Anniversary Number 44

I saw this on Facebook.  Mark's cousin Cheryl and her husband Mile celebrated their anniversary a few days earlier.  I thought it summed up marriage pretty well.

Mark and I met during my first semester at Marshall.  We were introduced by my longtime friend Benjy Steele and had our first (blind date) on my dad's birthday, September 8, 1972.  Three years later we were married on May 23, 1975.  (I literally cried through the entire ceremony) 

We have been through the births of three children, adoptions of two more.  Moves from WV to OH to WI back to OH.  We have experienced the joys of marriages and new births into our ever-growing family.  The addition of grand kids has been the icing on top of the cake.  This crazy cancer journey that we are on now really makes you stop to think about what is important and what you should really be dedicating your time to.  Reconnecting with dear friends near and far has been such a blessing. And we have grieved the passing of our parents.

There aren't too many men around that would be willing to come out of retirement to help with a bunch of crazy little yahoo 9 months out of the year.  He's is the one that makes the runs to Kroger, Costco...whenever we need something (like Pepsi or pink mints).  He makes sure when I need help doing something that the right people come into my path. (The man knows everyone)

The man is a saint for sure.  He is making sure that I am able to mark something off my Bucket List this year.  We will finish up our 14 State Challenge by hiking a little bit in each of the 14 states from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail.  Camping and sightseeing along the way.  And then there is the week at the beach with the family for some R&R.  He lets me have chickens, goats, rabbits, and dogs.  But he draws the line at pigs.

I can't say in all honesty that all the 16,060 days have all been roses and sunshine.  But I can promise you that they have all been an adventure!

I think he might have started something he will regret in the future.  This year for our anniversary he got me 44 dark chocolate candies from our favorite chocolate shop in Old Milford...Tickled Sweet.  In my thinking, it is way better than flowers!

Happy Anniversary Pappy!

And then the doorbell rings...