What We Remembered Sitting in Church This Morning
Written on Aug 19, 2018
As we were
sitting in church in SC this morning, I suddenly remembered that it is our 46th
wedding anniversary! I also realized that this is not the first Sunday morning
that the realization that we have forgotten our anniversary has happened. Doing
some calculations, it must have been 6 years ago today at Crossroads Bible
Church in Panama, that Pastor Steve and Heather Gunn greeted us with
anniversary congratulations ….and we realized that we had forgotten. (Good
memories of times spent in Panama flooded.) Of course, then I proceeded to
forget again until right now in the late afternoon that it is a special day and
to announce it on FB.
Obviously, we
do not make a big deal out of these kinds of events. (I told Paul that we
wanted a big shindig on our 50th in 4 years. He asked, “Where?” and
we are a bit stymied to answer that.) However, just because we do not celebrate
excessively does not mean we take our marriage for granted. We do deeply love
each other. I know that we are stronger and more fulfilled together than apart.
I know that we could not have done the things in our lives spanning 4 continents
and 6 countries alone. I know that we could not have raised our 4 beloved
children without each other. I know that the educational level and teaching
expertise that we have acquired has been enhanced by our intellectual compatibility.
I know that we have challenged each other spiritually and emotionally to grow.
I know that we are extremely different people who have learned to live in harmony
and accomplish much, both on a daily basis as well as over a long span of years. I know that our shared cultural heritage of
Northern Minnesota has kept us sane when nothing else around us has made sense.
I know that we still have many shared years of love and ministry together. I
know that we are both very excited to return to Peking University in Beijing,
China on Friday, August 24, for the next year of teaching English to Ph.D. students.
We’d appreciate your prayers.
Praying - and looking forward to another season of adventure with you and Rick! Godspeed!
ReplyDeleteThanks sharing our adventures!
ReplyDeleteBless you both, Ann & Rick. Mary especially regrets she didn't get to be your Crossroads colleague during the year she worked at CCA.
ReplyDeleteYour willingness to continue in the face of infirmities is inspiring. Love, Nick and Mary
I regret as well that we did not overlap with Mary. Very glad that we were there with you, though.
ReplyDelete