30 YEARS

The page has been turned and a new chapter has begun in the story of my parents.  Thirty years have passed since they said 'I do' but their story is much more than that.  It started long before that October day so when I think about this special milestone, I try to imagine all that led up to it as well.  Sometimes in marriage, we forget how much our separate lives impact who we've become and in turn, who we are together.  Much of their story is fiction for me considering I wasn't a part of it but I still like to imagine their lives before they found each other and as I've gotten a chance to witness a bit of their reminiscing, I can see how glimpses of their past have shaped their future - and in turn, have impacted mine. We are a product of our parents and it has been a meaningful journey throughout my adulthood to put the pieces together. 

I feel incredibly blessed to be a product of these two people and I am reminded constantly how much they are a part of me - both in jest and in love. :) I am lucky to be able to say that I have a united set of parents who created a steady and consistently loving environment for our family. They gave us everything we needed and so much more.  And now that I am an adult, I am able to recognize how truly lucky we are to be a part of their story and I can't imagine my story without them. 

Their story has been full of twists and turns, new settings, lots of characters - some crazy, some not, many who have passed and others that find themselves in each chapter - and hopefully a long list of moments they'd consider climaxes. In the chapters I've been a part of, I've witnessed many of their moments -  joy, laughter, inspiration, difficulty, fear, tragedy, transition - both in new settings and new roles - renewal, reminiscence, hope, pride, and love.  It has been an incredible story that has been a great example to all of us who are much earlier in the construction of ours.  I will be forever in debt to them for their ongoing love, support and wisdom. And in a world that continues to pick up its pace, I think it's important to pause and be thankful for our journey up to this point. We celebrate my parents and their marriage of 30 years - we wish you 30 more and we thank you for your never-ending influence. We hope your influence continues as we become parents for then we can hope that our children will be just as lucky as we have been. 

 Happy Anniversary! Cheers to many more.