HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO "US"!

THIRTY-SIX YEARS ago tonight I married the man I've been in love with since I was TWELVE!!!  I remember when I first saw him.  I had gone to Stockton, CA for the annual concert at the Civic Auditorium downtown.  I was in the lobby when I saw him.  From that day till now I have loved him.  Keith would get so mad at me because I wouldn't date anyone else, but my mind was made up!  I had seen the guy I would marry!  From 12 years old to 14 years old, Wendell never knew I existed, then at the 1967 California Youth Convention in San Diego, the day I had been waiting for, happened!  I was running from another guy, so I asked Keith if I could walk with him to the car to put his saxophone away.  Being the good brother he was he said, "Of course.  Come on!" When we got to his car he saw Wendell at his car putting HIS saxophone away.  Keith said, "Well, there's Wendell", and before I knew it he yelled, "Hey, Wendell!  Let my sister walk with you back to the auditorium!!!"  I nearly DIED!!!  :)  Being the "shy" girl that I was I could have "killed" my brother.  I said, "I'm not walking in there with him.  I don't even know him!"  He said, "Go on!  You can go with him!"  Well, as I was walking towards him I thought my heart would jump right out of my chest!  When we got in the building I asked him if he would stand there and talk to me, because "so and so" was watching me!  How did I even have the NERVE?  LOL!  He answered me and he said, "Why don't you walk with me over here? We'll go talk to some friends."  So....that was the beginning of our "courtship days".  I couldn't actually go on a "date" with him, because I had to be 16 before I could "date", but I could be in the same group with him.  It seemed every time I saw him, I kept falling deeper and deeper in love.  

During the week at the Youth Convention we had a big group to "run around with" and there was an older girl who wasn't married.  She was friends with all of us.  We had so much fun with Phyllis.  She made sure we were all chaperoned properly.  One night after service several cars full of young people decided to go to Mt. Helix to see the beautiful lights of San Diego.  I was riding in the car behind the one Wendell was driving.  He was always doing something to have a lot of fun, so when a "squirrel" decided to run out in front of "Phyllis' car",  he swerved to hit it!  He was in for a SURPRISE!  It wasn't a squirrel!  It was a SKUNK!  LOL!  From that night on I collected all kinds of SKUNKS!  People would go on a trip and bring me a skunk souvenir.  I had them all over my room, on top of my curtains and anywhere they would fit.  :) When I got married I told Mother to "just get rid of them" since I couldn't take them with me on the evangelistic field.  But, the other day when I was going through boxes, I came across a "family of skunks" that I had, before we got married!!!  I was so excited!  They found their new home on my bookshelves in my living room!  

I have so many stories to tell, and I'm sure others do too, but just let me say that my love has only grown for the man I married so long ago!  He has proven to be more than I could have ever dreamed when I was 12 years old.  

Tonight we got to celebrate 36 years of marriage with our good friends Bobby and Glenda Stanley.  We went to P.F. Chang's and had a delicious meal, then drove through Braum's and got ice cream.  And, as is our custom...we couldn't go home until it was all gone! I'm looking forward to MANY MORE YEARS married to the man of "my dreams"!  Wendell, I LOVE YOU MORE EVERYDAY!!