It’s your 20th wedding anniversary!  To help you celebrate 20 years in one day, I am enrolling you in my brand new 3R’s program (and I don’t mean reduce, reuse and recycle).  The steps are:  1.  Reminice   2. Replenish  3. Remap

For your first step, you are going to find some time to reflect on your 20 years of marriage!  I have a list of 20 things for 20 years,  but feel free to remember any memories you vowed never to lose.

1.  Wedding day.

2. Your first big fight as newlyweds and how you resolved it.

3. The good old days before my older sister arrived.

4. The wild stunts you crazy kids pulled with no kids around.

5. The day, Dad, you found out that Mommy would soon blow up like a balloon.

6.  Morning sickness.

7. Discovering together the new roller coaster of parenthood.

8.  The day I was born (aka the happiest day of your life)

9.  All the cute stuff I did.

10.  Finally finding days to escape the crazy children once daughter number 3 arrived.

11.  Encouraging each other through the perils of careers.

12.  How you figured out which battles are worth fighting.

13.  How much we embarrassed you in public places.

14.  Your trip to Amsterdam and other vacations.

15.  Big past anniversaries.

16.  Your walk with God and how he used each of you to mature the other.

17.  All your Christmas’s together

18.  The worst anniversary gift you ever gave to one another.

19.  Significant times of struggle

20.  Succeeding for 20 years and counting with Him who strengthens you.

Smiling to think of all the post 1st day conversations to be had later today! Just heard the school bus pick up our teeny tiny 5-yr-old neighbor, who was quite uncertain as of last night. Made me remember to dig up an old prayer I found about 5 yrs ago:

Dear God, please bless our little girl
She’s starting school today;
She’s half afraid, yet wants to go,
And yet she wants to stay.

Protect her, Lord, and keep her safe,
And still that trembling lip.
And shield her from all other eyes
In case a tear should slip.

And help her make new little friends;
Be brave throughout the day.
And have her teacher understand
Her gentle little ways.

Oh Lord, please bless our little girl
And calm those anxious fears;
She is so precious and so young
Just a few short tender years.