My Family - Ron Dugone

Most people are interested to see the changes that naturally occur as we and our family takes shape and ages.  I don't kid myself, I don't look like the Ron Dugone that attended Northwest College '73-77.  The first picture is of Jody and myself at the time of graduation from,what was then called Northwest College.  It was the just after graduating in the spring of 1977.  (If I look clueless--I was)  Before I get ahead of myself, let me start near the beginning of my time at NU.  Life for my family started at NU, because that is where I met Jody.  She arrived as a Freshman at NU the same year I arrived.  I discovered her on a double-date, where she was the date of the other guy...I know...a couple of weeks later we started our courtship.  In the summer of 1975, just before I started my Junior year, Jody and I got married in her hometown of Roseburg, Oregon. 

Short true story: Jody was popular at NU--even though she would say that she wasn't.  Like I already mentioned, I met her on a double-date, and then after "I" started dating her, she already had another formal date on her calendar with still another guy.  I asked her to go to an Andrae Crouch concert with me, but she was slated to go out to the concert with Steve Taylor.  My first conversation with Steve Taylor went well, because he was gracious and kind. He released Jody to go with me.  That was the beginning of a courtship and romance that has held up well through the years. 

Someone mentioned the other day that Jody looked lovely at her wedding.  She did look beautiful, but ask anyone who really knows Jody and they will verify what I'm about to say: "Jody is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.  She is a giver and enriches everyone's life who has the privilege to know her."  In the last 35 years Jody has proven to be a fabulous wife, an amazing mother (whose children adore her), and a great partner in the work of the ministry.  I was serving as the Senior Pastor of New Life Assembly of God in Idaho Falls, Idaho when "we" started our family.  We have two children:  First there is Gina, followed by her brother, Michael.  Anyone with children should know this to be true.  Our children help define our lives by filling life with purpose and challenges.

 I spent most of the 80's in Idaho Falls, but decided that I wanted to raise my children in Texas.  Why Texas you ask?  Although I was raised in Idaho and attended Northwest University, my family has been a fixture in Austin, Texas.  We have a ranch that has been in the family since 1877.  My great-great-great grandfather sold the original 40 acres that is now known as the University of Texas.  My grandfather graduated from UT. My father graduated from UT.  My son is about to graduate from the UT Pharmacy D program.  I'm the only one who broke the pattern by going to Northwest University. So, what do we and the kids look like now days?

A little information about my kids.  Michael (in blue) and his wife Elisha.  Michael is a talented guitar player and worship leader as well as finishing up his doctorate in Pharmacy.  Elisha is a fourth grade teacher here in the Leander school district.  (She is also leads our worship singers at our fellowship)  Erick and my daughter, Gina.  (Both in black)  Erick just graduated from the Business School at Texas State University.  He is an amazing drummer and blesses us every week with his gift.  Gina is a "stay at home" mom with grandson, Adyen and yet to be named or arrive second grandson.  Gina is a gifted singer working on her first album.  We did not ever have the expectation that our children and spouses would want to stick around, but they did!  We feel amazingly blessed.  Isn't life great!

And "yes," that is what we actually look like today.  This picture was taken this Thanksgiving, 2010.