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My father.
His father died when he was 17.
He hitchhiked to college every day in order to get his degree.
He was a teacher.
He had a girl he asked to marry.
She said no.
And then the Lord...
A man came to speak at his church one night.
And my dad's life changed forever.
Off he went to seminary to become a pastor.

My mother.
She was a teacher.
She went to Florida to teach in a mission.
She met a man.
Things were getting serious.
He asked her to come home and meet his parents.
And then the Lord...
Her brother died and she went home instead.
God spoke to her and her life changed forever....
She finished the year, ended her relationship, and left to go to seminary.

My father was smitten right away.
He asked her out on three dates the first time he got the courage to ask her out.
Their first date was in the fall.
Mom was fiesty.
She whacked him with a newspaper once.
That's what you get when you date a redhead!!
But she also brought him chicken soup and orange juice when he got sick.
Dad was the envy of the entire campus.
On Feb 14, my father proposed.
And then less than a year after they met,
On a hot August afternoon,
They were married.
Dad was 28 and mom was 32.

My mother who said,
She would never marry a minister
Did.

Two of the most influential people in my life.
They've been married for
Fifty-two years today.
Years of joy
Years of sadness
Years of difficulty.
All years full of devotion to each other.
They are an example, even today,
Of love that never fails.
Love that never gives up.
Love that loves despite everything else.

Happy Anniversary, mom and dad!!!
And Thank You!!