Thirty: the age that 20-somethings dread.
Thirty: the length of many mortgage loans, which seems like an eternity of a time to be in debt.
Thirty gets a bad rap, though, because:
Thirty: the number of years John and I have been married.
We met in Provo, Utah, while students at Brigham Young University. We married in Seattle, Washington (the closest temple at the time to my parents' home). We lived for a few months in the basement of John's parents' home in Salt Lake City. A job offer took us to Orange County, California. We lived in a little apartment for a couple of years before purchasing our first home--a little upstairs-unit condo, with a view of the train tracks. Our family doubled while we were in California. With two children in the backseat, we moved to the Seattle area. While in Washington, we added three more children to our family. After seven years near Seattle, we pursued a dream and moved to a tiny rural town. Though we loved it there, after several years it was time to move on again. We returned to southern California. We lived in one house for 7 years, and we've been in our current home for eight.
If one were to map our journey, it would look something like this:
(As I viewed that map, I thought of the children of Israel wandering for 40 years in the wilderness. We're not there yet--another 10 years to go!)
In the past 30 years, children have been born and have grown up. A daughter-in-law joined the family. Three grandchildren have been born, and a fourth will come next month. Each new person has expanded my heart.
Of course, there have been experiences that I never imagined I would have. We have first-hand knowledge of several Seattle-area hospitals. The jargon of the DSM has become reality, as we've waded through various mental-health diagnosis with some of our children. We've sat together at funerals for both young and old.
We've also gone swimming with sting-rays, ridden mules to a leper colony in Molokai, run a half-marathon down a Utah canyon, and traveled in three continents.
Little ole' me, prone to routine and settling-down, has become someone I never would have expected. Me, a world traveler? Me, a runner? Me, someone who moves to a different house at least every 8 years? Me, braver than I ever dreamed?
Being married to John has changed me. It's changed him, too. Oh, I'm still me, and he is still himself, but together, we are much, much more. We know that no matter what life throws at us, life is an adventure, and adventures work out.
We met in Provo. This year, we continue our journey with a move back to Provo. We are both looking forward to this move, and are both stressed about this move. Together, though, we are calm. We're just off to the next adventure!
Please forgive me if I am quieter than usual, both as a blog writer and a blog reader. I hope to return to a more frequent blogging schedule, but my time is taken up right now with all the preparations that need to take place prior to our move.
(I obviously did not enumerate my ten things of thankful for this post, but I trust that my gratitude came through anyway.)
What are you thankful for this week? How have you changed in the past 30 years? (Some of you might say, "Well, I was born!")
Be sure to check out other Ten Things of Thankful posts here.
Thirty: the length of many mortgage loans, which seems like an eternity of a time to be in debt.
Thirty gets a bad rap, though, because:
Thirty: the number of years John and I have been married.
 |
| Photo: John, in a grey tux, and I, in a white wedding dress, stand outside the Seattle Temple on our wedding day |
We met in Provo, Utah, while students at Brigham Young University. We married in Seattle, Washington (the closest temple at the time to my parents' home). We lived for a few months in the basement of John's parents' home in Salt Lake City. A job offer took us to Orange County, California. We lived in a little apartment for a couple of years before purchasing our first home--a little upstairs-unit condo, with a view of the train tracks. Our family doubled while we were in California. With two children in the backseat, we moved to the Seattle area. While in Washington, we added three more children to our family. After seven years near Seattle, we pursued a dream and moved to a tiny rural town. Though we loved it there, after several years it was time to move on again. We returned to southern California. We lived in one house for 7 years, and we've been in our current home for eight.
If one were to map our journey, it would look something like this:
 |
| Photo: A map of the Western United States, with spots in Utah, Washington, and California marked, and travel lines between |
(As I viewed that map, I thought of the children of Israel wandering for 40 years in the wilderness. We're not there yet--another 10 years to go!)
In the past 30 years, children have been born and have grown up. A daughter-in-law joined the family. Three grandchildren have been born, and a fourth will come next month. Each new person has expanded my heart.
Of course, there have been experiences that I never imagined I would have. We have first-hand knowledge of several Seattle-area hospitals. The jargon of the DSM has become reality, as we've waded through various mental-health diagnosis with some of our children. We've sat together at funerals for both young and old.
We've also gone swimming with sting-rays, ridden mules to a leper colony in Molokai, run a half-marathon down a Utah canyon, and traveled in three continents.
 |
| Photo: John and I stand in the warm Caribbean water and pet a stingray |
Little ole' me, prone to routine and settling-down, has become someone I never would have expected. Me, a world traveler? Me, a runner? Me, someone who moves to a different house at least every 8 years? Me, braver than I ever dreamed?
Being married to John has changed me. It's changed him, too. Oh, I'm still me, and he is still himself, but together, we are much, much more. We know that no matter what life throws at us, life is an adventure, and adventures work out.
 |
| Photo: John (as C3PO) and I (as R2D2) cross the finish line of a Disney 10K race |
We met in Provo. This year, we continue our journey with a move back to Provo. We are both looking forward to this move, and are both stressed about this move. Together, though, we are calm. We're just off to the next adventure!
Please forgive me if I am quieter than usual, both as a blog writer and a blog reader. I hope to return to a more frequent blogging schedule, but my time is taken up right now with all the preparations that need to take place prior to our move.
(I obviously did not enumerate my ten things of thankful for this post, but I trust that my gratitude came through anyway.)
What are you thankful for this week? How have you changed in the past 30 years? (Some of you might say, "Well, I was born!")
Be sure to check out other Ten Things of Thankful posts here.
This is just lovely, Kristi. I, too, am not much of a blog reader and writer these day (far, far less than you), but that wedding picture made me click. Happy Anniversary to you and John!
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful post Kristi. I love your "Little ole' me" paragraph and the one following it. Do some slow deep breathing in these coming months. We will see you soon.
ReplyDeleteThis whole post was amazing, overflowing with gratitude for your marriage and the relationship which has grown from it over the years. All I can say is WOW, this is what love looks like! I've moved many times, and I know it's challenges well, but I also have no doubt that the two of you together will navigate it just fine, and will make your new house will very soon feel like home. Happy Anniversary, may you celebrate many, many more together! Blessings to you and prayers for the journey ahead.
ReplyDeleteNo need for numbers, Thirty years and the love that keeps you together adds up to much more. Congratulations and happy moving!
ReplyDeleteYou have way more than ten things of thankful in this post. There are at least 30 that I can see. Good luck to you and John as you embark on the next 30 in a new, yet familiar place. Sending you anniversary wishes, family love and blessings for the future.
ReplyDeleteWhat an encouraging post! You have made my day! I so enjoyed reading about the adventures of the past 30 years. You are truly blessed. I also appreciate that you didn't pretend there weren't hard times, but it's obvious that your relationship with John is such an anchor for both of you. I hope your transition to Prove is very smooth and full of delightful surprises.
ReplyDeleteAnother wonderful post. I can clearly see how you and John's personalities complement each other.
ReplyDeleteVery excellent TToT post, in the spirit that has made this bloghop all that it is. A post that is a tale of people and their lives and things that have given rise to a feeling of gratitude.
ReplyDelete(hey! be sure to say hello to Orel and Teresa Rees!*)
*readers: the Teresa and Orel Rees I'm referring to are characters in a book that Kristi was very kind to beta read. They lived in Provo, up by the Temple.
Congratulations on your 30 years of marriage. How wonderful. And what a lot has happened over that 30 years! All the best for your move :)
ReplyDeleteYay for your 30 years!
ReplyDeleteOh my, what a huge sting ray.
One of the things I love about stopping by here is that every photo you share of you and John exudes joy and love. If only more marriages were so filled with happiness that it spilled off the page like this!
ReplyDelete30 Yrs what a blessing!!!!!
ReplyDelete