Carpentering for the Carpenter

My bride 35 years later and just as beautiful! Our annaversary was the day after Brian and Suzanne's wedding. In those thirty-five years we have raised 3 children, gone through 5 years of college and seminary, pastored 4 churches, worked on seven farms, lived in 3 provinces and one territory, and visited or passed through at least 13 states! We have traveled across prairies, through woodlands, over mountain passes, across lakes, on water, on ice, in mud, in snow, in fog, in blizzards, in old cars, in old trucks, in mini-vans, in new cars (sometimes), on ferries, in planes, in jets, and sometimes on nice dry pavement on clear sunny days. We've lived together in an 8 by 30 trailer, in a 12 by 60 trailer with three kids and a cat, in suites, in little old houses, in big new houses, and now in our own five (yes 5) bedroom home!

My Bride has raises, fostered, or babysat nine children in a two bedroom home every day for two months. She's been mother, antie, grandma, antie-garandma, and block parent! At church she has played piano, played accordian, played guitar, played with kids, taught Sunday School, lead ladies Bible studies, lead Awana clubs, and lead her husband away from spiritual pitfalls. At home she has trined kids, trained pets, trained her husband, encouraged friends, and discipled young ladies. At work she has waited on tables, fed hundreds, cleaned dorms, built huge tanks, sold cosmetics, caught thieves, tended chickens, picked eggs, tended roosters, and kicked roosters, but never the boss! For 35 years she has loved me, cherished me, encouraged me, taught me, corrected me, scolded me, went with me, stuck by me, and loved me even more.

To my Bride, "Happy Annaversary! May we have 35 more exciting years together. .