Happy Anniversary, Mom!

October 2, 1948, my parents said their vows at a beautiful Church in this small city. They had no idea that they would eventually, over 19 1/2 years, have ten children on that day.

They had hard times, when I am sure, both questioned whether they would ever be 'happy', and they had good times when they KNEW that they would. They were normal human beings doing the best that they could.

Dad had dreams of retiring, selling the house, and the two of them going from place to place to try new golf courses. Mom wanted 'roots' and was willing to go in the RV, but not to sell their home. She wanted a place to come back to....

They did not make it, as Dad passed away at age 62 on June 3, 1987. He is still missed, and I know that leaving him that night in the funeral home was probably one of the hardest things my mother would ever have to do.

They had met in High School, rode the same school bus. Dad went to the Army after he graduated in 1942, Mom went to Nursing School in Milwaukee. They met again several years later and began dating.

They had four sons, six daughters born from 1949 to 1968. The youngest was one day short of being out of High School when Dad left us after a six month health struggle.

They have 30 grandchildren (one is in Heaven with Dad) for sure, and five great grandchildren, plus two little ones that we won't know until we join them all there because of miscarriages.

But it is still the anniversary of the day that they promised to be together until death parted them. And Dad is still on our hearts and minds today, along with our thoughts of Mom. He is still here with us in many ways, as we simply look at each other, at our children, and now, at the next generation.

God bless you, Mom, and Happy Anniversary. Well done, good and faithful servant!