Congratulations all around!

So, it's been a while,

and I was reading Collette's latest

(ok, a few of them -

it's also been a while since I read hers!)

I wanted to say

a BIG

CONGRATULATIONS

to Collette

on her up and coming

Retirement

from her "day job"

Which...

she has had forever (17 years)

I remember

way back

when Sam and I were living in Idaho

and Collette and I were BOTH posting medical payments

We would chat online in the evenings (I think)

when chatting online first was a thing

I even had a shirt that said

"I Chat

Therefore

I Am"

I loved that shirt! It was SOO comfortable

I'm pretty sure I finally wore it completely out

Anyway,

Collette has been with that same company

doing that same thing

since I lived in Boise, Idaho

SOO many moons ago!

Okay, the above was written about a week ago - maybe more!

I never got around to finishing it - mostly because I wanted to add some pictures

and I didn't have them handy right then.

So now - it is October 15

Collette has officially had her 

LAST DAY

and I suspect she is relaxing

(or as she called it - being a zombie!)

Good for you Collette!

Congrats for work well done!

But today is a special day for another reason

My wonderful mom and dad are having

yet ANOTHER

Anniversary!

They have been together a LONG time

and loved one another for even a longer time!

I was over at their house a few days ago, visiting,

and we were admiring the

beautiful bouquet of roses

dad had brought home for his

beautiful bride.

There was a lovely little card beside the flowers.

Dad wanted to show it to me

Then he came over beside me with it and explained it.

Said it was "Exactly True"

He said that in his home growing up, they didn't say those three words.

Mostly they said, "did you milk the cow?

Did you bring in the firewood?

Go milk the cow!

Go bring in the firewood!

etc., etc.

Then he proceeded to tell me the story about when he first said those words to mom.

(with a little help remembering the details from mom)

They were on a date

and as it turns out, it was with another couple

who was in the front seat of the car,

Mom and Dad in the back seat.

(when mom reminded dad that they weren't alone, he said,

I don't think I could have gotten up the courage to say those words with someone else there"

But mom reminded him that, 

"the other couple was kind of pre-occupied in the front seat!

it was a pretty "romantic evening" all around!"

So when dad turned to mom and said those 3 little words to her,

she responded with

(surprised facial expression)

"can you say that again?"

Dad laughed at me then, and told me he was just barely able to say it once - didn't know if he could do it again!!!

Such a cute little couple, and a wonderful memory for them both to have

just a couple of days before their anniversary!

Dad also told me of one of the first times he saw mom

At church,

Playing the piano for one of the meetings.

He turned to one of his LDS school buddies who was there with him and commented,

"that Joyce Hanna will make some lucky guy a wonderful wife someday!"

And she did!!

Love you guys!

Happy Anniversary!