My thoughts

Dear Parents,

You have been through so much in 35 years.

To name a few:

1. 6 monsterous children - from birth through agonizing teens to adulthood

2. At least 10 places you called home

3. 5 weddings

4. Hawaii, Europe, Austrailia, New Zealand - and dreams of much more

5. 12 well-spoiled grandchildren

6. Money here, no money there...

7. The Navy and months on end of separation

8. School concerts and parent/teacher conferences

9. A collection of jobs - from school playground aide to Desert Sky to the craptacular US Airways with a dozen more in between

10. The fluctuating stability of Palo Verde

11. Church callings

12. 1 mission, 1 divorce, kids moving away, kids moving back...

13. Car accidents

14. Sasha, Lizzie, Amy, the under-bed hamsters, fish too numerous to count

15. Children-in-law

16. 6 high school graduations, plus college graduations, military graduations

17. The station wagon, the gold van, the red van, the white van, the gold truck, the red truck, the green truck, the Beretta, the silver van, the corolla, the Honda, the Infinity (probably skipped a few)

18. frustrations, disappointments, heartaches

19. joy, delight, warmth, peace

20. Battles for children over tickets, class schedules, IEPs, insurance companies

21. Losing parents

22. Visits to Houston, San Antonio, Tacoma, Utah, Dallas, Tucson, Florida, and El Paso - just to visit

23. A multitude of temple open houses

24. Disneyland!

25. Adventures in medicine - Larissa's asthma and visits with the paramedics, Heather's cancerous foot, Dad's visits to the ER, a plethora of prescription medicines to learn about

26. Getting the good deal!

27. On the search for the perfect house - and the hundreds of model homes looked at in the process

28. Supporting us through good times, and bad

29. Always willing to offer words of wisdom and strength

30. Rejoicing in your posterity

31. Knowing that come what may - you will always have each other!

32. Instilling the importance of an eternal family

33. Letting us know that we were important, loved, and that you stood behind us

34. Loving each other for 35 years

35. Not ready to give up yet!

I can only hope that by the time we reach 35 years,

that we are still as devoted as the two of you!

Thank you for being my parents, and for setting the bar high.

Happy Anniversary mom and dad!

With more love than you realize,

Sarah, Aaron, Benjamin, Alexandra, and Audrey :)