Happy Anniversary!

 Fifty-three years ago, we knelt across the altar in a Salt Lake Temple Sealing room and were pronounced husband and wife. If you had asked me then, I would have said, "We'll never be married that long!" I couldn't even imagine what it would be like to be age thirty, much less seventy-two, and it was certainly beyond my comprehension what it would be like to pass away (as it were in a dream) - fifty-three years of married life.

It has been a grand adventure. We are still learning how to be married, and to be one yet separate. The mission in combination with COVID has really upped the learning curve.

SK started the day by following the elders over to Whitney where they left their car to be serviced. He brought them home and then went to the grocery store. In the meantime, I was fixing lunch. Our two new Young Adult reps came over at noon to have lunch with us and to have a planning session for the next two months.

Emma and Trish are both amazing young women and will be marvelous. I loved that they already have some great ideas to put into place for the Young Adults. They were here  for about three hours. We had a great visit, and made some great plans, even though SK and I won't be here for a great many of those ideas to be put into practice.

We are three days away from the two-month mark and counting down to departure day. If you ask me how I feel about that I will tell you we are genuinely sad. I never thought there would be another place like Denmark, but Oxford and England have stolen my heart. I love this place. The question is would the family all be willing to move to England? I don't think so.

After they left, I cleaned up and laid down for a little while. Elder Reynoldson called to see what I would like to have for dinner. He and Elder Bowen and Sisters Jones and Heder were going to order dinner for us to celebrate our anniversary! He gave me a choice and I told him which ones we wanted. We settled on 5:30 for the great delivery.

At 5:30, the elders and the sisters came to our flat. They had also ordered food for themselves! SK asked if we were all eating together....to which he replied in that wonderful brogue "Of course! This is a party."

I had served Emma and Tricia strawberry shortcake for dinner, but didn't have enough left to serve six for dessert. I wanted to contribute something to the meal! I put a tablecloth on, set the table with plates, cups and utensils, and we waited for the food to arrive. While we waited, Elder Reynoldson presented us with gifts from all of them: A package of rubber ducks, a lovely card signed by all of the zone, a package of training pants (yes...a child's potty-training pants). 

SK thought it was hilarious, as did all the young'uns. He pointed out that the training pants were too little, and so then promptly put them on his head. The missionaries loved it.







They also showed us a video they put together wishing us Happy Anniversary. He said he would send it, and then I'll post it.

Finally, Elder Reynoldson called the restaurant to see where the order was, and they said that the delivery company never phoned it to to them. So I made quesadillas! I was wishing that I had some cooked chicken, but I just made them plain and we had plenty of things to put on top. It was ready in no time. Elder Reynoldson felt so bad! Here he was planning this great anniversary dinner, and it completely fell through. 

Soon we were all sitting around the table laughing and chatting. Sister Heder asked how we met. For the next hour and a half (I am not kidding!) we (mostly SK) regaled them with our story. They all listened attentively, laughing and exclaiming. SK was particularly romantic as he described the events of so long ago. He told them how he had fallen in love with me from the very first moment. He was in rare form, and the young people just seemed to hang on every word.










The sisters had brought a little cake, so we finished with that. Finally, we toasted with some Sparkling Elderberry Juice. It was all delightful. SK took the elders back to get their car, and the sisters stayed for awhile to help clean up, and then were gone.

It has to be one of the most unique and delightful anniversaries we have ever spent together. The day was spent in the companionship of some wonderful young people, some of whom who came by with no other goal in mind but to help us celebrate our special day. 



Comments

Erin said…
That sounds delightful!!! You didn't say but I would guess....did Dad get "broken up?"
June 26, 2021 at 6:13 PM
melissa said…
Oh, that is so sweet they came to party with you!!!
July 4, 2021 at 12:11 AM
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