mom and dad

Engagement Photo '72

today is my parents' 38th wedding anniversary and this year its hitting me harder than the past years.

perhaps its that i've just recently spent 10 days with my parents watching them do what they do best - partnering with each other and doing life together.

my Mom on her wedding day '73

my Mom fell head over heals for my Dad when she was 14 and he was 17 -- although three years apart in age, they were only a year apart in school due to my Mom skipping a couple years early on in her eduction.  on their first date my Dad showed up at my grandparents' door with a picnic basket and blanket... i would have loved to have seen my grandpa barclay's face!  from that moment on my Dad has not stopped pursuing my Mom and romancing her.  they were married at 20 and 23 years of age in 1973 in Bellevue and two days later traveled across the country having graduated college and ready to start the Army life -- my Dad was an Optometrist in the service immediately out of college.

they had geoff in '75, me in '78 and David in '82 ... and due to their persistence (clear my throat) they shockingly had a baby in '93 -- my wonderful sister, Hannah!

this recent weekend i was in kennewick with katie, william and benjamin and i got to visit my parents' church.  pastor Mark was in the midst of a series called 'The Vow' and was preaching on the importance of pursuing your spouse as you once did... there were so many nuggets of wisdom and moments of shocking honesty - at one moment, Mark was explaining to the women the importance of 'surprising' your husband once in awhile and had the audience in an uproar of laughter... my Mom nudged me and motioned toward my Dad... he was laughing so hard and smiling so big - and he was BLUSHING.  it had me smiling from ear to ear knowing that that is exactly what they have in their marriage -- a desire to pursue each other and serve each other at all cost... and to be quite honest, its never bothered me; its never embarrassed me... its always been something that people appreciate and find notable and most often, long for in their own marriage.

my family in '82

i'm not just talking romance in the sense that makes your ears turn red -- i'm talking about the things that bring tears to your eyes or make you stop and ask questions of your own relationship... they sit on the deck every night sipping a glass of wine together whether summer or winter; dinner at the table every evening and the coffee is prepared every morning -- their life is built around being in relationship with each other and keeping the doors open to communication... although i'm sure they've been isolated from each other at times emotionally, the home and life they've created demands they daily set aside any pride and work through their differences to get to the root of what God has for their lives, in the moment, together.  they've raised each of us kids that way... if not by words of instruction, then definitely by example -- you could ask any of my siblings. 

dad, mom and hannah '2011

the last 48 hours of being home has been a wonderful experience for me... my desire to pursue my husband, encourage my husband with words of affirmation and do a good thing for my husband the minute i think of doing it instead of just intending to thas me excited!!  and you can bet, once we're over the cough crud that's going around, i'll be ready to surprise him when he's least expecting it.

mom and dad, thank you for setting for each of us kids a beautiful example of what marriage is ... and though you're human and not perfect, you've been intentional in creating for each of your children what it looks like to partner with the Lord and build a home that brings Him glory - it began with keeping your eyes on Him and secondly, Dad not being able to keep his hands eyes off Mom... (clear throat) and visa versa.

I love you so much - Happy Anniversary!

... and Mom you're gonna love your getaway.  as always, Dad's surprises are the best.