Thirty

So... it's been 30 years ago today, that we hitched up.  It's a quiet morning at our house.  We decided to take a few days off and do a few things around town.  This image of us was included in our wedding announcement, is fun to see actually - some things are missing from us today.  Obviously a little less hair for Del and oh lookie - an extra chin less on me.  Little did this couple know that they would have 4 amazing kids, 4 amazing in law children, and 3.5 grand kids 30 years later.  We've lived in 2.25 different places... our original home in West Jordan, and an apartment while building our home where we live now.  Del finished off his Masters Degree and started traveling internationally for his company.  I've been able to travel with him for a few of those times.  We've gone through 4 family cars and well - several versions of cars and trucks for Del, his always included some form of rocket attached to it.  We've had fun with boats, and snowmobiles and Harley's and bicycles. We've planted trees, and gardens, and memories.  We've made wonderful friends that have helped us through and have influenced our lives.  We lost Del's dad several years ago but are still  blessed to have 3 remaining parents here on earth.  Our brothers and sisters in our families have been a solid part of our world, giving their time and love to our family.  Our children have given us the greatest joy and been the greatest blessings to us.  Nothing on earth has compared to the experiences of love we've had because of them.  Our grandchildren remind us of the years and years of 4 kids within 5 years of each other and those years and years of noisy church benches when Del was in the Bishopric.  We've survived band concerts, dance recitals, and soccer games.  We've rejoiced in High School and College Graduations.  There have been hard times.  Times when the towel was just too easy to throw in -  but here we are.  Older and wiser.  I can't help but think that these two had no clue what they were in for.  But never the less, here we are.  It rained the day of our wedding.  Del picked me up at my one bedroom apartment in his '65 Vette... booyah.  Del's family arrived the night before - we didn't know if they would come because Del had joined the church and they weren't too happy about that.  It meant that they waited outside as we were married in the SLC Temple.  I borrowed a dress from my sister in law... Del wore a white tux with tails.  We were very scared - but happy.  We had a few pictures taken, had a little lunch with our family, and our neighbors had a little open house for us that night in their home.  Very very small event.  Two days later we had to be back at work.   We spent our honeymoon at Snowbird - it was beautiful.  My parents have been married for over 60 years, I think it's worth a try to get there.  I believe we've made the very best of these past 30 years.  We've raised our children the best we could, we've seen a bit of the world and found that the most beautiful places are right here at home.  We've served the Lord and given him our sons for Missionaries, and now we are serving our Mission just passing our 2 year mark.  We've served in our ward in many callings, we've served our community, we've helped our neighbors and friends.  There have been quiet days - when we've not found the way to each others hearts, tough days of doubt and hurt and pain.  But here we are still.  Today we'll just spend some time in old places that we love, enjoy a few hours of laughing, having some good things to eat, and just time talking about the past and the future of our lives.  In all of this we have found some kind of love that just sticks around and keeps us glued together.  Gotta go... my groom awaits.  Happy 30th Anniversary Gomer... let's buy another boat.