Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

This one is for my Mom and Dad.

Mom and Dad have the cutest love story ever - a love story that I tell my students all the time because their story is about a life time of love. My parents have known each other since they were kids - in fact, they practically grew up across the street from each other. I mean, they've known each other so long that they probably don't remember a time when they didn't know each other. Isn't that crazy?

So, apparently, the love story goes that waaaaaaaaaay back in 1967, my sneaky matchmaker Mom was desperately trying to set my Dad up with someone else until he finally told her to stop because he actually liked her. Well, talk about getting your matchmaking panties in a knot - what was a girl to do but actually fall for the cute boy with the lovely brown eyes who lived across the street? She did, all right, and I know she's not regretting it!

So, if you put it all together, even though my parents have been together since 1967, they've actually been in each other's lives for a lot longer than that. I mean, 41 years is a long time to know someone, let alone love someone, and as someone who has just been married for 6 months, I look frequently at my parents' marriage for the inspiration I need to keep my own marriage super special. Here are some things about my parents' marriage that inspire me:

1. They keep each other laughing.
2. They encourage each other to have their own interests and be the best at their own interests.
3. They encourage other. Period.
4. They put their marriage above all else - they are partners, and if you don't like it, well, that's just too bad.
5. They listen to each other.
6. They accept each other - recognizing that neither one of them is perfect and shouldn't be expected to be perfect.
7. They work together to have a good life. They have consistently demonstrated to me what teamwork is all about.
8. They know that marriage is hard work and they do what it takes to make it work.
9. They are the EPITOME of commitment. Come on, people, what part of 41 years don't you understand?
10. They kiss and hug every day. This is probably the most important one of them all.

I know I could list more, but I don't want everyone to have all of their secrets - I'd like to keep a little bit of it to myself for my own use ;-). However, what's most important, is that we are all surrounded by people like my parents who are making marriage look easy when we all know that it takes hard work.

But thank God I don't have to look too far for a great example.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for demonstrating the joy of marriage, the beauty of commitment and the tremendous tenacity and power of love.

You are my inspiration!