Sillies Out songs. I remember playing with Travis and Kirsten at this age.  We would play restaurant at the Fisher Price Kitchen. Memory was a favorite board game for Kirsten and I to play. Travis and I would play with blocks or 'Bristle Bears'.  Both children loved to be read too.  

A clown and a princess were the choices for Halloween that year.  Kirsten had a party at Preschool.  We took the kids to Binder Park Zoo for the Zoo Boo.  They walked around the zoo and got to trick or treat among some of the animals that were on exhibit.  The kids were amazed by the small size boxes of cereal that were handed out. Getting pop tarts in their trick and treat bags was special too. It is the Cereal City!

It wasn't long and spring rolled around.  We were looking forward to another great summer at Wah Wah Tay See Way.  We were renting here and were surprised when the owner put the house up for sale.  We didn't want to buy it as we thought there was too much work that needed to be done.  I wasn't a big fan of the gold shag carpet!  One of the two bathrooms needed major repair work and the layout was weird. 

It was a three bedroom home.  The living room area was huge with a lovely fireplace that housed racoons from time to time.  A L shaped hallway led from the front door to the bedroom and main bath area.  There were two good size bedrooms and one very small one.  You could walk through the small bedroom from the hallway to the kitchen.  The entrance to the screened in porch was from this bedroom.  The kitchen needed some serious updating.  The configuration of it was weird.  There was a nice size breakfast nook here.  The cooking area was a galley type with led from the back door to the living room area.  An unfinished full size basement was underneath it all. The water was from a well and there was a faucet in the garage that when it froze, a gusher came from it.  I remember a sold sign going up and we weren't even notified it had been sold. We started looking right away.  We were moving again!

The memories I have at Wah Wah Tay See Way were wonderful.  We got to explore our new town and spent a lot of family time together.  I met a wonderful friend, Donna, and we are still friends today. Check back next month to see what our next move would bring.

, 

Workday Wednesday: Kirk Leyndyke Retires after 39 Years in Education!

My husband, Kirk, is officially retired after 39 years in education, the last 27 as an elementary and middle school counselor! Congratulations, Kirk!  You survived all those little munchkins!  I know you made a difference in many, many children's lives and have made the world a better place because of your kind and caring personality.  I remember asking Kirk, after an unusually tough day dealing with a custody issue, where the police came and removed the child from the school, how he does what he does?  He said, "He wants to be the one who is there for them."   He has been there for thousands of students and parents throughout the years.  You deserve a wonderful retirement and I am happy I will be here to share it with you.

Here are a few moments from Kirk's career.

Ludington Area Catholic Schools, Ludington, Michigan 

4th Grade Teacher-December 1974-June 1978

Deckerville Community Schools, Deckerville, Michigan

Teacher of 1st, 5th and 6th Grades-August 1978-June 1986

 Coordinator of the Chess Club

Shay Elementary School, Harbor Springs, Michigan
Elementary School Counselor-August, 1986-June 1987

 Teaching Self Esteem Classroom Lessons

Lakeview School District, Battle Creek, Michigan
Elementary and Middle School Counselor-August 1987-June 2014

Kirk was a counselor in every Lakeview building except the high school.  The schools were Riverside Elementary, Minges Brook Elementary, Territorial Sixth Grade School, Westlake Elementary, Prairieview Elementary, and Lakeview Middle School.

Riverside Elementary School Pictures

1989 Yearbook Picture

What student wouldn't want to dunk their counselor?  Riverside Elementary Family Fun Night

State of Michigan Elementary Counselor of the Year Award, 1991

Kirk received the Elementary Counselor of the Year Award while counseling at Riverside and Minges Brook Elementary Schools.  Below are a couple of pictures and the school board recognition for his award.

 Battle Creek Enquirer Press Release Photo

 Battle Creek Shopper News Picture

School Board Resolution

Minges Brook Elementary Pictures

Leading a group session.

The students always enjoyed seeing the staff dressed up for Halloween.  Kirk is Robin Hood, tights and all.

During the first few years Kirk was at Lakeview, he received a pink slip.  A pink slip is notification that you won't have a job for the following year due to budget restraints.  The staff at Minges Brook thought it would be funny to give him a real pink slip!  Luckily, he had a job the next year after a millage passed.

Quest Bear Guess Who?  The Quest program was a self esteem building program and the Bear was its' mascot.  I guess being a self esteem mascot falls in the job description of the counselor.  Kirk had fun with it.

Westlake Elementary School Pictures

One of the programs that Kirk developed in the elementary schools was a cultural awareness program.  He held a Cultural Awareness Fair each year.  Parents and students from various cultures would bring relevant items and costumes to show the students.  The picture above shows the cultures of Korea, Italy, India and Japan.

If Kirk is remembered for only one thing during his time at Lakeview, it will be for his career days.  He would plan awesome career days.  Parents would be invited to share their career with the students and Kirk would fill in with community members.  The most talked about Career Days were when he had the Drug Enforcement Helicopter land on the school lawn.  Above, parents are signing in at Westlake School.

Lakeview Middle School Pictures

The culmination of Kirk's career came when he received his second state award.  This time it was the Heart of Gold award.  This award is given to a school counselor who has a Heart of Gold.  This award was meaningful to Kirk because he was nominated by the students for this award.   The picture below is Kirk, his award, and some of the students who nominated him.

Kirk had many wonderful moments as a teacher and counselor.  I could write a blog just on his experiences in education.  I tried to capture a few above, but I have many more pictures I could have share.  Throughout Kirk's years in education he has seen many changes.  The one constant in his career were the students.  He really cared about the students.  He was available for them throughout their school career and beyond.  He loved what he did.  He made a difference in thousands of students' lives and for this he deserves a great retirement.  Congratulations!