Three Decades

The traditional anniversary gift for the thirtieth anniversary is the pearl. What a wonderful thought. A pearl starts out as a little grain of sand that over the years becomes something of great value. That is what my marriage has become ... something of great value.

I can still remember our wedding day. It was so windy that I'm not sure anyone past the front row could hear anything. Our mothers, somehow, ended up in the identical dresses (different colors) even though they had shopped at completely different stores and different cities. My shoes (with their a 5 inch stiletto heels) were killing my feet. I missed my hair appointment so my little sister did my hair. But I also remember that the people I loved were there and were happy for me. And more important... the man I adored was marrying me.

Here we are thirty years later. It's not just the two of us anymore. There are sons and daughters-in-laws and grandchildren. Our extended family is even more important to us than they were when we got married. We have said goodbye for now to parents we loved. We have friends who are considered family and always will be. We have had tragedies and days that made our hearts soar. So many memories within this marriage.

There are the big days ... the day we were sealed as a family at the Oakland Temple, going to the temple with each of the boys, when Ter Bear joined our family, when Andrew was born, when Tommy bought the store, when I said good-bye to the newspaper and went to work at the school, when the boys left for their missions and the day each came home. There were cruises and trips to Tahoe and Vegas (Tommy's first plane ride will always be a HUGE memory). Trips to the beach and Marine World and Disneyland. There were hard times ... trips to the hospital with EACH of the boys for stitches, ear infections, kidney stones, failure to thrive, bronchitis, pneumonia. Times when money was tight. Little League, Soccer, CYO Basketball, Volleyball, Softball.

Through everything our pearl of a marriage has been polished and I have gotten to spend the last three decades with my very best friend. I found this great quote offered by an unknown author: "Newlyweds become Oldyweds and Oldyweds are the reason that families work."

So to my sweetheart who brings me a candy bar when he gets home late, who leaves funny cards for me to find on my desk, who puts up with my chaos, and who always loves me.... Happy Anniversary!