Thirty Eight Years Ago

SUGARY SWEET WARNING: Mushy Content Below!

Thirty eight years ago I felt I had not slept a minute all night. I was so excited! Thirty Eight years ago today, Brent and I knelt across an alter in the Idaho Falls Temple and committed our love to each other, not just for time but for all eternity.

I look at these pictures of us on our wedding day and I remember how honored and thrilled I felt to finally be "Mrs. Loveridge". I thought I was ready. Afterall, I had even practiced and practiced writing out the name Loveridge over and over and over. And I knew to simply NOT make cabbage rice soup ever! Even if I ever learned how to do it without burning the onions.

I thought I could never love someone as much as I did Brent on that day 38 years ago. I was so excited to be his wife and to formally begin this journey together. But today, 38 years later, I think I was very naive on my wedding day. I felt like a fairytale princess; and this would be my happily-ever-after life.

How could I begin to know that my "happily-ever-after" life included rinsing out cloth diapers in the toilet by the bucketful, and wiping runny noses, and cleaning up flour and vanilla and macaroni and cheerios and all the other, bigger, spills that happen with life. No way would I know how lonely some days would feel as I stayed home to care for his children. How could I ever imagine 38 years ago how many challenges we would face together - including morning sickness, loss of job, illnesses, surgeries, being a bishop's wife, and learning together how to make our eternity just that.

But now, 38 years later, I wouldn't change a thing! Challenges have helped us grow closer. The love I felt 38 years ago has done nothing but grow and grow and grow. Sometimes I wonder how I could love more, and then I find that I do. I love being a wife, and sharing parenthood to six awesome children. I love growing gray with Brent, and sharing grandchildren, and sharing life. He is my absolute best friend, and I am so grateful for the life we've shared. I'm looking forward to the next 38, and the 38 after that, and 38 more, and more, and more....