FORTY.....REALLY!!

Oh my how things have changed......I was thin and Shad had tons of hair!  It is funny how that doesn't matter.....I love him so much more now than I did then!  Yesterday afternoon we drove to Las Vegas so that we could she Jer, his new hospital, and the house they will be renting.  We just really wanted to be with him.

Colleen took this picture one Sunday after church (at Shad's parent's house).  I don't think it was a special occasion.

The day's of the big hair-  dos!  Shannon had just been baptized.  This was her poofy baptism dress that was actually in style.

Sunday on Christmas.  My mom gave me the dress and jewelry for Christmas.  She always picked out cute things for me!  I think this was around 1986.

This was actually a tough time in our family.  Jeremy was suffering with chronic fatigue syndrome....he was so thin and sick.... and I was so worried about him.  Welcome to 40 years of marriage.....now I have so many more to worry about....but so many more blessings.

This picture was actually taken just a couple of years before my mom had her stroke, and then passed away after 6 months of trials.  This was when I first learned that death could come as an angel of mercy and that I had a special guardian angel looking after our family.  Now I know that Ben is with her.  I know they are both happy and they are watching over all of us.

We have been so blessed in our 40 years of marriage.  These last few months have definitely been the most painful, but I know that each person in this picture has been united in many special prayers for Ben....and for Jer and Andrea.....and their family.  We have mourned together, our thoughts, prayers, and actions have reflected the love that we share in our family.  I know that our greatest blessing .....after 40 years of marriage.....is that we are an eternal family and that BEN IS A BIG PART OF THAT ETERNAL FAMILY.   JUST AS WE LOVE EACH FAMILY MEMBER.  I AM SO THANKFUL TO KNOW THAT WE ARE A FOREVER FAMILY!