Our 36th

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Everyone!

Thirty-six years ago today, in the little country church where I went as a child and where I am a member again now, I said my "till death us do part" vows to Michael Collins Rice. We both favored the color green and in 1984 St. Patrick's Day fell on the Saturday of my spring break from Southside Community College. It was a perfectly beautiful March day with many family and friends gathered around us to witness our wedding vows and our love for each other. 

Today was also a perfectly beautiful March day with temperatures probably very similar to that day 36 years ago. But today I could not be with my hubby. All the nursing homes are locked down and not allowing any visitors due to the Coronavirus. Not that he knows the day or me, as far as I can tell. 

Yet God, my gracious Heavenly Father is a giver of good gifts and gave me a nugget of joy today. I called and asked Mike's nurse if she would put the phone to his ear so that I could wish him a Happy Anniversary and tell him I loved him. Right away she asked if I had an Android phone with Duo on it. Yes! She gave me her personal cell phone # and told me to video call on that and she'd let me see Mike and him see me. What a precious gift that was to me! Mike was in his usual spot, sitting in the hall in his wheelchair, but he did not "omm" the entire time I talked with him. He was looking at the cell phone screen, rubbing his head and looked like he wanted to say something, but nothing ever came out. He's a little congested and his eyes were red, but overall he looked good.

That's why I like where Mike is so much. The staff is so caring and kind. The nurse told me to feel free to use her number to video chat with Mike whenever I wanted. She's there most days. I will not abuse the privilege, but I appreciate her thoughtfulness and willingness. It made my day.

I praise God that He has given me the desire and ability to remain faithful to the vows Mike and I spoke to one another on March 17, 1984. It has not always been easy - bringing 2 very different people to live together "till death us do part" takes a lot of work, some compromise, sacrifice and at times learning to agree to disagree, plus being able to forgive and ask for forgiveness. We had all of that, plus laughter, crazy adventures, two terrific sons, many moves, and a love for God that continually drew us to each other even when we really didn't want to stick it out. We said our vows before God and many witnesses and we did not want to break our promise to each other and more importantly to God. God is so faithful and here we are 36 years later still married. Praise be to God!

I'll leave you with some photos of our wedding day and one of our favorite Bible verses. 

Colossians 1:10-14

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord

and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work,

growing in the knowledge of God, 

being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might

 so that you may have great endurance and patience, 

and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, 

who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints

 in the kingdom of light. 

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness

 and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 

in whom we have redemption, 

the forgiveness of sins.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you!