I retired from work as a counselor 6 years ago. I am married to my college sweetheart, Ed Martin, and we are nearing our 48th wedding anniversary. He is truly the love of my life. Ed has served several churches and was a seminary professor at United Seminary in Minnesota for 20 years. We have three children and 6 grandchildren. After we retired we moved to Vancouver, WA (as we in the "couve" say; Vancouver not BC, Washington not DC) to be near our middle daughter who lives in Portland, OR. Our two other children lived in Minnesota, but have since moved out here. We have lived in Virginia, North Carolina, Texas and Minnesota, but our favorite place is here in the northwest.
Most of our travel has been in Central America. From 1992 until 1999 Ed and I took seminary students on cultural exchanges to Nicaragua. It became a life changing experience for us and the students. We also served on the board of a NGO in Minnesota that worked with the people of Leon, Nicaragua. Our work included digging wells, building schools, and generally working wherever the people needed our help. It was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.
In 2004 we went to France with a group of friends and bicycled through the Loire valley, riding from chateau to chateau. In 2006 we went back to France with our oldest grandson (he was 13 at the time) and we biked from Passau, Germany along the Danube to Vienna.
In 2008 Ed and I spent a couple of weeks in Kona, Hawaii and I took a couple of Ukulele lessons and was hooked. I am having a blast with it, but it is really stretching this 68 year old mind. I figure it's got to be good for me.
LIFE IS GOOD!!
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WOW!!! Your life sounds so rich and interesting. I am especially impressed with your obviously great physical condition at this time in your lives. Good for you!!!
Posted by: Karla Lofgren Davis | March 13, 2010 at 07:00 PM
Hey Claudia
I enjoyed reading about your life and your impressive activities. You have managed to maintain that same look you had in high school. Must be the bicycling! Look forward to seeing you again next month.
PS-Bring that ukulele!
Posted by: paul schrader | March 13, 2010 at 09:56 PM
Can't wait to see you in April! It's been too long since our last visit......
Love ya, June
Posted by: Lonita June Sillings Priest | March 13, 2010 at 10:51 PM
June, I am also looking forward to seeing you and everyone. Ed is not able to come because he has a teaching commitment, but my sister is coming with me. See you in April!
Posted by: Claudia (Tilton) Martin | March 23, 2010 at 08:57 AM
Hey Claudia, is Marge your sister that is coming? Also, I talked to you about your Aunt Dorothy last reunion, is she still with us? Looking forward to seeing you and visiting with you again soon.
Gladys Payne Bohac
Posted by: Gladys Payne Bohac | March 23, 2010 at 10:09 PM