MARRIAGE: A MAN AND A WOMAN FOR LIFE

LaRee and me then and now

A few months ago, my wife LaRee and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. We have experienced so much together, both good and bad. LaRee gave birth to our two children and we raised them in our little French village of Beaumont in western Canada. Our children grew up and eventually gave us five grandchildren. Life has been good.

Granted, there have been sad and hard times as loved-ones died

and disease and disability broke our hearts. Despite it all I still remember the wish that I expressed when we were young: I want us to grow old together. It is coming true. One love for one lifetime. I wouldn't have it any other way. My heart still skips a beat when LaRee enters the room.

And if I close my eyes, I can imagine that my wheelchair is not here and we are dancing once again cheek to cheek in the old fashioned way. If you are reading this LaRee, isn't it lovely to imagine? 

Marriage as God planned it: A man and a woman united in matrimony for life with God at the center of their lives.

[NB: LaRee responded to this blog by saying: "Ahhh... you still have that romantic spark in you. That's part of why I fell in love with you. I remember so clearly the last time we danced. Your MS was moving at a rapid pace. We knew our time for dancing was limited, so we specifically set out one evening to dance even if it was the old fashioned way. Yes, I closed my eyes, swayed and imagined while this song played. It was lovely. Thank you Mark for sending me down memory lane. I loved it. -- LaRee.]

(Click image or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x5hNzoBc6E, Charles Aznavour, "Old Fashioned Way")