When Jeff was twenty-seven months old, we all welcomed into our home another little son,
Jamie Wyatt McMillan. Now Jeff had a little brother to love, and to fight with.
We had moved into a larger home when we discovered
another baby was on the way. Life was very busy, very full,
very happy. It seemed almost every evening, Jerry and I would
thank God that we had each other and our two healthy, happy,
little sons. We enjoyed doing all the family fun things - bike
rides, hikes, camping, popcorn parties, story time, sing-songs
around the piano, and family church activities. We were the
type of family that was the happiest when we were all together.
I'm so grateful now that I can look back on many, many
happy memories. I feel too many couples become so tied up in
material things, they miss the simple joys in life God has given
them. They allow their children to become a burden rather than
the blessing God intended them to be. We dedicated our babies
to God when they were just a few months old. Out of grateful
hearts, we thanked God for both of them and gave them back
to Him and asked for His divine guidance and direction in each of their lives.
They grew up much too fast! They were close. Jeff could be rough and ready with Jamie,
but don't let anyone else try it! He was also very protective of his little brother. Jamie copied
everything Jeff did, good and bad. Both our children were quite demonstrative in their affection to
us as were we to them. Love was always expressed in our home. We wanted very much for the boys
to grow up to be buddies as well as brothers.
Jeff was asked to be
ring bearer in two weddings,
one when he was five and
another when he was six. He
was so proud to be all dressed
up and strutted around like a
little peacock showing off his
clothes to anyone who would
take the time to admire him. I
must admit, we were very
proud of him; he really
behaved himself and acted like
a little gentleman.
From the time he was old
enough to hold a pencil properly,
Jeff constantly drew pictures of
Jesus on the cross. Every time we
would ask him to choose which
story he wanted us to read out of
his Bible Story Book, he would
choose the story of Jesus'
crucifixion. I have countless
drawings he has done concerning
this. It was almost an obsession
with him.
It was during the summer of 1970 when I was expecting Jeff, that we met Faye 
and Terry Ward. They came to Brockville
as assistant pastors at our assembly. It was instant friendship. Faye
and Terry became very special to us and as our children grew, so
did our friendship. They were a second mommy and daddy to our
boys, and their little girl, Robin, became 'our girl'. They also kept
Jeff for us at the time of Jamie's birth. How we thank God for our
many friends, but this precious couple in particular were always
there, in our times of sorrow as well as joy. They would anticipate
our needs long before we even expressed them. I thank God for
their genuine love and concern.
In Kindergarten, Jeff never missed one day of school. He was such a healthy active little boy.
In Grade 1 he may have missed one or two days, but it seemed he was almost never sick. When he
was in Grade 2, in late fall his teacher mentioned she had noticed he had slowed down somewhat.
Jeff had always been an excellent student, and she felt he was acting as if he was tired. We really
didn't notice much change in him at home, except perhaps he did seem a little lethargic, but when we'd
ask him how he felt, he'd say, "Just fine".
