Griffitts' photos before invisible disabilities, Sunbreaks in Unending Storms

Sunny Days in the Rose Garden, 1966-78

Below are FJ and Carole Griffitts’ photos before her invisible disabilities began. That part of their life is described in Chapter 1 in their book, Sunbreaks in Unending Storms.

Thinking about our Garden

FJ's graduation photo, 1964. Wearing a suit. Brown-tone pic. — **FJ,** **high school graduation, 1964**

“He saw that beautiful young college student and considered her the most alluring woman the good Lord ever made. She had shoulder-length hair like silky golden sunlight.“
FJ, page 1

Carole's graduation photo, 1965. Wearing a sweater with a pearl necklace. Short curly hairstyle. — **Carole, high school graduation, 1965**

“Our commitment’s strength was soon tested as the Air Force sent me on a temporary duty assignment five thousand miles away.”
FJ, page 2

FJ in Guam. Standing by motorcycles and cars with barracks in background. — **FJ by the barracks**

Guam. Palm trees. Ocean in distance. — **FJ by the barracks**

Preparing for our Garden

FJ and Carole standing by a house. FJ in Air Force uniform. 1965.

Dreaming

1966

Carole and FJ holding hands before minister, flanked by 2 bridesmaids, 2 groomsmen. Candlelabra. Pink hearts floating. — **Taking vows**

FJ and Carole's wedding party. L-R: Carole's parents; FJ and Carole; FJ's parents; 2 bridesmaids, in lilac floor-length gowns; 3 groomsmen. — **Carole’s parents, FJ & Carole, FJ’s parents, bridesmaids & groomsmen**

Mr. and Mrs.

FJ Griffitts

Wedding photo 7/16/1966. Front of church. Carole in floor-length white dress with full skirt holding white rose bouquet. Joe in suit. Blonder hair in white veil. FJ in black suit with white boutonniere.

Growing our Garden

Tom, 3 months

3-month-old Tom on his back laughing at a yellow push-over toy. Sepia colored.

Proud papa, FJ, and Tom

FJ smiling, holding up 7-month-old laughing Tom earing a cowboy hat.

“Our rose garden expanded when Tom joined our family. What a sunny day!”
FJ, page 4

“This rose garden enlarged again while I was in college when Bill brought even more sunshine into our lives.
FJ, page 4

4-m-nth-old Bill laughing. Laying on a blanket. Black and white.

Bill, 4 months

Happy Carole and Bill

Carole holding 3-month-old Bill. She's sitting on a large tree stump by a lake.

Fun Times

Visiting relatives

“Our family loved our frequent visits to grandparents and siblings. … and even great-grandparents and great-aunts and great-uncles.”
Carole, page 7

Tom (9), Carole, FJ, Bill (6) at grandparents' place. — **At the grandparents**

Enjoying the outdoors

Tom (9) standing by a sign about a meteorite on a trail at the Grand Canyon. — **Grand Canyon**

“From the time our sons were old enough to take part, our family enjoyed outdoor activities. … Camping came later because we didn’t own a tent until they were older. Once we acquired one, we camped frequently. We loved observing and experiencing nature’s beauty.”
Carole, pages 7-8

Bill (6) sitting on a snow dish on our couch, surrounded by his stuffed animals. — **In the house**

Tom (8) & Bill (5) sitting on a dinosaur at the local park. — **At the park in Kansas City**

Carole. with Tom (9) and Bill (6) standing on a ledge behind behind her, with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. — **Golden Gate Bridge**

Tom (4) and Bill (1 1/2) standing on lawn outside California State Fair. Wearing matching t-shirts and jeans. — **Cal-Expo (CA state fair)**

FJ’s graduations

College

1972, BA California Baptist College Riverside, California

Seminary

1980, MDiv Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary Mill Valley, California

Black graduation cap with cream-colored diploma bound with red ribbon.

No pictures available of FJ’s college graduation, as they had already moved!

No pictures available of Seminary graduation as they got lost in the mail!

Actually, he graduated after the storms began (next chapter).

Sunbreaks in Unending Storms is available from Amazon, Kobo.com, Barnes and Noble, and other online retailers. Or request your library to order a copy and read it for free.