AMAZING 65 YEARS OF MARRIAGE

Thanksgiving had double meaning for us this year. All of my siblings met at my middle sister's home (Tricia and Rick) in Leesburg to celebrate Mom and Dad's 65th Wedding Anniversary. It was a wonderfully fitting day, Thanksgiving Day, to honor Mom and Dad. All their kids were present and we each gave them a card with a $65 gift card to their favorite restaurants. It was a special day of thanksgiving.

We ate a fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner and shared wonderful memories our family with each child telling their stories of Mom and Dad. Some of the stories were funny, some were touching and tearful, and all of them were in loving remembrance of Mom and Dad's love for God and their family.

Julie and Jennifer, my daughters, asked our family to pause and honor Kristy and Jim, Wanda's first husband. They are greatly missed by all of our families. I was touched by the kindness of my family in honoring and remembering them. Julie and Alex and Nic were present but Jennifer and her family were not able to come up from Puerto Rico. We missed them greatly and look forward to seeing them at Christmas. We will see all of Wanda's family on Friday and Saturday in Tallahassee.

Tricia and Rick were great hosts and she took the lead in putting together an incredible feast. They have a beautiful home on five acres in the country. They are right in the middle of horse country in Central Florida and she actually has a couple of horses she rides. The grands enjoyed riding her pony, shooting bows and arrows, and shooting the pellet and BB rifles.

There are not many families that enjoy celebrating their parents 65th Wedding Anniversary as we did on Thanksgiving. Not many parents live as long as Mom and Dad have and not many are as committed to their wedding vows as they are. We are blessed to have them with us. It wasn't but a few years back that we weren't sure Mom would make it. God raised her up and she is enjoying good health.

Dad shared briefly their story of their first love. Here is part of it. You might be surprised at some of his story as he is a preacher, but I guess even preachers are human.