Craig, I am both humbled and grateful to have an opportunity to share some of my appreciations and feelings for you on your 75th birthday. I am so grateful to have been warmly welcomed into the McCune family. You have always been very kind and patient with me as a son-in-law, particularly as I have learned and am learning the ropes of being your daughters husband. Thank You. I am grateful for your wisdom and the gentleness with which you share your insights and perspective on life in all realms political, spiritual, intellectual, and familial. You set for me a great example of relating to others and building them up by focusing on their strengths and potential. I am appreciative of your desires and willingness to support our family in achieving educational and financial goals that have better prepared us to meet life's opportunities and challenges. Thank You. I am appreciative of the way in which you have built your career, pursued your passions, and negotiated difficult life challenges. You set for me an example of consistency and integrity that inspires me to think before I act and to take a longer perspective of my decisions. All of these things you do, you do so with a quiet dignity and a desire to serve others. I hope that on your birthday and in coming years you will continue to find great joy in following your dreams and passions. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have had and that my children now have to be with you and to learn from your many strengths and loving example.

Thank you, Uncle Craig (which also means Aunt Lorna)

I couldn't let this chance go by to thank you for the good influence you have been to Haydn and me and our children. Thank you and Aunt Lorna for letting Ben be part of your life those summers in Montana, for taking him to Glacier National Park, for the extra work it was to roll another person into your life, the food and the arranging, the letting go of a little more of your quiet time, your own time. Thank you both for letting us visit you that summer and for the patience and love you always show us (most recently when we stayed with you in your desert abode close to St. George). You both have always been high in my esteem (too high for me to sit down and relax around you at first). I wanted to be like Aunt Lorna, so warm and full of love for beauty, good music and literature. I'll never forget the image of you and Aunt Lorna as you left the church where Ben and Emily had their Utah reception, and the thought crossed my mind that it was just you two, no one else was hanging onto your coat sleeve, no one tagging along--two amazing souls, hand in hand, walking away together. Now Haydn and I are there in that place--we walk away, hand in hand, together, but the little birds have all left the nest. I am grateful for every card and every visit and every kind word you have given us or any of our children. So many of them have enjoyed time at your hearth. You and your children have helped me see outside my little narrow-sided box and know that the gospel is big enough for many opinions, many ways of seeing things, and that I am one small human being who has needed more times than not to see outside that box to get things more right within me. I love the gospel with all my heart, and you and Aunt Lorna and your family are part of that gospel to me. I cannot even trace all the little memories I have of you all to their inception--I just know the overall feeling I have because of any interactions or perceptions is one of gratitude that I could be included in this family, and that I have the hope of knowing you all (including Grandma and Grandpa McCune and their parents) better some day on the other side of the veil. Thank you again for who you are--someone we all love. Love, Doris Castleton

Happy Birthday from the HBCs

Dear Uncle Craig,
     I'm so glad there is an Uncle Craig in my life! You have long given me something to shoot for in so many ways including a balanced somewhat detached and objective look at life issues and more importantly your testimony of the gospel coupled with liberality may have gentled my tendency to become a raving right-wing maniac. (Isn't that what all of us conservatives are supposed to be?)
     I'm just grateful for your generous influence in my life and the strength I feel knowing I belong to the McCunes as well as the Castletons. Thank you for blessing my life with Aunt Lorna, Shanny, Erin, and Scott.

Love,
Haydn and the gang of ours that love and hold you in high esteem.

Dearest Craig,

 

You may be my little brother but I have always thought of you with the highest regard and admiration.  To be more specific, the interest and kindness you have always shown to me and my family and wanting to know all about them... and you do this for everyone.  Your positive and upbeat attitude spreads and lifts those around you as you help solve problems. I have often wished that my Dr's. were more like you! Above all, I feel His spirit of goodness in you.

 

Well, I also have memories of taking you for a walk in the baby carriage on Harvard Ave. And then there were all of our happy memories of going to Bear Lake and up Emigration Canyon and well, just wonderful times spent together as a family. Now Craig, I am trying to think of something that you did wrong but...I Just Can't!!!  Must be age has blocked it out!

 

Well, we wish with all our hearts that you have a wonderful Birthday and great year ahead. Thinking of you....

 

                                                                   Much love   Jean & Keith

 

75 years young! Wishing you long life and happiness, Craig. Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday to the most incredible Pops in the World!!!!

I still can't believe it's your 75th Birthday!!! Remember when we where just a tiny family??

There are soo many memories that I will always hold dear in my heart. You have been there for me always and believed in me more then I ever did. 

You where always ready to help jump in when I was a young'in....

Taught me the great ethics of hard work.....

Encouraged me to always follow my dreams....

Always encouraged me to be myself.....no matter what the neighbors thought!

Taught me to always keep up on the news of the world at an early age.....

and you have always been an incredible example for all who know you.......

Soo much so that I always WANT to show you off......

And no matter what I will always hold you tight and never let go!!!!!

Hope you have an incredible 75th year; you are the blessing that nothing could replace or come close to!!! I love you with all my heart!!! 

Love you,

PD & Osito and Artie!!!!

"Present!!!" 

"I WUv  YOU!!"

Love, Rowen

Celebrating 75 years !!

Dearest Dad,

Happy, happy 75th Birthday!!

Yup! here's good ole' dad ... steering the way across Kintla lake only a few weeks ago (August 2012).

Steering equals guidance...
and I want to thank you for a lifetime full of your thoughtful input.

I am blessed to have had you share your wisdom and insight in many situations to help lead the way, all while left to still make my own choices.

A few more pics of beautiful Kintla Lake:

Campsite #4 and the River running past only 10 ft away...

my Dad is ...
... as steadfast as Goose Island

... as powerful as a Glacial Water Fall

... as reliable as the Osprey

... as wise as the Eagle

... as stable as the Mountain Goat

... as respected as the Bear

... as well traveled as the Trout

... as young hearted as the Chipmunk

... and as interesting as the Butterfly

A few gorgeous views from our second campsite # 144 in east Glacier at Saint Mary's Lake

Thank you for this excellent trip together and all the planning you put into ensuring we had a wonderful time... what great new memories I now have of camping, eating camp meals, boating, fishing, nature walking, wild life viewing, and just hanging out together. Road Trip..

I love you dad and look forward to the creation of even more memories while discovering many more great places to be with you and would also love to experience some more family outings with the whole family extension soon too.

Wouldn't it would also be really great to make a trip back east to the Adirondacks or any other choice lake that we have all enjoyed before.

Lastly, a few last pics of good ole' dad fishing along a rivers edge on the way home. The icing on the cake was fishing while eagles soared overhead engrossed in their own fish finding flight.


The cast !!

Here fishy fishy ... I have already hooked two of your buddies

Happy Birthday - Love Scott !

Dear Brother McCune,
Today is a special day!  May it be the best birthday ever.  You and Lorna have always been so kind to our family. Our children love you and so do we. May you see many more birthdays! Thank you for everything you are and everything you do,
Love,

Ed and Glenna Burdick

Happy Birthday Uncle Craig!  Hope you have a great day.  We love and miss you.

Happy 75th Dad!

There are so many pictures that I either haven't scanned or are on my old hard drive that I haven't reclaimed yet that I would love to put on here: pictures of misty mornings at Kintla, family hikes near Squam, or smiling together on the rocky coast at sunset in Tofino. These moments when we knew life was good were often recorded. And those memorable family trips happened largely because you did the research, found beautiful places to explore, and set aside the time for us to go as a family. So much richness in our memories comes from your efforts and prioritizing family trips. Thank you!!

And there's all the moments that I remember that aren't recorded on film (despite mom's and my best efforts), like all those family work parties unloading wood in Pittsford or building the corral in Missoula, or late night conversations in the van as we drove through the night on another family road trip. Your best lectures were taught by doing--working together, figuring out how to do things yourself (fencing!), and intentional frugality when options like spending the night in a motel or just flying would have been so tempting but so pricey.

I continue to feel guided and inspired by the way that you choose intentionally how to spend your time on worthy projects (5 hours or more on Primary lessons--so amazing!!), or with those who need you, always wishing you had more time. Thank you for what you've taught me about striving for balance despite the many opposing pressures of life.

Here's a few little photos, none of which are high quality pictures, but they remind me of how much thought you put into our lives and what sort of pleasure or direction you could offer us, which is such an incredible gift to each of us blessed by your influence. These pictures all happen to be from visiting you guys this January, only because I hardly have any pics available to me right now!

Sharing your love of music even with the tinies. 

Knowing of Aurora's discovery of and love of ballet, you recorded multiple versions of The Nutcracker and watched one all the way through with Aurora--a great highlight for her and a sweet way to support her interest so wholly. 

I just love that you still have the same bike (is it 40 years old now?) and that you still ride regularly!

Always helping us get outside as a family and into beautiful places. 

Happy Birthday Dad, you are an incredible gift to each of us, and a wise, broad-thinking, patient patriarch of our family.  We love you!!

Happy Birthday Baapa!

I had fun hiking with you this winter. 

And doing our "projeks"

(that was really awesome how you had thought ahead and picked out all these great activities to do with Aurora, says Shannon)

When are you coming home again? 

Happy Birfday. I like you. I love you, 

Love,

Aurora