The Love of My Life for 20 years … and counting

We started dating over 20 years ago! Can you believe it?!? We started dating the summer before I headed to college in 1988. We spent every day together after that first date going bowling with Mike and Tessa (yes, my best friend who is now my neighbor). We did everything that summer … first movie date “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”, wind surfing, golfing, camping. We had so much fun right from the very beginning.

For our 6 month anniversary, I made a picture frame for Eric … cut out hearts and put pictures under them … something you did before scrap-booking was a ‘thing’. I did what would be a huge ‘no-no’ now though … I had it laminated. (You remember when you had everything laminated for your door signs in college so people could write on them?) Anyway, I thought it would look nicer since I couldn’t find a real frame to fit a poster board size. Eric went to the University of Washington so we were distant for many of the 4 and a half years that we dated before getting married on September 5th. I wanted him to have some pictures of us at his apartment at the U. (I did make a couple of these beauties though)

This is the picture in the middle of the collage. I had to scan it so it didn’t quite fit but you get the idea. This is a picture of us on our way to some dance at Central Washington in the winter. Gotta love the big hair and scarf. Especially loved Eric’s great hair (that is permed in back – you might not see that nice touch in the picture … but know it’s there)

I have loved this man for all that he was from the moment I met him and all that he continues to be …

Here we are on our first camping trip to Chelan (A big deal to get to go camping at 18! Another activity done with Tessa and Mike) We had so much fun on this trip! We loved the campground and enjoyed our time on the lake. Looking back, my parents were very trusting – I guess when your kids are on their way to college, you have to trust that they will make good choices the summer before. I was very excited that they allowed us to go. I think they liked Eric from the very beginning too (with the help of my brother David’s approval … of course … what are big brother’s for? He was always looking out for me)

During our first year of dating, Spring Break, we drove to Disneyland with my mom! How incredible was that? So the next “anniversary” collage after we’d been dating for one year includes wonderful pictures of us in San Francisco and at Disneyland … even riding Dumbo in Fantasy Land. It was the first time Eric had ever been so we did it ALL – and with my mom as the world’s best Disney tour guide, it was fantastic.

After 4 and a half years of dating, we were married …

I’m so thankful to God for all that He has done in our lives through our dating years, our honeymoon years, the years through so much change and moving all around … finishing college, house remodeling (twice) in Yakima, Oregon Coast life, rental houses in between houses, building two houses (with my Dad as GC & living with my parents during the construction of one of them), two beautiful children, and our big move to Arizona! We’ve certainly had an active 20 years together.

Eric is the most amazing father – I love him more and more through each season of our life but I think seeing your husband become a father and the precious moments that he shares from the moment he lays eyes on the newborn, to being the Daddy to his princess. Each of those princess kisses and heart to heart chats that he has with his son make me love him in indescribable ways … ways that I never imagined I would experience when we first were married.

Connor as a newborn with Daddy

Daddy Daughter treasured memories

Today, here we are, living in Arizona. I’m sure God has some amazing things in store for us. We are trusting that is why we are here. We are looking forward to continuing in this wonderful journey together … through the many joys and challenges that a marriage and a family brings.

My prayer journal has sections for each day … for Praise, Self, Husband, Children, Personal Influences and Reaching Beyond. Today, it is wonderful that the prayer focus for me was to pray for my marriage … “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:31-32). Praying God’s Word is a powerful thing. For the Husband section, the prayer focus is “Role as Father” and the scripture is “For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.” (Proverbs 3:12). I continue to pray for our marriage and our role as parents. God is so good and I love that He gives us His Word to help us in everything.