My mother used to tell me and my brother, if we didn’t stop saying, “mom” that she was going to change her name to a four-letter word and dare us to say it.

I used the same line on my kids and my daughter, Brande, who loved watching The Nanny at that time, asked if I was changing my name to Fran.

Marriage = W O R K

And lots of it!

It tests our wills and is a celebration of our differences and (oh my!) there are many!

If you’re like me, sometimes you may wonder if the efforts are worth it. Don’t judge me for being human.

But oh how much more beautiful our lives become when we choose to look for blessings everywhere and in every detail, even when it isn’t the easiest of tasks.

Three years ago, the girls and I went to Walt Disney World and as we were walking back to our hotel room, I noticed a young couple and their two small children also going to the hotel building.

The young man was two Jeep lengths in front of the young lady, who had a baby in a stroller and another little walking beside, holding on to the stroller.

I immediately thought of Brad and how he is always looking out for all of us. He would have not only been the one in the rear, like the Papa Guard, but he would have been carrying the little or in the least pushing the stroller.

When we venture to the store, he always puts all of the groceries in the back of the Jeep while he insists I get inside to stay warm or simply relax.

He doesn’t love doing dishes and while I work many hours in the hospital, he tries to keep up with any I may use.

The other morning, he stayed up all night doing my laundry, so I would have clean uniforms for work AND made me breakfast – bacon and eggs!

Brad and I are as different as peanut butter and cornbread and today we will revel in our diversity.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MY LOVE! Here is to many more years of fun and adventure!

Another four letter word

“Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

It is not conceited, arrogant, or inflated with pride; it is not rude or unmannerly and does not act unbecomingly.

Love does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking.

It is not touchy or fretful or resentful and it takes no account of the evil done to it and pays no attention to a suffered wrong.

It does not rejoice at injustice nor unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes and is ever ready to believe the best of every person.

Its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything without weakening.

Love never fails, never fades out, becomes obsolete, or comes to an end. ‭‭

1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-8‬