I was a divorced mom of two little boys.

Hubby was a solider in the Army.

The company I was working for had transferred me from Central IL to Southern California.

Hubby’s tour in Germany was wrapping up and he was being stationed at Fort Lewis, WA.

Everything was changing for both of us.

Hubby flew from Germany to Illinois and then from Illinois to California.

The movers came and packed up my apartment to transfer everything to Washington.

We loaded up my little car, put the boys in their car seats and started the drive from California to Illinois.

On November 3, 1985, hubby and I stood side-by-side pledging our love, devotion and commitment to always stand side-by-side through good, bad, thick and thin.

Little did either of us know just how strong we would have to be during our 32 years of marriage.

We raised a son with autism, sitting with him many nights thru seizures and hospital stays.

We survived the teen years and huge challenges with our middle and youngest sons.

We adopted our beautiful daughters.

We buried our youngest son.

We have fostered 8 precious children.

We’ve gone thru financial struggles.

We’ve gone thru job losses and job changes.

We’ve survived numerous moves.

We’ve purchased homes.

We conquered building a house together.

We’ve mourned the loss of parents and grandparents.

We’ve travelled to many parts of the world.

We haven’t always done our best or been at our best, but we have fought and endured thru all the ups and downs.

We have held on tight to our love, devotion and commitment to each other through it all.

I married my best friend.

I married a man, who works hard and loves harder.

Are there regrets?  Maybe a few, but I wouldn’t change a thing.  All we’ve been through has caused us to change and grown stronger in the love we have for each other.

To my hubby . . . .

Thank you for staying with me on this 32 year-long ride.  It has been one of the most thrilling rides of my life and I can only hope that we are able to celebrate at least 32 more.

I share the same song every year because it so perfectly expresses our life together.  We had more than a few people who didn’t want us to marry.  We had more than a few people who didn’t think we would make it.  But here we are, 32 years later still going strong.