DEVAN MILFORD ERICKSON IS FORTY!

In 1971 three babies were born in the Erickson family.  That means that those three are all turning 40 this year.  Joan had her special day in February and on April 30, it was Devan's turn.  He actually celebrated with his family a week or so early but I don't have any pictures to show you. Maybe somebody will help me out with that. (Thanks for posting this on Facebook, Judy!)   We will actually have four 40th birthdays to celebrate at our Erickson reunion in July.  Clare turned 40 last September 22 and Jason will be 40 on September 1.  For three weeks in September there will be four forty year olds!

Devan's 40th with his daughter Paige and nieces Madison and Macey

We won't forget your 40th birthday in Torquay area, the day of our big spring blizzard.  Our power went out at 2 a.m. that morning and was off for 48 hours!  That's the longest time that we have been without power on the Johnson farm.  The last lengthy outage was about 24 hours, at least ten years ago.  We had lamps, flashlights, a battery radio and a fireplace so we were quite comfy as long as we stayed close to that, or crawled into bed with flannel sheets and an extra quilt or two on top!  Jeff, our boarder, supplied us with boiling water for chicken noodle soup and hot chocolate with a propane burner from his emergency kit that he keeps in his car.  Why don't we have something like that on hand?  Maybe we've learned a lesson in being prepared.  Anyway, we are glad the Shaunavon/Frontier area missed this storm.  You had a few this winter that we didn't get so I guess it was our turn.

Devan's birthday is an important date to remember for Canadians as April 30th  is "Tax Day", the day our income tax forms are due, along with any money owed to the government.  Because it fell on Saturday this year, the deadline was extended until Monday at midnight.

I did manage to find a couple pictures of Devan on Michelle's Facebook page so here they are.

Grandma Nelson is dishing up her Christmas pudding,
a real favorite of Devan's

Devan and Michelle taken at an April hockey windup.

Devan and Michelle, Draven, Reese and Paige moved to Shaunavon last fall after living in Redcliff, AB for several years.  I'm planning a trip out that way next week so hope to visit you then.  Sandra and I are going to Innisfail, AB for a memorial gathering on May 15th for our Aunt Helma Parkins who passed away in February.  She would have been 97 on May 9 and outlived her seven Haaland siblings.

Devan works in the oil field and has made a couple trips to Weyburn for meetings.  Jody and Clare enjoyed your recent visit and supper out with you.

Your birthday blog is almost a week late, but I had a better excuse than usual when that happens.  This time the power was off and I couldn't use the computer for two days!  I must learn to do these blogs ahead of time.  Be prepared, Elaine!