Celebrating 40 years

“Where do I begin to tell the stories of how great a love can be…”

Such a beautiful love story spanning four decades and a little more.

How blessed we are, my sisters and I.

So blessed to have parents, who’ve loved each other, always and unconditionally,

and made love look so easy and so beautiful.

Thank you, Mom and Dad, for your perfect example of a Godly marriage and home.

Daddy, you were always my hero.

You were the one who always encouraged me and the reason I studied so hard,

who always loved me and took so much pride in my accomplishments.

You were a man who loved his family,

And spent your life showing us just how much.

I’ll never forget the ways…

All the puppies and bunnies and chickens and baby cows,

 & Nelly and Telly and Lula Bell,

and bottle feeding them until we were sick to death of it.

Taking us swap meeting and buying us little  treasures and big.

& teaching me to ride a bike & play ball

and all those basketball games and playing catch.

The playhouse you built,

and the nights you let us stay in it with friends,

but always with your bedroom window open,

making sure we were safe and okay.

The swing set you made that resembled a tepee, and the fun we had on it.

Always teasing me about this boy or that,

and all the matchmaking with that twinkle in your eye.

Teaching me honesty and that one lie and a mouthful of soap.

Also respect, and that slap on the face,

and never again would I ever lie or talk back to you.

All those winter evenings playing UNO,

and when we’d beg for just one more game,

“pretty, oh pretty  please..”

The Body Shop you built right there next to the house,

just so you could be close to the family who loved you.

And the cars you paid me to clean,

and that nasty shop bathroom, too.

& all  three of us girls sanding on a car door to get ready for vacation,

though I’m sure you could’ve done it so much faster yourself.

The fun vacations and the souvenirs and Indian tacos

and a flooded trailer and cooking fish over a fire,

the mountain hiking and biking,

and snacking all along the way.

You really do know how to take a fun vacation. : )

All those yummy late night snacks, and Strawberry Shortcake Ice Cream

and peanut butter and jelly mixed together,

because you are always hungry. : )

Our mini-bikes and 9 acres and the trails you made for us.

For all this and more,

I love you,

My sweet Daddy, with your smiling eyes, your cute dimples

and your love for life.

Thank you, Daddy.

Thank you for putting family first and loving us.

And Mom, you were always my angel.

Never a more giving, unselfish love as yours.

If we were sick, you were there, always comforting and praying,

bringing this or that, trying to make us well again.

& that one Birthday,

when you were so sick and knew how disappointed I was

and planning a party for me anyway, with friends and cake.

All those piano lessons, and encouraging me to keep practicing.

Teaching us about God and Bible Stories at night,

The tears and the prayers, in the wee hours of the morning,

Your big faith and your tender heart.

Always worrying over us and trying to keep us safe,

and skating with pillows tied around us with belts,

so we wouldn’t get hurt if we fell.

Your “Rise and Shine” each early morning,

& being led into a warm bathroom on cold mornings

because you always had the heater on for us.

Cooking so many dinners and keeping a house so clean,

and teaching me to dust

and I guess I forgot, because my house is so dusty.

Making us paper dolls and pretty clothes for our dolls,

and how we loved them,

and played with them hours upon hours at a time.

Snapping peas on the front porch, and how it was fun at first,

but then keeping at it until it was done.

& first memories of summer,

and hanging out in the backyard with you right there,

and feeling so happy and content,

and soaking it all in.

I have been so blessed.

Thank you, my angel mother.

I love you.

 Mom back in her wedding dress,

the dress she made 40 years ago. : )

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