We celebrated my parents' forty-year wedding anniversary today. When you're only going on year five in your own marriage, forty years seems like a very long time. 🙂 Something to look forward to, for sure.
Family gathered, mostly under the guise of the very worthy cause of meeting Drew's lovely lady friend but also to celebrate my parents. 
Dora and I surprised Mom with a cake decorated in her wedding colors, and Mom surprised us by coming out in a new white dress. I'd texted Dad earlier in the week to tell him to make sure that he and Mom's clothes coordinated so we could get some good pictures, and they really went all out. Mom quickly and quietly sewed a dress the day before the party, and Dad brought along dress clothes to match her. I think we were more surprised with the wedding garb than they were with the cake!
I've been blessed with wonderful parents. All parents have their faults, but I loved mine when I was little, and I love them now, and since the teen years are something we all wish we could erase certain parts of anyway, they don't quite count. 🙂
I admire how my dad always looks out for my mom, in big and small ways. He knows her fears and takes care to not worry her needlessly. He is her protector and her provider. And my mom is my dad's supporter. She values his opinions highly. She asks his advice.
They still play games together, my mom and dad. Scrabble or Boggle or Take One. They go on walks together. Mom reads Dad funny things out of the Budget or a book she's reading. They eat lunch together every noon and supper together every evening.
They're still investing in their marriage, forty years after "I do." That's what I aspire to. I hope one day I'm the one popping out the door in a new white dress, the man I'm still in love with all dressed up beside me.
They've faced hard things. They haven't done everything perfectly. But they've walked with God, and they continue to do so, and to me they are an example of a loving, godly marriage. I don't take that for granted.
I know I'm not the only one who loves and appreciates my parents. If you have a special memory of them or a little tidbit of appreciation to share with them, leave a comment. I'd love to read it, and I'm sure they would, too. 🙂
Susan Smucker
Good picture of Mark & Ruby. I do remember their wedding. It is hard to believe that it is 40 years already. May God Bless you both.
Susie Smucker
Karina
I've been blessed with a wonderful aunt and uncle. I so appreciate how they always included me as part of the family whenever I would come over or spend the night. That's something that has really stuck with me all these years.
Dora S.
Life looks different when you get older and you realize things you have taken for granted your whole life. Dad and Mom loving each other is one thing I have just thought of as normal life. Now I realize that it's one of the best gifts they have given our family. Thank you, Dad and Mom! One of my favorite things about them is that they love to laugh together. Well, somebody needs to laugh at Dad's quirky jokes, right? So they do together. 🙂
Nancy Satrum
Will never forget how excited we( us Headings girls) were when you started dating! Mark was kinda like a brother to us, this was exciting stuff, they were perfect for each other!
Wishing you Gods blessings on the upcoming years. Happy Anniversary 🎉❤️❤️🎉
a.Roth.mum
Beautifully written, Michayla. They are such dear parents-in-law to me. Their faithful prayers for my little family and I are something I value and treasure so much. The following words describe them well and I am grateful for that.
“Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful,
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave, lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh, may all who come behind us find us faithful.“