PREPARE YOUR BRAIN!!!!!!

35 years with the most adorable man! My kids make fun of me when I say this

to them, but one day I hope they will remember and smile

about their momma and daddy who loved each other..

and wanted to live for Jesus

Alright now............ when you go to a blog and you read a blog, do you get an impression in your brain of what that person might be like? Well I do. So with that. This picture is going to have some of us who were married in the 70's going "I can identify" and others go "you have got to be kidding!!!!!!!" Whatever one you are, I want you to know that we have changed. Phil's hair is not long and I own a bra (glad men don't read my blog!!!) We were not walking with the Lord and for that I am so sad. I do know though that the Lord did not leave us and gently over the years brought pain to chisel off the things that did not please him. I know that He has given us a love for the lost and a passion to see people with Christ's eyes.

Today, I woke up and walked outside, looked to where our north garden is and saw where 35 years ago I married my Phil. As you can see in the picture Grandma Jo (Phil's mom) had planted a rose garden in front of the picket fence. She had welcomed this young lady that had just moved from Alaska, with battle wounds from the world and her precious 2 year old little boy. I saw a love with Grandpa Jack and Grandma Jo's marriage, that made me want to have what they had. One where you laughed at the dinner table and had conversations of kindness. The last 35 years with my Phil has been one where we have both learned by having a commitment to Christ. The Lord will take you to places to choose forgiveness where there has been hurt, love instead of dislike, encouragement instead of tearing down ,prayer for the other instead of unkind words and acts of kindness. I have done them all, the negative that is, but oh the faithfulness of my Father who has come to me as I would seek His word and he would transform my mind to line up to His will. Will I do this marriage thing perfectly? No, but thank you Mr. Phil for being the very one that God used to make me want to do what is right. You are adorable and I am so glad that when I brought you home to my momma and Poppa, that you proved them wrong. The long hair was only the culture we were in, but God had plans, for two broken kids, that wanted to do right, but just didn't know how. Thank you Mr. Phil for our 5 children. What a joy and sorrow we have had in our family, only to see the faithfulness of the Lord to get us through anything. When we start marriage all those years ago did we ever think that we would have the love we have today? May the Lord bless all those who stepped in to walk with us and encourage us over the past years. My precious children when God said "it was good and children were a blessing ". He was right. Even having our girls when I was at the age of 39 and 42 in a culture that said that I didn't have to, Lord you did beyond to bless Phil and I then we could imagine. We love them so. Also marriage brings the fruits of your labor and grandchildren. Each grandchild that we have, have a speciual place in our heart. Each is individual and unique. I will continue to pray that each one will choose to accept what Christ did on the cross to make a way for your salvation.

I am a blessed and grateful woman today. One that the Lord looked down and said, because you have given me permission with your life I will bless you and never leave you. I thank you Lord for this day, for my precious husband, children, daughters-in-loves, grandchildren and friends. Also I love you Lord for "your faithfulness", when I had none.

I will love you Mr. Phil forever!!!!!! The flowers you picked for me this morning are beautiful. The love note to be treasured by me and maybe read one day when we are gone. I hope they will want to have a marriage like we have, not perfect, but a blessing of commitment. Maybe the next generation will read of the love of two broken people made by God who made us one. Father you explain marriage best:

Eph. 5:25-33Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church—for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Happy Anniversary Mr. Phil. I will love you forever, with the Lord's help. Please continue to wash me in the word so I can be without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless .

Blessings,

Linda