Friday, December 8, 2017

̶3̶3̶ years...

....or is it 34 years? 
(inside joke!)

On this day 33 years ago my mom and dad got married. 
December 8, 1984

They have had their share of ups and downs. 
Endured hardships.
and times of plenty.
Silent treatments.
Date nights.
Four children.
Seven dogs.
A hamster.
A miraculous goldfish.
Bearded Dragon.
Two additions to the house.
Dad takes hammer to kitchen cabinets.
Completely remodeled kitchen is the result.
Playing in the backyard.
Working hard.
Putting us kids first.
30 some odd cars that dad has had
Family vacations.
Ocean City.
Maryland.
New York.
Wisconsin.
South Carolina.
Look out mountain.
Rolling down hills in Wisconsin.
The carnival where I won a fish.
(And it died before we made it home)
Family dinner.
Pops bypass surgery.
loss of loved ones
cancer
depression
anxiety
afib
stroke
seizures
graduations
new life 
grandchildren
Neighbors
mechanic
yard man
bank teller
bus driver
teacher
father
mother
brother
sister
son
daughter
long days
even longer nights
playing dress up and coloring
watching tball games 
cheering at softball games
dr. hahn
pain 
heartache
joy
peace
healing
home videos
times gone by
times to come
loving in the moment.
no promise of tomorrow
a love that has stood the test of time
one that has been magnified these past 2 years

I've heard my parents argue and I've seen them come back together and move forward. I've seen them get creative to make ends meet. I've felt how much they care for us kids. I know they love each other. I just never knew exactly how much until I watched them endure something tragic. I've watched my mom and dad stand beside each other through a number of trials.  

 I took dad out this afternoon to pick out a card and a single rose.  See when he was cutting yards for his elderly friends he would tell them about his anniversary and they would tell him to go cut a rose out of their garden.  Dad seemed to be about the simple, thoughtful things....at least that is what I remember. He had to settle with going and buying a single rose. I think my mom was surprised.

I'm glad that my mom and dad got married and that they have stuck together no matter what hurdles have come their way.  an everlasting love.  


(on a side note---look at the symmetry in dads smile! this picture was taken today, the one below was from December 20, 2015 almost two years ago...In the picture above, from today, he is walking....the one below he was still in a wheelchair...our God is an awesome God!)