Well, I woke up this morning to Dad reading an anniversary card to me. After he finished reading it, I realized that it was actually a card that I sent to him on our 30th anniversary. Exactly 10 years ago! Since we both forgot to get new cards (life is still way too busy), I think that one was most appropriate!

After that we went downstairs and ate toaster waffles that I am trying to clear out of my freezer and watched the video that you kids made for us. Boy, that is so wonderful and such a great record of our first 40 years together. Thank you so much for your time and effort in pulling that together for us.

We need to have all of you know how happy we are that we met and fell in love!.. It is interesting that the casual meeting in Sociology class in 1966 has led to 7 children, 6 in-laws and 16 going on 17 grandchildren. What if either of us had not transferred into that class!!!

We went through many years with a lack of material comfort but lots of happy memories from those time as well as from the times when we have been more comfortable. As we reflect on it we realize that the financial comfort is not what has made our family....in fact, we think that some of our struggles have strengthened all of us as a family and individuals.

We talked with Marnie this morning, just got pinged from Mike at Stake Conference...and are having D & A, B & B and T&K over for dinner tonight. We see on Facebook that Tom and Tracey are united again...and I talked to Anne yesterday on her way to Volleyball. How wonderful that modern technology helps us to keep in such close touch with each other....and that we all want to keep in touch! That is one of the greatest blessings of our life.

Dad is speaking in church today...nice anniversary gift!! Actually, it is a blessing since when you are preparing a talk you are always so much more spiritually attuned and we have had some great discussions about the Sabbath. It is all appropriate since the gospel has been such an integral part of our marriage...and our family life. We do know that all of our children have a testimony of the gospel and a relationship with their Heavenly Father. And our eternal hope is to be together with all of you forever!

The funny thing about reading the card is that my closing line was a wish for another 30 years just as happy as the first 30 years....It is quite sobering to reflect that I really can't say that about this anniversary since 80 years of marriage is a bit beyond possibility on this earth....but that is the beauty of eternal marriage.

We consider all of you our greatest blessings of this life....even better than the 28+ cars that we have had in our marriage!

We love you,

Mom and Dad