18 Years

Lee and I will be celebrating 18 years together today. Eighteen years of joy, sorrow, laughter, tears, pain, happiness, elation, anger, depression, and back to joy again...
Eighteeen years of moves, we've lived in Salem, Milwaukee, back to Salem, San Jose, Orem, Cedar Hills, American Fork, and back to Orem. We have packed and unpacked 12 homes with all those moves.
Eighteen years, and we were able to overcome word of wisdom issues and were blessed to be worthy to enter the Temple of the Lord on March 20, 1993, in the Portland, Oregon Temple. We have fought in court for my children to live with us, a battle not easily won. Traveling to and from Oregon, traveling to and from California, screams and stinks in a tight fitting van, endless stops to eat, drink and bathroom breaks. Weathering storms, rain, floods, blizzard conditions, one with a new puppy, yikes, why did we do that?
Eighteen years, trips to the hospital, falls off rooftops, one daughter almost losing her eye, another almost her life. Car accidents, countless doctors visits, and illness.
Teenage pregancy, adoption, grandchildren, our children marrying, creating their own families. Five married children, one daughter's sorrow with death. A son faraway serving in the Navy,one daughter dealing with divorce, another daughter dealing with disablity in her child. Lots of prayers for our children to have the courage and stamina to handle their trials in life, and praying we could take away any pain they might be suffering knowing that is not possible.
Eighteen years of loving each other, hating each other, fighting, yelling, screaming, kissing, hugging, holding grudges, forgiving, being selfish, and learning to be selfless. Holding hands, talking out our fears, embracing the future, taking new steps...

Seperation, falling apart, finding our way again...

Phew....I am tired...I know that all that doesn't even come close to everything we have been through the last eighteen years, but it will have to do. For a time there I didn't think we would make it. Here we are, doing our best to remember why we love each other, how we make each other laugh, how we make the other feel special. I know that the Lord knows our family and has been with us during it all and just like me there was nothing he could to stop our pain during those difficult times. We had to go to him and draw on his power, to remember the promises we made to always remember him that we might have his spirit to be with us. I think that is probably the best thing that has come from eighteen years of ups and downs, to rely on ourselves just doesn't work. We together have come closer to our Heavenly Father, to our Savior. I won't lie and say we are perfect now, because we are not, but we are better. We stop and think about where we have been and where we want to go, and we want to go there together.

Lee has been my best friend, when I didn't think I had one. He has been my cheering section when I needed a boost of encouragement. He has been a safe place to fall when I need a good cry. And when I don't need anything at all he is still there just to sit with to lean on and watch a funny chick flick. Thanks babe for the eighteen years we have shared together as husband and wife, looking forward to the next...

Happy Anniversary