Five Years Down, Eternity to Go

The last couple of days have been rough for me. Friday night Heather wanted some Chinese food, so I went on a quest. I went to Market Mall where I knew I could get some small servings. While the food tasted good, I was hit with bad stomach pains in the middle of the night from it. I think it was food poisoning, and today (Sunday) I am still feeling the after effects of it. I really hope that I will be over it today, because tomorrow is a very special day for me. Tomorrow is July 27, and five years ago tomorrow I married my beautiful Dandaloo. A lot has happened in those past five years, and most of it has been beyond good. I hope that the next five years will continue that tradition.

As I look back at these last five years, I am amazed as to how happy I am. I believe that I was happy in my previous marriage (except for the end, of course), but it pales in comparison. Heather has done so much for me. I feel so greatly blessed with having her in my life. She has given me so much genuine love that has produced two darling little girls. She has understood me better than almost any other person I have known. She treats me with respect, love, and devotion. She is so patient with me and accepts me as who I am. Most importantly, she will talk to me about her worries and problems, and listens to mine. She loves to laugh, is not ashamed to cry, and is as devoted to her family as any I know. Together we have faced trials and received blessings. We have walked the streets of New York City, had fun at theme parks in Orlando, been to about ten different temples, and lay on the beaches of Bermuda. We have celebrated each others successes and stood beside each other through the hardships. Each of us have seen the other through surgeries. We have done the best we could with our children and the unique situation of having two wee ones and two adult kids, and our home is a happy one.

As I look back on the last five years, I am grateful to know that our marriage will last into the eternities. I love that we made the decision to marry in the temple where eternal marriages are made. I look forward to not only the many years that are to come, but to what comes beyond this life. There is only one person with whom I would want to have by my side for the rest of forever.

Top 10 Things I Look Forward to in the Next 5 Years of Marriage

10. Vegas Convention - We are debating next summer, but hopefully once in the next few years.

9. School for the Girls - Barbara starts kindergarten in two years, Hope in 4. Wow.

8. Five more anniversary dinners. This year, we are going to try the Bear's Den. 

7. More Temple Trips - This past week we performed 50 sealings. It was wonderful.

6. More Trips - in 2018 we are thinking of a Disney Christmas. We are saving Air Miles for park passes and Avion points for plane tickets.

5. Weird Al in Concert - This happens in September (how lucky am I to have a wife who will go to a Weird Al concert with me?!)

4. More Dates - Now that the girls are older, we are going to be going on more dates. Looking forward to trying new things.

3. Hope Talking - She has started walking, and gets a few words in, but I look forward to what she has to say about things.

2. Barbara's baptism - She's 3 now. She'll be 8 in 5 years. Again, wow.

1. Waking Up Each Day - Because I get to wake up to an angel.