Anniversaries

I'd just like to say a quick "congrats" to my parents, who yesterday now (September 3) celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary.

Suzanne and I celebrate our 4th today (September 4.)  I'll admit that the last 4 years have flown by and have been the absolute best of my life.  It seems it just gets better every year - every day.

Yes, if you're doing the math, it's true that my parents were married 31 years ago and I was born about 5 short months later.

So you'll forgive me if I've been especially moved by the shining example of honor, of guts, of a choice of life that Bristol Palin and her now-fiance Levi Johnston have made. These photos today made me smile.  This is family... is love... is shouldering the results of our choices and the Will of our God.

"Our family has the same ups and downs as any other... the same challenges and the same joys. Sometimes even the greatest joys bring challenge."
- Sarah Palin, Repub. VP nom acceptance speech, 9/3/08

In fact, a day doesn't go by that I don't say at least a quick prayer for all of my peers who find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy.  As the bumper sticker says, God is quite pro-choice before you've conceived a baby.  It takes a family and community of love and support from that moment on.

I know it wasn't easy for my parents.  I remember grocery shopping with my mom with food stamps when I was a very young boy.  I remember my parents' discussions of financial difficulties when I was "in bed" at night.  I remember times we went to my grandparents' and I played in the backroom while listening to them get marriage and financial advice from grandma and grandpa.

It wasn't easy for them at all - it was love and sacrifice in action.  It was a type of Christ on the cross, and it played out today as it has and will for all eternity.

And it isn't easy for any of us, really.  All situations take sacrifices and tough choices and hard work and sweat to do the right thing.

Simultaneously, each day, I'm thankful that my mom & dad chose life (and my grandparents told great stories as I grew older about the pressure that was on them in the community to choose otherwise.)  I'm thankful that my mom & dad chose to take what their choices had brought them and to welcome me into this awesome world.  I'm thankful that they prayed long and hard enough to have the grace and strength and fortitude to make these 31 years work and to build a loving home and family for my sister, my brother, and me.

I was blessed with the best family and home and parents I could imagine, and I'm working hard to make that reality the same with Suzanne for our boys.

I thank God for that... and I thank you too, mom and dad.

God bless you both... and happy anniversary!

I share the "Prayer for Husband and Wife" that our friends Judy & Bob gave us, framed, on our wedding day.  It sits on our bedroom dresser and Suzanne and I both look at it often...