The China and/or Platinum Anniversary

Yes, ladies and gentleman, on January 16, 1988, a beautiful young bride married a handsome husband. Twenty years ago! Weren't we cute? Some people may wonder who the man in the picture with me is. Some accuse that it is my "first" husband. Nope, that's my honey, Lee! Don't you just love that mustache?

We met in January of 1987 at a Young Single Adult dance at the "old" ASU institute building. I had come to the dance with someone else, but, we decided that we would dance with other people. Fine with me. A slow song came on and couples were paring off onto the dance floor. I hadn't been asked yet, (But I looked smoking hot that night, guys were just scared of my height!) but I saw this guy I had never seen before standing there and looking around like a lost puppy. I thought he was cute, so I nonchalantly sauntered over to where he was and stood in front of him with my back to him. (There was no way he couldn't notice me, I had big 80's hair!)

I thought that if he saw me he would ask me to dance. He did and he did.

Now, at this point in my life, I had no intention of ever being married or having children. I felt I was predisposed to being an old spinster and going out as a Miss Havisham type character with the old wedding dress and the petrified cake. Yes, I was only 19, but, I didn't want to have a bunch of marriages like my mom.

Fast forward twenty years: I have the husband, the three children, the house, the dog, and the block wall fence. (They just don't do white picket in the subdivisions.) So in tribute to our 20 years, here is what we have learned or appreciate about each other:

1. We can't both be in a grouchy mood at the same time.

2. There isn't much of anything that a bouquet of roses can't fix.

3. You always have a built in date for weddings, funerals, office parties, stake conference, office picnics, hospital, ER, and the occasional movie.

4. Men get softer as the years go by. I don't mean soft to the touch, but, sometimes they cry when they watch "Extreme Home Makeover".

5. My husband can look at me first thing in the morning, with the eye goopies, the unbrushed teeth, and the messy hair and declare, "You're so beautiful." (What, is he crazy?)

6. My heart still skips a beat when I see him after a long day.

7. So many friends thought we wouldn't last because we were so young, to them we say, "raspberries to you!" (Put thumbs in ears and wave for good measure.)

8. Knowing I get the privilege of being with this man forever. Does that mean he's absolutely perfect? No. But then, neither am I, and we're still here for each other.

9. There is only this one other person who knows all of my secrets, fears, and hopes and dreams.

10. Time goes by quickly. I mean really, twenty years already? I still feel like I should be a newlywed!

11. He likes me, he really likes me!

12. Mortal life is bumpy. (Duh!)

13. Dancing....not just a dating tool. Some of us actually went to the dances because we really loved to dance.

14. Knowing that my beloved will laugh at number 13.

15. It is a good idea to marry young. You are not so set in your ways and you can change and grow together.

16. Love means saying you are sorry.

17. We look forward to sitting on the porch with a gaggle of grandchildren.

18. Twenty years later I still see the same cute young man that I saw 21 years ago across that dance floor.

19. I couldn't be married to anyone else.

20. I love my husband, and I am happy to be married to him. He is my rock when I am jelly. He is the brown sugar on my oatmeal. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

I love you Lee.