13

13 years.

Today Mike and I celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary.

In 13 years we've:

graduated Mike from college
gotten 1
dog
had two kids
bought two houses
bought 3 cars
taken 4 big vacations (Disney, San Francisco, New York, Toronto) and many smaller ones
started a tour of visiting all the ballparks in North America as our love for Ranger baseball grows
suffered a car wreck
suffered some broken bones, sprains, and other injuries
had 5 surgeries (4 for Donna, 1 for Mike)
run a half marathon and countless smaller races
been members of 2 different churches
made a ton of fabulous friends
5 job changes for Mike
3 position changes for Donna
experienced times when we didn't know if there'd be enough money to cover bills
experienced times of immense blessing
had our marriage tested
supported each other's dreams
shared each other's sorrows

There's probably so much more I'm forgetting, but those are the highlights.  13 years.  A LOT of life has happened in those 13 years and even knowing what I know now, I wouldn't change it.  Michael is still my best friend and the one with whom I want to grow old.

Marriage isn't easy, but when you put your spouse first and commit daily, the rewards are great.

The Lord only knows
what the next 13 years will hold for us.

Professor Emeritus

A couple of weeks ago (yeah, sorry, I'm behind), my mother was given special recognition and the 1st ever "Professor Emeritus" honor for Dallas Christian College.  DCC is a small school in the Farmers Branch area at which my mother has taught in varying capacities for the last 44 years. She moved from Springfield, Illinois to accept a job as a music professor there in 1971.  

Her talent and poise won the attention of many young college boys who made a bet to see who could ask her out first.  My dad won.  :)

In 1979, she quit to stay home and raise my older sister and I, teaching piano lessons at home.  At some point not that many years later she went back to playing for choir and teaching piano/theory, because honestly, I don't ever remember a time when my mom wasn't serving the college in some way.  

In 2016, the school did away with her department and she quietly and graciously left with no fanfare. The president and other faculty decided to change that a few Fridays ago and give my mom the honor she deserves for the Kingdom work she has done all these years.  I am so proud to be her daughter.  

Walking in with other professors for the first time at a DCC graduation (as she was always the accompanist)

The president gave a wonderful speech.  I hope to get a copy of it.

receiving her stoll

the kids were so proud of Graemma, too

The traditional parents flanking the graduate pose - only reversed