Twenty-five and Counting

During the past week, I have learned (relearned, really) to crochet and made three crocheted scrubbies to give as gifts; traveled several hours to visit my in-laws for Mother's Day; watched my son Adam run in the "Wellsville Mile"; woke up very early to attend the "Breakfast of Champions," where Elisabeth was honored for her academic achievements; went to the local junior high school to see my son Joseph perform the role of The Baker in the musical Into the Woods; made and served three different pies to the cast of a local Shakespeare Company (which includes my daughter Elisabeth); become the grandmother of a baby rabbit named Pancake; gone to the Cancer Center to receive a treatment; laughed hard as I watched my sons Danny and Ben perform in the comedy improv troupe Horsing Around; attended Joseph's guitar concert; got all dressed up and attended the high school academy awards ceremony (during which Danny and Ben received many awards); and prepared gifts and a cake for my daughter Hannah's birthday.

Somewhere in there, my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.

Wes and I were married on May 13th, 1988, in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple. We were poor college students, and looking back I can see that we were a bit foolish and naive. But we were deeply in love.

And we still are.


There is no question that I married the right man at the right time and in the right place. We have had our ups and downs: we've struggled with parenting, finances, and my health. Neither of us is perfect, but we make a great team.


This is for you, Wes:

To My Husband, Who is Well
So long we've been together, love,
My faithful Valentine,
That now at night I lie beside you
And your heart beats with mine.

And it seems to me it's your pure heart
That pumps blood through my veins,
And I believe it's your strong will
That bears my deepest pains.

And when I stretch my fingers out
To lay upon your chest,
I feel quite sure that your clear lungs
Fill my weak lungs with breath.

So here's what I have learned, my sweet,
In my struggle to survive,
Your strength overcomes my weakness,
And your love keeps me alive.

The doctors say I won't last long
But there's something they don't know:
As long as you are here beside me
I'll never, ever go.