Through the Years. . .

Thirty-three years ago on a very frigid -12⁰, frosty, snowy northeastern Ohio night, February 10, 1979, I married the love of my life, my best friend, Larry.

We had met by an “arrangement” of mutual friends just six months prior to that but from the first time I asked you to have coffee with me after church, my heart skipped a few beats and I was hooked! 

So well I recall every gentlemanly gesture you made and after we grew weary of sitting in a booth drinking coffee, gas was so cheap then, we drove for hours just talking.  When you gently kissed me good night,(yes, I kissed on the first date!)  I prayed for three days that you would call me for another date.  When the phone rang on Wednesday, my heart again skipped joy beats and that night we became inseparable and the rest is history.  You surrounded me with all things lovely and all things that spoke love to my soul.

Engaged on my birthday just two months later, we began a journey then that, over the years has reminded me many times of a trip to Disney World (although I’m sure we could both agree that we definitely resembled Moses and the children of Israel wandering In the wilderness, too).

After we walked through the front gate and the tram whisked us into the park, we arrived in Adventure Land and that’s really what most of our married life has been: an adventure, a wonderful adventure, sometimes through mountains, but other times along beaches.

There were times when it felt like I was in Fantasy Land and wanted to be like Peter Pan, where we would never have to grow up or grow old. There were plenty of times I felt like we were holding on for dear life in Space Mountain being hurled through life with its twists and turns at speeds that could straighten my hair!  And, much to my chagrin, there were too many times we rode the “Mad Hatter” and went around a few too many times. The most fun times certainly were like the Country Bear Jamboree. 

At the altar, when we got married, we took each other “for better or worse” but I can assure you, I got the better and you got the worse! We’ve had our ups and downs and days when we both thought that we were under water and drowning but being married to you, Lar, has certainly made my life overwhelmingly good.   With you, I always have someone who will at least try to understand and someone who knows me by heart.  You were the man who climbed the walls I had so firmly cemented and began to take them down one by one, helping me to learn to trust again.  Your touch on my hand warmed me in a way that I knew that I was the last and the only girl for you.  After the many hurts in my past and I dared trust to pray and ask God for a Christian man, I threw in a prayer for brown eyes and a hairy chest.  I was so thrilled to learn that prayer had been abundantly answered. You show me grace. You are humble. You are kind. You are strong. You are diligent. You love and serve God.

We’ve been through so many things over the years. . .there have been times when we have hurt each other, made each other angry, endured conflict, and became vulnerable. We have wronged and we have been wronged and we have forgiven.  We’ve enjoyed mountain tops and endured valleys.  We’ve prayed and we’ve cried together.  Softened hearts that were hurt sometimes turned stony.  But every day, every sunrise brings me a new opportunity to love you anew. 

The Lord just helps me realize once again how extraordinarily blessed I am to have you, the one I can always count on; the one who has ALWAYS had my back and the one I love most in this world.  You are simply my best friend, Dear.  I have best girl friends, but YOU, and you alone, are my best friend, my lover,  the part of me that without I would not be a whole person.  I can’t every imagine life without you and I pray I never have to.  Marrying you was the second best thing I ever did.  We both know that having Jesus is our number one.

And, Larry, I’d do it all over again.

Kenny Rogers song “Through the Years”, says it best:

I can't remember when you weren't there
When I didn't care for anyone but you
I swear we've been through everything there is
Can't imagine anything we've missed
Can't imagine anything the two of us can't do

Through the years, you've never let me down
You turned my life around, the sweetest days I've found
I've found with you ... Through the years
I've never been afraid, I've loved the life we've made
And I'm so glad I've stayed, right here with you
Through the years

I can't remember what I used to do
Who I trusted whom, I listened to before
I swear you've taught me everything I know
Can't imagine needing someone so
But through the years it seems to me
I need you more and more

Through the years, through all the good and bad
I knew how much we had, I've always been so glad
To be with you ... Through the years
It's better everyday, you've kissed my tears away
As long as it's okay, I'll stay with you
Through the years


Through the years, when everything went wrong
Together we were strong, I know that I belonged
Right here with you ... Through the years
I never had a doubt, we'd always work things out
I've learned what love's about, by loving you
Through the years

Through the years, you've never let me down
You've turned my life around, the sweetest days I've found
I've found with you ... Through the years
It's better everyday, you've kissed my tears away
As long as it's okay, I'll stay with you
Through the years!

Happy Anniversary, Larry.   I love you!