Until Death Do Us Part

Today, my husband and I celebrate 18 years of marriage, and 28 of knowing one another. These married years have been the best, since we have each other, our two children, and the assortment of pets. Best of all, we (re) discovered Christ together. What a wild and joyous ride!

I'm glad there's not much drama in our household. Even while having heated discussions, we don't elbow one another or sling insults (by the way, the Shakespeare insults are taped to my office door, along with Hoehne's First Law, and a picture of my husband while umpiring -- You're Out!).

The kids still remember the BIG FIGHT we had about who was going to clean the cat box. I was either pregnant and nursing for a good four years, so I happily dumped this chore onto my husband, along with all the digging one has to do in the garden, the oil changes in the car, the finances, and numerous other small things, like changing light bulbs. But my husband has always done everything graciously. I've reformed my ways since then and taken over the cat-box cleaning.


Without so many words, my children are learning about what to look for in a mate. My son is learning to be a man from his father, and my daughter is learning what kind of a man she ought to give her heart to. And so we pray, not just for our own marriage and family to remain strong and centered in Christ, but also for the children's future spouses and families for the remaining generations. Since God stands outside of time, I find myself praying for the generations before me as well.

Today is an ordinary day, really. I've done my morning chores and cooked a big pot of chili and an apple crisp for this evening. We'll probably go swimming for a while. But I can't forget it's also the Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, that he gave up his life to take the place of a man who had a family.

It is a good day to celebrate marriage and family. It is a good day to celebrate a book birthday: The Voice of Thunder by Mirka Breen.

Congratulations!!!