Sunday, May 1, 2011

My How Time Flies!

It seems just like yesterday. Walking across campus with my girlfriends, I could hear the voice on the loudspeakers waaaaaay over at the baseball fields where the University of Denver baseball team was playing. "Oh, there's Dan," I'd tell the girls, and they wouldn't believe I could tell who it was from so far away. Other people than Dan would announce for the games, you see, and there was no way of knowing ahead of time who the announcer would be -- so my friends were dubious. All they could hear was a voice on a loudspeaker, distant and garbled. But I knew when it was Dan; I'd bet them I was right, and I always was.

There's always been a connection there.  Even though I may have been all the way in the back rooms of our college newspaper offices, I knew when Dan walked in the front door. The hairs on the back of my neck would literally stand up. And my heart would pound. And I would wait for him to make his way back to where I was. (I know; it's disgustingly mooshy, kids, but it's true!)


But, here's the thing: eleven children and twenty-four years later, it's the same. I know when it's Dan calling my phone and very often pick it up to answer before it even rings. The door will open at the front of the house and I know it's him before I hear the sound of his feet on the floor. But then  I hear his distinctive voice, and there's no question it's him as he intercepts various small children -- teasing them and throwing them around a little --  Then I hear his footsteps in the hallway -- and I wait for him to make his way back to me. Which he always does. Dan has a way of kissing me with both hands on my cheeks that still makes my knees weak and my heart pound...  And I forget that we're not twenty-one years old any more. Who cares about the children and the laundry I'm folding, and the state of the economy and the world in general...

It's just me and Dan, the love of my life...

Followed by a caravan of children who want some more tickle fighting with Daddy and who want to know if it's snack time. So --alas! The spell may be quickly broken, but the kiss lingers in the air above everyone's heads.  And it's all good.

There's a place of stillness between two people who love each other where there is no interruption, no  past or future -- just a quiet knowlege of eternity. And a certainty of the rightness of it all.  Before Dan and I met an empty place waited in each of us for the other to fill. It was God's plan. And after we leave this earth, it will be to enter the eternity we've always worked toward together. One may leave first, but the other will follow. It's all good. It's God's plan.

I think it's this Breath of eternity that sent Dan's voice directly to my ear from the ball fields in college. And it's the same Breath that leads him to me wherever I might be hiding. And it's this Breath, blowing through our marriage that makes it possible to get through the stress of the big things, like bearing and supporting a large family, working through the issues of extended family relations, job loss, relocations, health problems... And the little dumb day-to day grievances, too --  like people who make coffee and dump coffee grounds all over the place,  and people who are so grumpy about sweeping up coffee grounds that they forget to appreciate the coffee...

But I digress... The point is that it's been a wild, amazing twenty-four years and the time has flown, but it's been good --  God is good. And I thank Him.  I am eternally grateful to have found this everlasting love.

Happy Anniversary, Dan. 

 I love you!

Howard Jones - Everlasting Love

Found at: FilesTube

7 comments:

A Bit of the Blarney said...

I can share your confidence in Providence. You see even after 40+ years there is no one else but Ron I want in my life. He is in many way who I am. And it is with confidence I can say, "Thanks be to God!" We really are one! God Bless you on this most special day! Happy anniversary indeed! Cathy

Aimee said...

Happy Anniversary!! And may you have many more blessed anniversaries with your true love :)

Alexandra said...

How Beautiful. Blessings to you both.

Tim said...

Dear Lisa - I was going to email you, but the address that links from your website didn't look right after the @ sign. It just says @here - there is no .com or .net or anything. I work for The Maximus Group, a Catholic communications firm in the Atlanta area. I'm working on an event that you might be interested in. Can you please email me at tlilley@maximusmg.com? Thanks in advance - I look forward to hearing from you. Tim Lilley, Director of Communications, The Maximus Group (www.maximusmg.com)

Maria (also Bia) said...

oh lisa ... you had me in tears. happy anniversary to both of you, and thanks for being a shining example of marriage.

blessings,
bia

Sarah Oldham said...

Beautiful! Happy and blessed anniversary!!!!
I know just what you mean . . .I feel the same about my Dan. ;) And I swore I'd never marry a sailor. Huh. God knows just what He's doing.

Kim @ Starry Sky Ranch said...

Belated congrats Lisa! I sent this to Allen : ) Absolutely beautiful.