We were just kids when we fell in love.....

Rick and I celebrated our 42 Anniversary on Wednesday.

We kept it sort of Low-key as we have been doing alot of traveling over the last few months.

We did spend a day in the Twin Cities doing some fun things and exploring!

We first met when I was just 15 and Rick 17 (just friends)

I was a waitress and he a dishwasher at the Ramada Inn in Rochester.

For me it was LOVE at first sight.

He had to wait until I was 16 to ask me out, 

but he waited until I was 16 years 5 months old (Jeeesh what took him so long)

A few year later....

He was 19, me 17

*When I see this photo I cant help but start humming the song "Perfect", by Ed Sheeren

I found a love... for me, 

darling, just dive right in, follow my lead....

We were just kids when we fell in love

 Not knowing what it was......La La La La

 

*We were each others first boyfriend/girlfriend. 

I was told by some folks, "You really should date other guys", Why????

I am so thankful for this man which brings another song to my head by Newsong.

"When God made you he must have been thinking about me"

Its always been a mystery to me, 

how two hearts can come together, and love can last forever.

Now that I have found you I believe,

that a miracle has come when God sends the perfect one"......

 Rick is a man of faith, humility and unselfish love. 

He still opens the door for me,

He never goes thru a door before me. 

He shows his love by actions, he knows me well and knows what I need before I do :)

He puts up with me even when I'm unreasonable 

and he lets me be right even when I'm wrong.

Dont get me wrong, we are not perfect! We are still growing and learning about each other. 

We have our ups & downs, our disagrements, and frustrations, 

But we are willing to forgive and show grace to each other, it's worth the work to keep that promise we made to each other 42 years ago. With that being said it's pretty easy to love my guy, he is just the best.

He makes me laugh till I cry, and thru the years there has never been a doubt in my mind

 that he loves me just the way I am, and believe me... I'm A LOT!  ha ha

 He is my forever and always... we had that engraved into wedding rings.

 

And finally another song that comes to mind as we are now a little older and retired.

"Grow old with you"

"I wanna make you smile whenever you're sad, 

carry you around when you arthritis is bad

Oh, all i wanna do is grow old with you"...

Happy Anniversary my love, There's nothing better than growing old with you. 

Ok... now that you've read through all the "sap" here's a little bit on how we spent our anniversary.

We visited the Wabasha Street Caves in St. Paul.

A fun guided tour worth going to!

We stopped at a bakery on Grand avenue, and shared a GF carrot cake muffin.

I love bakeries, Rick goes along for the food  :)

One of our favorite things is watching our Minnesota Timberwolves play Basketball.

So Rick and I got tickets for the game at Target Center in Minneapolis.

We walked around amoungst the big buildings and

Saw this cool mural

We ate dinner at "Cowboy Jacks" close to the stadium.

We watched our team win and make it back into 1st place in the conference.

Our team making their way out onto the floor. Click on the arrow to watch the video

Me and my Mr.

 I knew I had you 44 years ago when you walked by me with that radio on your shoulder. You didn't know that spunky 15 year old new waitress would someday be your wife... 

but she did!

5 years later we said, "I Do" 

God has blessed us with a beautiful life and family. 

Our people

 

Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect!

It means you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.

Marriage is a "work in progress"

We happen to be two imperfect people who realize that love is a gift not to be taken for granted.

I truly believe I'm the luckiest girl in the world 

and I'm sooooo glad you're mine.

You make me laugh, til I can't breath, 

and sometimes you drive me crazy!

You love me even when I don't always feel lovable

You encourage me and believe in me.

I Love the man you are, my better-half, my stability and best friend!

Happy 39th, I love you Mr. Hemmer.

Thanks for the flowers, it was fun picking them out with you. <3

Navigating through life with my best friend

38 years seems like a long time when you simply think of 38 solid years. 

I feel like it was only yesterday than we said, "I do"

It was a cold day that started with sleet/snow and high winds!

The weather settled by the time of the ceremony and guests were able to make it. 

 I wore a bag over my head to protect the hairstyling done by JC Penny's. 

The Cake lady almost lost the cake due to high winds on her way into the church.

My mom catered the lunch that happened in the dated church basement

Who does that anymore... the mother of the bride catered the lunch, my mom is a super woman.

The ceremony was lovely from what I can remember!
It was a blur...

but my prize was worth all the hype...

If we count the years we dated, I've had this guy for 43 years!

We were so young, and so "in love".

Love is so much deeper than that early love you have for each other, 

oh it's the same foundation of love, just more profound and established.

Love developes from being just a word that you say to each other,

 to a word put into action...

LOVE IS A VERB!

Its been pretty easy to be married to this guy! 

He is simply the best human I've ever known.

We have to work on things just like other couples but, it's never been a burden.

 He is the most selfless person I know, he makes me laugh till I cry,
he is kind and patient and loving! He always, always, always puts me before himself,
it's just in his nature!
He has taught me much, God knew way back then that I needed this one!

Love...eternal and forever is cast on our hearts, as written on our unity candle the day we were married, and again a hand written message from my husband in a bible he gave me back in 1999.

We share a love for God first!

Thank you Grandma & Grandpa Mac'
A few years ago we found our wedding cards, Rick's grandparents are long gone but I know they loved and prayed for us, and meant every word this card says.

As the verse says... Yes

Our marriage has been full of adventure, ups and downs, give and takes,
 with hopes and dreams that have blessed us and brought us much joy.

Our hopes and dreams <3 p="">

We dream big, and trust God is directing our path.

I love you Rick, Happy 38th Anniversary

I wouldn't want to navigate through this life with anyone else but you!

Anniversary vibes...

Marriage 101..... (at least in my mind)

Be silly

 I often say to Rick...."What would people think if they knew the goofy things we say and do"

Even our children don't know, but some things are just meant to be between a husband and wife.

 LOVE is a verb.

 There are so many choices in a marriage that say, I Love You

It's not always easy to choose to let your spouse be more important, 

or even feel more important at a given time, but it's always the right thing to do....

to at least consider their feelings, to value their opinion....

that really does says, "I Love You" in a big way.

 We've been married for 37 years, but dated for 5 years first cuz we were high school sweethearts. 

It hasn't always been easy, but it hasn't been hard either!
 We are not perfect, and we've had to learn things along the way.

We are still learning, and growing in this marriage, but here's

 a few things we've figured out along our journey...

* 1st and foremost, Respect your spouse 

* Forgive their faults (we all stumble) 

* Value their opinion (even if it's not yours)

* Call them out when needed, (because that's what best friends do... be gentle)

* Be weird, Be silly and Goof off....a lot

*Encourage each other, cheer each other on, and play together.

* Love unconditionally

37 years ago today I married someone who looked beyond my flaws and into my heart.

 He has encouraged me, he has been so patient with me, and he often puts my needs

 before his own, it comes natural for him....
I know, I can't believe he's mine.

 This man I call my husband loved me at the lighting of the unity candle,

 and he loves me now. It is a love that is unwavering just like that of Jesus,
 unconditional love is what marriage should always be.

His example is one I try to follow for our marriage, I pray God will bless us with
many more years, so I can keep practicing, ha ha....

 How-in-the-world-is-he-mine?

I love doing life with this guy, I am blessed to be his wife.

Happy 37th sweet man!

We know each other well...

 He knows ,

I love dark chocolate and I was just about out of my perfume,

I know,

 that he loves to read, and his favorite snacks are beef jerky and candy bars.

Randomness

Life can be random, cant it?

I usually post with a topic in mind or about an event. 

But today I have nothing but randomness.

Who likes Rhubarb?

I have 3 plants at the cabin and love to make rhubarb desserts, 

before the cabin I had never touched rhubarb. It's just so yummy.

We had a bit of a storm the other night with some strong winds, leaves were scattered 

all over the  driveway. As the leaves blew away a day or so later this is what was left behind... 

 Driveway art

 My son and DIL send me frequent photo's of these two sweeties, 

I'm so grateful for the pictures! They sustains me until the next visit.

 My Mom & Dad celebrated their 60th anniversary on Friday

 Flowers from their 4 children/families.

 My dad, and oldest son Brice on a recent fishing trip to Northern Minnesota.

This make my heart glad!

Last week while Carson was at my house we had a hail storm. 

He thought it was fun to collect the hail and put it in a cup.

 My two boys were on a little camping trip last week at Tettegouche state park

 on the North shore of Lake Superior.

They love to make me crazy by sending me photo's like this.

Gavin climbing on a very high railing over-looking the falls.

Our Audrey (center, holding the paddle) on a class trip to the nature center here in Rochester.

 My daughter Brianna was able to chaperone and sent me this photo. 

I love the randomness of life... I love my family  :)

This Day...

He walked into my life 41 years ago, 

I remember the day like it was yesterday. 

 I was standing in the kitchen of Ramada Inn (on South Broadway) with my friend Deb. 

My first day at a new job as waitress and I see this handsome auburn-haired guy walk by me and I melted. I don't even remember if we made eye contact but somehow I just had this feeling that HE was the one! He was 17 and  I was 15. We started dating about 5 months after we met and continued to hangout together for 5 years. We finished college, then the logical thing happened.... 

we got married.  

 36 years of marriage + 5 more dating years = 41 years of... "I can't believe he's mine"!

So young.... best decision of my life!

By his everyday example, this man has challenged my character.

He has taught me many things just by who he is and the way he conducts himself. 

He has demonstrated the qualities of a good marriage... that of patience, humility and selfless love!

He has shown me the love of Jesus, in the way he lives his life, and the way he loves his family.

Dear Rick, thanks for giving me your heart, your leadership, three beautiful children and a home.

Our journey isn't perfect but it's ours, and I'll stick with you till the end.

I love you more everyday and I'm looking forward to spending the rest of our days together.

Happy 36th Anniversary to my best friend...

  I still melt    :)

When God made you, he must have been thinking about me...

Happy Anniversary to "My Guy"

I love the song, "When God made you"

It's as if the song writer was writing about us.....

Please take time to listen to the music video below, 

it's a lovely song about my husband... I'm sure of it!

"Oh I wonder what God was thinking,

When he created you.

I wonder if He knew everything I would need,

because He made all my dreams come true...

When God made you

He must have been thinking about me"!

Thank you for telling me about Jesus, being patient with me and not giving up on me. 

I'm Grateful ~ Thankful ~ Blessed

My high school graduation party, me and my boyfriend Rick.

We had already been dating 2 years.

3 years later.... We said, "I do"

I just knew I loved him, but I didn't know how much yet...

Our love has grown. 

He is the better half, 

my best friend, 

my partner for life,

 and I love him more now then ever before.

I'm blessed with an amazing man who makes me laugh, encourages me,

and has a way of making me feel loved and beautiful always!

Happy 35 years of marriage sweet one,
I'm looking forward to growing old with you!
I love you! 

We share an interest of "History"

 Terrace Hill is the official residence of the Governor of Iowa.

 The house sits on a hill over looking the city of Des Moines, it's 18,000 square feet
 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003.

 The home was built over 3 years, 1866-69 for $250,000.

In the late 1970's the Hubble family, who then owed the house, 

offered it to the state of Iowa for use as a home for the Governor and his family.

~  ~  ~  ~ 

 Understandably  there were not photo's allowed inside the mansion, 

 

*

but my rebel self couldn't help it and I snuck a photo of this with my iPhone...

A lovely stained glass window at the bottom of a beautiful giant staircase.

 We caught a glimpse of the governor and his wife returning home, they occupy the 3rd floor of the mansion....this is a grand home with so much detail, it about killed me not to be able to take photo's.

Some of you will understand.

We had to put our guns away, ha!

We were guided by a gentleman who claimed to be "obsessed" with the house.

 We could tell he was passionate about his job as he took us through showcasing works of art, crystal chandeliers, stenciling, historical artifacts and rare antiques.

~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~

 About 3 miles from the Governors residence in Iowa's State Capitol

 The picture really doesn't do it justice, such a majestic presence it has!

 From the front steps of the Capitol, looking at downtown Des Moines.

Bonus photo 

Reflection of the capitol building in the mirror-facade of a near by building.

Taken from my 2011 Archives, 

when Rick and I last visited Des Moines on our 29th Anniversary. 

Stay tuned for my final post on our Visit to DesMoines.....