For those that don’t know me very well, I am Donovan Earl Toews, born in March of 1957 to Milton and Margaret Toews who lived at Linden, Alberta, Canada at the time. When I was 12, we moved to Yarrow, BC where I spent my youth years. Then in 1977 we moved to Neilburg, SK, which is where I lived when I married my wife Donna in 1978. It is where we had our children, and lived until 1999. So I am a Canadian, truly and proudly. But I’ve lived in Colorado for 20 years, and I love it here too.
My Dad, Milton, is still with us in body but his mind is largely gone. He is a shining example of a true father in every way. He was a big part of Mom’s writing inspirations, and to mine in this blog. Dad’s patience was remarkable. His optimism was legendary.
Mom, who died in April 2010, is know to many as Margaret Penner Toews, the name she used on the songs and devotional books she wrote. To me, she was just “Mom”, full of love and life-lessons, and all a boy could wish for in a mother.
Rand is my older brother by one year. He was my constant companion growing up. We fought like cat and dog between us, but were instant and ardent defenders of each other to any outside threat.
Geneva, born in 1960 and married to my wife’s younger brother Doug. She is a true friend and confidante.
Andre, our middle sister, born in 1964. She comes with a sense of humor that spares neither you nor your sacred subject.
Eileen, our youngest sister, born in 1965. She has the details, complete, accurate, and dependable, just like her.
Bern, my youngest brother, born in 1968. He’s the guy that will do anything he can for someone in need. He’s also the guy that taught my sons sportsmanship and hockey skills.
There was, and still is a lot of love in my family – between us but also radiating outward. That meant there were others that came and went – foster children, summer cousins, house help, and anyone who needed a loving home for awhile. It was somewhere that a family get-together didn’t include some extra person or people. The word that comes to me that describes my folks is “Inclusive”. They loved people, of all stripes, and that fact colored our lives, in a good way.
Adulthood:
In 1978, at 21 years of age, I married my wife Donna, daughter of Robert and Joanne Boehs of Goltry, Oklahoma. She is the best wife, mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother that exists anywhere. She has borne with me, forgiven my faults, and loved and cared for me for these 41 years.
Our family consists of:
Andrew, 40 and Angela with 4 children.
Trevor, 37 and Teresa and 5 children.
LaTayne, 34, married to Verlyn Boese, with 3 children.
Robert, 31 and Shayla with 2 children.
Carson, 28 and Cami with 2 children.
That’s 10 children including 5 wondering in-laws, which we count as our own but came into our family fully raised. And 16 grandchildren – 8 boys and 8 girls.
Most of them live close to us in Colorado, except for Andrew and Angela and their tribe, who live in North Alabama.
Full disclosure: It’s not all perfect. Dad did get angry, 3 times that I remember, and one of them was at me, well deserved. Mom did raise her voice at us children at times. I think I missed learning some things as a child, like self discipline and whatever is the opposite of entitlement. Donna and I have had some grand vistas on our journey but we’ve also had some long dark nights. We’ve had to work on our marriage and our attitudes. I have struggled and lost many a battle, and had to come to my Lord for forgiveness which, praise God, He has granted.
In other words we are normal people with normal problems. Which you might want to know if you write something on this blog, or for our book.