Libby Baker Sweiger

Mike and I

Mike and I celebrate our 33rd Anniversary Friday, 7/27/12

“Love is the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yet it is not found only at the end of the rainbow. Love is at the beginning also, and from it springs the beauty that arched across the sky on a stormy day. Love is the security for which children weep, the yearning of youth, the adhesive that binds marriage, and the lubricant that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shining through death. How rich are those who enjoy it in their associations with family, friends, and neighbors! Love, like faith, is a gift of God. It is also the most enduring and most powerful virtue.”
― Gordon B. Hinckley

Love has most certainly been our gift from God in our marriage. What is the secret of a long marriage. Believe that you will never have it any other way! That is the short answer. If separation is not in your frame of reference, it is not an option or a way of thinking, it does not become a part of your thoughts.

Mike, my sweet husband lives by this quote by Gayle Sayers, “The Lord is first, my family is second, and I am third.” That is my goal too! Similar goals and values are crucial to a happy marriage. But I’m  not here to give marriage advice, just reflect on the past 33 years and say WOW!

I am blessed! We are! Not to say we have not had difficulties. Health problems. Mine. I am blessed with the ability to forget the negatives. Mike has a wonderful memory for the good and bad of life. He has not been spared any memories of them and has been taxed more than I. It is always harder to watch a loved one suffer than to suffer oneself. I believe the surgeries and so on are behind me, the migraines, conquering the asthma by the grace of God.

I believe a new day is dawning of health, refreshing in the faith and newness in life. I am happy. There is a new job for me on the horizon and I am ready. Mike’s is going great. Another 15 years of work for me and 10 for Mike and we’ll retire. With nothing to do but laugh at each other’s jokes, read and write books…talk with you all…oh we’ll do that in between…and visit.

Yes we love to visit. Just talk. About anything and everything. Politics even now. World events. Our wonderful daughter. Each other’s days. Mike’s work stories are especially entertaining for me. He tells wonderful stories. Music. Mike educates me, he know so much more about music than anyone I know and I love all kinds. The plots on the movies or shows we might be watching. We guess the next moves before they happen. Probably would annoy some people!

Saturdays when we can, we love to go to breakfast together. And we like to run errands with each other. We always have. Ever since we were dating. I guess it’s safe to say we enjoy each other’s company! 😉 I hope you all have a great weekend and get a chance to enjoy friends and family. Love is a wonderful invention!