Dad! Look Out!

I guess it's probably not very nice of me, but I've always gotten a charge out of "surprising" Ray. Like for instance, when he is so kind as to get out and open a gate that he knows would be a struggle for me. I will watch him, and just at that perfect moment, usually as he's walking past the front of the truck, with his mind on what he's headed out to do, I'll reach over, and honk the horn. He always jumps. And I always crack up.

Yesterday was our anniversary. 31 years! I still marvel at the fact that he even married me in the first place. I always tell him the reason I said "yes" so fast, was because I didn't want to give him the chance to figure out what he was gettng himself into. But seriously, I knew I'd found a good man. I'd been looking for 5 years, so the fact that I'd only known him 2 weeks was simply testament to the fact that I'd found what I was looking for. Or rather, God just timed everything perfectly, and put me in the right place at the right time. "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:4                

It's been good. It really doesn't seem like it's been that long, but looking back, we've done a lot of living. An amazing amount of living. And whether things were tough, or whether we were on a roll, we just took it all in stride, by the grace of God. You'd think after 30 years you'd have the trail pretty well worn--except you don't really ever go down the same trail. Not if you're moving forward. And it's sure nice to have a partner who never even considers going backwards. You just keep on keeping on. "And the rain descended , and the floods came , and the winds blew , and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." Matthew 7:25

 I suppose that's why I can have such fun pushing his buttons, and he never wrings my neck. Although I do have to tell him to "lighten up" once in awhile when he doesn't quite share my sense of humor. Like the time I painted his toenails while he was soundly sleeping.

Somehow, and I'll say it again because it's true-- "by the grace of God"-- our children turned out to be better kids than any parent could ever wish for. Fortunately, they mostly took after their dad. Clayton still gives me "that look" if I start teaching my grandson how to push buttons. He really doesn't need any help. He's a normal 3-yr old with an imagination like Auntie Anna's.

The kids did pick up on one or two things though. I used to say, "Watch this, kids," just before I tooted the horn. Invariably at least one would try to warn him, another would sigh, "Mo-om", and another would watch in anticipation. It wasn't until the 2 oldest were in college that the lessons came to full fruition.

They were driving out through the hills with their dad and Chubby the cowdog, when Ray spotted a moose down by the creek. Since he just happened to have a camera with him, he decided to stop and get a picture. And since he actually listened to me that he needed to get closer to his subjects with his camera, he crept down through the bog to get a closer shot. Chubby was what you might call a little hyper, and he hopped out of the back and trotted down to join Ray who wasn't exactly happy for the extra "bait" and told Chubby to "stay behind".

Even though I wasn't there, my children performed flawlessly:

Happy with his photos, Ray and Chubby started back through the swamp towards the truck. All of a sudden the truck door flew open and Clayton jumped out and yelled, "Watch out Dad! The moose!"

Ray never even looked behind him, and he covered those swamp bumps in record time.

We all still crack up when that old scene is brought up. I'm so glad Ray is slow to anger, and can laugh at himself. I'm afraid I don't react quite as patiently as him.

It's more fun to be the instigator. He reads me like a book though, and he already knows that if we live another 30 years, my wheels will still be turning.

I love you Dear, and thank you! thank you! thank you! for putting up with me all these years!