I am blogging this morning in the wee hours before the sun comes up, not a soul is stirring in the house, even Jersey the faithful Lab feels it is too early to be up. I am fine with that, I enjoy my time alone when I can gather my thoughts and think. I get my best thoughts while sitting on the couch wrapped up in my old quilt drinking coffee and just enjoying the quiet.
This particular morning I am deep on thought about Terry's grandparents Mel and Jean Droppers. Yesterday we celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. I don't know about you, but it makes me think about a lot in this world, a lot that people take for granted and it makes me wonder about the world I am raising my children in. The truth be told, Grandma and Grandpa Droppers are the reason Terry even got a second date. For those of you who are not familiar with our situation when I met Terry he had five kids the oldest Blaine was 17 and Chestiney was just 19 months old. Our first date was in Sioux Falls and it was at the zoo, you know those dates, the ones you plan at a public place in case you just want to run. I remember that he was cute and there was something about his just returning from war that was kind of appealing, you can ask my mother, for some reason I have always been a sucker for a man in uniform. Terry, having five kids when we met and the fact that he had been married twice before wasn't exactly working in his favor and after how my first marriage ended in a train wreck I was a little gun shy. However, when walking into the zoo I had little knowledge of the person I was meeting and I was nervous.
Terry and I wondered around the zoo making small talk while we both were looking for the right way to ask the questions we really wanted to know the answers too. For those of you who do not have children, dating when you do is complicated, not only do you have to worry about your feelings, you have kids in the equation and all the baggage that comes with that ( and the list is bigger than one might think). However, while we were walking through the zoo Terry started talking about his grandparents and the love they had for each other, and the love they have not only for their kids but for the kids they fostered in their home. He told me the story of his grandfather making a carousel in the front yard for his grandmother because she loved them so much. He talked about his grandfather's faith in God and how even when Terry doubted everything in his life his grandfather was right there with a verse and encouraging words. Terry talked about going to Iraq and coming home to an empty house with only a dining room table in it and how in his darkest hour it was his grandparents love for one another that let him know that things would get better and there was someone out there for him......................it was then I decided I wanted that someone to be me.
Mel and Jean, I want to thank you, you are an inspiration in a time when no one see marriage as forever anymore. When couples change partners like they change shoes and kids are bounced from one relationship to another without a second thought. Your faith and unconditional love is never ending and everyone of your grandchildren look at your marriage and wish to have one just like yours. I am honored to know you and blessed to be one of your family. There isn't a day when I don't thank God for the values you instilled in my husband and I strive to be the parent to my children that you were to yours.
Grandpa you said that that you had two words for us Give and Take. To give and also to take, not just the good but to take everything and then to think about what was given to us before we spoke harsh words. That is why you and grandma have weathered all the storms thrown your way in the last 60 years. It is and always has been about the GIVE and TAKE................................
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