My name is Karen Sue Tolin (although very few people know that Sue is
not my first name). I was born March 15, 1949 the second child and first
daughter of the late Lloyd H. Block and Virginia Block. I have a brother, Phillip 14 months older than I am and a sister, Peggy Losey, 27 months younger. I owe who I am and what I have become to God and my parents and thank them for it.My sister, Peggy, set up a blind date and Tim and I met. Our first date was to the military ball (DeMolay/Rainbow Girls-Masonic Order) and the rest is history. Tim and I were married 11 months later (March 29, 1969) on a 48 hour pass from Uncle Sam (Tim having been drafted the previous Jan.) beginning a lifetime of committment and love. To this day Tim still vows that we aren't married it was a dress rehersal but I do have the marriage license to prove it even though he claims he never said, "I do".
Tim is the son of Joan (Tolin) Esposite and the late Jay Earl Tolin. He has one sister, Diane Paul. His Mom and sister live in Dallas, Texas.
The past 38 plus years have witnessed many changes in the lives of two people. We have survived the Viet Nam war (yes, Tim is a Viet Nam veteran leaving for active duty just 3 months after our wedding-leaving us legally separated for that first year), the birth of 5 beautiful daughters, the adoption of 13 beautiful chidren (7 girls and 6 boys), the marriages of our daughters, the births of our grandchildren, cancer and lastly the deaths of two of our sons and one baby daughter.
Tim is a member of the Fraternal Order of Free and Accepted Masons and is a Past Worshipful Master of his lodge. Tim is a Royal Arch Mason and member of the Knights Templar. His most recent Masonic endeavor is becoming a member of the Moslem Shrine Temple. We are both members of the Order Of Eastern Star, also. The fraternal fellowship means a lot to both of us although Tim is more active than Sue.
We were licensed foster parents but did not renew our license in Aug. 1997 when our grandson, Jacob, was diagnosed with cancer and our energies were needed and took a different turn. We spent 7 1/2 years-this time. We ARE and ALWAYS will be adoptive parents and an adoptive family. Our children are our gifts from God through the foster/adoption system that no one can ever take away, yet they give us so much.
What has carried us through all of this? The only answer that comes to mind is our faith. We are a Christian family and our family has been built with love by God through birth and adoption. He is our Father and has given us what we have and what we are today. We thank Him for His
blessings of life, family, friends and even death..We have learned that with trust, love, faith, hope and charity WE ARE WHAT WE ARE..and HE HAS MADE US ALL.