I remember the day we met. It was September 25th, 1976. We had study hall together in Newport High's library. Complete opposites we were. Maybe that's what drew us to each other.  Where I was loud, probably obnoxious and  had an assortment of unique friends, he was quiet, smart and friend of a few lucky people. I'm glad he picked me. It was his 17th birthday and I was cutting construction paper shapes for my early childhood education class. I secretly cut a heart and wrote "Happy Birthday Lance" on it and then slid it across the table. He was so happy. His fair complexion reddened almost the same color as his silky long hair and his green eyes seemed to twinkle from behind his glasses. There was a heart connection.

I'm sure there was a teen hormonal connection too, but from then on we were close. Even when my friends begged me to stop being his friend because he was a nerd, a qeek, too quiet, I refused. he made me happy, I felt safe with him, and pretty too. Lance really did seem to 'complete' me, although I wouldn't have said it that way in 1976 of course. Jerry McGuire didn't come out until much later.

 

We dated a couple of times and then my parents moved our family back to Canada. For some time after Lance joked about me leaving the country instead of having another date with him, and I hoped he was truly joking. He had my heart and soul and I really didn't want them to get dusty or broken.

 

We had  a few long distance dates and too many teen drama moments at the Grayhound bus station when I had to go home from a visit.

 

After he graduated he went directly into the USMC. I graduated half a year early and asked my folks if I could go to San Diego for his graduated. I remember so well my father's sarcastic refusal. Lance and I knew we were going to get married sooner or later so we made it sooner. I remember saying to my father something like, "Fine. We'll get married then." What I don't recall is being adamant about going and my folks feeling like if they didn't say yes, I would run away. We got married February 25th, 1978 9 o'clock at night at the Candlelight Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.

 

Fast forward to today. Right now he's sleeping. I'm going to try to post this on my front page so he can see it in the am. I hope he can look back on these past 50 years with no regrets. He is an amazing man. Never once have I been embarassed, ashamed or worried about his commitment to me and our family. He is strong in the Lord and leads us with integrity and wisdom that has always awed me.

 

He is the hero of my life. No matter what this family has needed he has provided. Our children are blessings to us and thier children are Grand-blessings !!!

 

We've done much in our 31.5 years of marriage. We've grown of course, but not apart, only closer. He truly is my soulmate and I can't imagine my life without him.

 

He may not be where he wants to be right now, but not because he hasn't taken opporunity, applied prayer, leaned on God, followed Jesus. No one works harder, no one I know loves deeper, and I am so very special because he chose me.

 

Happy Birthday Baby. You only get better as the years go by. I love you.