Jim and I are approaching our 50th wedding anniversary. We have commented that it is so easy to reflect on what once was. Yesterday, as we took a leisurely drive to Sandpoint and followed the Pend Oreille River, it was our opportunity to challenge one another to remember life changing moments. It is interesting how there are some happenings in life that seem to “brand” our brains.
I remembered walking hospital hallways with my newborn who had his third blood transfusion. He was screaming his little lungs out and as his mother I loved hearing his robust cry. Jim commented that if he had his first business again, he would “do it all differently”. Wisdom comes late sometimes. We continued relating the experiences of 50 years. When we reflected on our last two years we looked at one another and laughed—we survived! Our faith is intact and stronger than ever. We are empowered and energized by our survival.
When, and if, our family members ever read our accounting of 2011, 2012 and 2013 we would like a standing ovation please! We cared for our parents to the end of their lives, faced cancer several times with Jim losing his ability to talk, I left one position to open my own office, broke my arm, and we committed our lives to the care of two special granddaughters. We have met and learned to respect more teachers, therapists, special ed specialists, doctors and nurses than we ever thought possible.
Survivors. We claim the title. But what counts today is how we look to the future. OK, it’s time to put this in proper perspective. My job is to weave love, joy and peace into everything I do and say today. That is what I will spend my next 30 years trying to accomplish.