Mom and Dad's 50th Anniversary!!!!!!!

Today, Jan. 17, 2009 is my parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary!!!! I can't believe they have been married that long! I vividly remember them celebrating their 25th and Mom had specifically told Dad that she wanted to go to Hawaii!! Well, us kids took them to Red Lobster in Sioux Falls instead. Mom didn't get to go to Hawaii until a few years ago with some of their friends, but they had finally made it there and loved it! :) Next Sunday, the 25th, Kevin, Pat and myself (and our families of course) are taking them out for dinner at Whiskey River in St. Peter, MN. Mom and Dad didn't want a big program, didn't want any kind of get together for it. I however, wanted something different. My bummer is that I never even sent anything out to their friends and family to surprise them with cards. Hopefully their day today is a special one.

Today, Jan. 17, 2009 is also the 12th Anniversary of my Dad having his heart attack. I wouldn't expect you guys to remember that one, but I sure do. I remember very vividly where I was when I got the call from Kevin about Dad. My sister in law, Michelle said that that was the only time she had ever seen Kevin cry, was when he was on the phone with me telling me about Dad. And I was crying. The worst part was that Dad was so far away from us and he didn't have any of us there to help support him in any way except by telephone. And the nurses in New York made sure that he got to talk to us and they gave us full reports on his situation. See at the time, Dad was still driving truck full time and was in Syracuse, New York when he had the heart attack. He felt pain as he was driving to his destination and hollered on the cb. The car behind him (and in front of him if I remember right) had cb radios and heard his cry for help so they helped him pull off to the side of the road. By coincidence (and I don't believe in coincidence's anymore), an ambulance who was going to another scene also heard his cry for help and they pulled around to get Dad instead. Dad had called in to Marten Transport too and told them what was happening so they were the ones who called Mom and let us know what was going on. Dad literally had his heart attack in the hospital thanks to those great people that were there by his side on the road. There was a place for his semi and trailer to stay parked while he was in the hospital. I mean seriuosly here, how many times do situations like that present themselves?!

Angels were doing double duty that day for Dad and that will never be forgotten. Since then I cherish the times that we are able to spend with Dad. It was just Thursday night that Josiah wanted to stay at Grandpa and Grandma's house for night cuz he wanted to play games with Grandpa. That might not have even happened if Dad hadn't gotten that quick response 12 years ago. He might not have been able to walk me down the aisle at my wedding - something I was taking for granted until it happened. Appreciate your parents and let them know that you love them......everyday...... for you will never get another set of them!

I hope God blesses you with 50 or more wonderful years of marriage to your spouse.

I love you Mom and Dad!

love your daughter ~

Michelle Denise