August 23, 1969

It has been 39 years since that day - yet I remember as though it were tomorrow. On that day, both of our fathers Officiated...and we sang "Now in the days of youth, when life flows fresh and free."
I have thought today would we have married had we known what would happen in 93? and the answer is an emphatic YES. We knelt on a piece of driftwood she and I had found at Lake Otsego, on which Linda Hart had written "if God didn't create all the good things on earth, then who did?"

No two people were more blessed in two daughters who are reflections of their mother...
She looked beautiful in the home made wedding gown...and she fed me a peanut butter jelly sandwich rather than wedding cake...Our 1st Anniversary, we went to a very fancy restaurant called Woodbine College and ate dinner by candlelight...Our 10th Anniversary we took Heather and Jennifer to see the Muppet Movie, and another movie at the Claremont Drive in...Phyllis fell asleep, and Heather and Jennifer ate everything in sight.

I would like to hope that the good times out weighed the difficult moments. When she died before our 24th Anniversary, my heart broke...for our 25th we planned to go on a cruise to celebrate...a reminder for everyone that we should not put off for 'someday' Rather I got dressed up in blue blazer, white slacks. took the Vineyard Gazette and a beach chair, and sat with her as the sun set and talked about 'our day' I miss her yet I know she lives eternally in Heather and Jennifer...as I pause on this day to thank God for her...

KYRA ELISABETH TURNS 7 on August 14th

August 12

She never did like the birthday parties! Each year that we were married I planned one, most of the time having an ice cream party at the Parsonage. She made me promise in 1992, that 'this would be the last one.' and I honored her wishes. Little did we know, and I am glad that we didn't. This week I gave my Pulpit Robe to the Thrift Store. Before doing so I removed from the robe two pieces of aids quilt which I wore to remember two of the people I had walked with along their journey...
Then tears welled up in my eyes as I removed her wedding ring, which after she died I had a friend sew on the inside of my robe next to my heart...

It was another moment of remembering, being grateful, and of sharing. I have decided that I shall send it to my GRANDDAUGHTER KYRA ELISABETH, that she can put it in her jewelry box as a way of passing on her legacy of love and kindness... Tomorrow on HER day, I shall pause and remember this beautiful woman who touched my life, and who gave this world our beautiful daughters, Heather and Jennifer. Phyllis lives on in each of them...and they had the joy of having her as their mother...