Happy Anniversary

Yesterday was our 30th wedding anniversary.

We did not feel the need to go out to spend money we do not have on exotic foods or appetizers (not that I can eat any sort of wonderfully, yummy comfort-type food anyway right now!), we simply stayed home and dined on a dinner of roast duck, sweet potatoes and green salad.

We took a quick little 'questionnaire' we got at the couple's dinner from February in Lancaster. It was amazing to me how well we know each other after being together for so long. Why it was amazing I cannot tell you-I should think after over 30 years you get to know someone, but it really gave me a sense of satisfaction.

It brings me such joy to know that Dave and I know each other so well. Yes, the little 'his' and 'hers' pamphlets that were given to us were supposed to be filled in way before November 14th, I'm sure. But I'm happy we waited.

My very thoughtful cousin gave us gift certificates to a local restaurant and we will go soon, but this was nice. It was home and we had a lovely, colorful dinner and laughed about how well we knew each other. He left two questions blank, not knowing how to answer and I left one blank. But we each left the same one blank!

The question asked: What ice cream flavor would you use to describe your last date?

(a) Vanilla

(b) Rocky Roads

(c) Superman (I ask you...is this really an ice cream flavor???)

(d) Double chocolate fudge mousse

And we both left it blank. We laughed about that. You see, we don't go out on dates very often. We can rate it when we go out to lunch or dinner with our thoughtful gift. It does make us chuckle though. And, I will add, that I felt a small surge of-dare I say pride-when he said that I was practical, like a mini-van.

So, we have now come to the point in our wedded bliss where we also think alike, which for Dave, is a very scary thought!

I know God gave Dave to me because he is my complete opposite! He is so balanced in every way I need balancing! He has been such a blessing to me through the years and has worked so hard to take care of the children and I. Mostly, I am thankful to the Lord for not only blessing me with such a wonderful husband, but also for revealing His salvation to him in the Lord Jesus Christ that we can walk the narrow road together.

Honestly, he is also very patient. Being married to me, I'm sure, has not been a picnic all the time! I had no idea what godly submission was and have been learning to submit myself to the Lord and learn of His Kingdom rules and how that in effect comes out to my husband, my family and the world around me. Like Christ, I desire to be meek, gentle and humble.

On a much more domestic note:

...we spent the day before our anniversary pressure canning 21 quarts of duck and turkey broth, and our anniversary finishing up with 6 more quarts.

"How wonderfully romantic", you say.

I say, 'Yes, it is!"

"How so?", you ask quizzically.

Well, when you can with a pressure canner, you have to stay and watch it the entire time so the pressure does not get too high. We sat and listened to a couple of early church teachings and talked about Bible doctrine and other things while we cooked duck stock with carcasses my sister-in-law blessed us with. I did not count how many, but there were enough to make 27 quarts of broth with a bit of turkey stock mixed in the last batch.

So, we spent our time frugally and happy in the Lord, working together in the kitchen-which is really something we've discovered in the last 10 years that we enjoy doing. We have a baking and making schedule we seem to follow and we thoroughly enjoy our kitchen time together. Would that be considered a date? Probably not. But it is time we spend together doing something we enjoy.

So, here it is a day later and I am still basking in the goodness of God.

I do have photos of duck stock canning, and will post them tomorrow.

Reflecting on the Home-Sweet Things and rejoicing in a Heavenly Father that knows our needs way before we do!