I had to put old in quotes because as you can see from the following picture, taken close to 17 years ago at Mauri’s and my wedding rehearsal picnic, Craig has not changed one iota.

Well, the glasses might make him look a little younger, but essentially he’s the same. (He and Pam spent some time with us not quite a year ago.)

Can’t say the same about me so we don’t need to go there. Tomorrow’s my birthday, and if I live through the night I will have officially reached my full retirement age—sixty six. Trust me, I will be celebrating that! Signed up for Social Security and Medicare and a Medicare supplement—all worth a celebration.

Of course I couldn’t keep the surprise to myself, so I called Mauri to come and share the fun, but he must have had a better sense of Craig’s visit—he was already on his way.

I was part of her small group for several years. I snapped this picture at one of our meetings. More than that, only one house and a street separated her house from ours until she and Hank took up residence in another neighborhood.

A few weeks ago the church threw a little retirement party to honor her years of ministry.

While we’re sad to see her leave the pastoral team, we’re glad to release her to this next phase of her life. Today was her last team meeting, and she had some giftings to distribute—archival relics that surfaced as she cleaned out her office.

Then on to Yamhill Grill, where she treated the whole team to lunch (topped off with Sweetest Thing cupcakes)!

Yep…we were there too!

Jo was in seventh heaven because her daughter Anna and Anna’s family (Ronnie, Carter, and…)

baby Caden) were visiting from California.

I understand the joy felt when two life segments collide. (Warning: flashback ahead)

9/9/09—Dropping in on team meeting just two weeks after the Andersons returned from Ethiopia with Addison and Paul. Michelle snapped a pic and posted it on Facebook.

Bless you, Hank and Jo. May God fill the coming years with fulfillment and fun. You’ve got it coming to you.

Then Jessi grew up and chose to attend George Fox University right here in our little town of Newberg. So whenever the parents could make their way down to visit her, we’d get in on some of the fun.

Then, wouldn’t you know it, after a few years of teaching elementary school, she fell in love and decided to get married.

This afternoon we took a drive through the beautiful Columbia River Gorge to attend the wedding at Bridal Veil Lakes.

I didn’t take this picture but it gives you an idea of our view along the way.

Following a lovely walk through the beautiful grounds, we chose a spot on the very back row of chairs (so I could shoot pictures inconspicuously).

Shortly after start time, we looked up to see these three canoes carrying the male aspects of the wedding party.

Yes, the groom is standing up! We’re listening to the “Indiana Jones Theme” as they paddle to our side of the lake.

That’s our nephew Nate Macy, the wedding officiant, in the center.

They made it safely to shore without incident. And after the whole bridal party entered….

Here comes the blushing bride and her very proud papa.

Not to take anything at all away from the bride’s moment, but you need to know that in 29 years of marriage to Wally, this is the first time Ridgely has ever seen him in a suit. It took such an occasion as this to break the streak. He does look dashing, doesn’t he?

And that was that—Mrs. and Mr.!

To have and to hold from this day forward.

And these two now have a son.

Congratulations, Jessi and Josh Hopkins-Hubbard! May you live happily ever after.

For a long time now we haven’t taken advantage of an outstanding opportunity offered to Friends pastors to come and enjoy the beach for a very low fee. So when Captain’s Cabin became available, we snapped it up.

A new feature here at Harbor Villa and all over the camp is these cool luggage carts. It used to take several trips to haul our stuff up to the cabin. Now, one!

We can’t come to this particular spot without remembering our engagement story.

I was sitting in this very spot when I popped the question. Not where he’s sitting. Where I’m sitting.

I came across a 1965 issue of Campus Life Magazine (publication of Youth for Christ) this morning and decided to scan a particular article to share with you. I’ve posted it in large format so you can read it, even though it’s a bit cramped on this page.

After Mauri read it I asked if he still agreed with what he wrote.

The shape of a heart plays an important role in our house. This one shelf alone displays quite a few, each with its own story.

But the most important hearts are on this shelf. Can you see them?

Yup. We carry them around wherever we go. And today—V Day—they seem most fitting.

These are my new hand-knit socks, a gift from my friend Ridgely.

Yesterday, when I was home for lunch, I received a small package from Bellingham, Washington. I opened the outer packaging and found a Christmas present from Ridgely with a tag that said “Do not open until Christmas.” I’m a rule keeper so I left it on the kitchen counter (since we don’t have a tree yet).

After work, Mauri walked into the dark living room a few steps ahead of me. “Oh, Marvel, you’re not going to like what’s happened here.” My nose gave no hint of what I suspected he meant, but a quickly flipped light switch revealed a floor covered with tiny bits of Christmas wrapping, and in the middle a neatly folded pair of socks.

I guess Darcy forgot to read tag.

My coworker Denise spends most of her days these days completely focused on the task of inputting information into a website that will manage all the plots and history relating to our church’s cemetery. So focused, in fact, that she was unaware I took this picture.

Yesterday she broke her concentration long enough to come across the hall to tell me she had discovered two Graves and two Coffins all in a row. So before I left the office for the day I asked if she’d write down their location.

Evidently, Mauri and I don’t have enough excitement in our life, because it didn’t take much to entice him to drive over to the cemetery with me. Add heading from there to Sonic for a foot-long chili dog and his motivation was complete!

My continued interest in cemeteries surprises me, since I have no intention of ending up in one myself. I’ve posted stories about my attitudes in favor of cremation. We are quite content to have our spouses buried right here in our little rose garden.

You’re probably wondering what we will do about this if/when we move. We are too, but we think our kids might want some input in that discussion.

I spent quite a bit of time at the cemetery in Dayton, Ohio, when I was a kid. My grandparents, aunts and uncles, and parents were all about visiting/decorating the graves of their loved ones. (That’s my second cousin Bob, not Mauri, though we do look cute together, holding hands and all.)

Even when I’m in Jacksonville, Florida, to visit my brother and his family, it never crosses my mind to visit my parents’ gravesite. Please don’t misunderstand. This is me; I’m not the slightest bit judgmental toward those with other viewpoints about burial. Honest!

Yet I’m still fascinated by the names and stories I find on grave markers. Even in Scotland!

As we walked through Newberg Friends Cemetery, we were caught off guard when we stumbled upon the grave of our friends’ teenage daughter. It was the same kind of sadness we felt that caused Margaret-Rose to choose cremation. It’s definitely easier to look at graves of people we never knew.

Mauri was intrigued by this one. I loved noticing that a woman named Myrth was buried next to a woman named Happy.

Then there they were!

Graves…

Graves…

and Coffin.

So we paid our respects to the Graves and the Coffins and headed on up the road to Sonic.

Today Denise came across the hall to tell me she found another “interesting” name. Updegrave. Uh huh.

PS: I own four plots in Oaklawn Cemetery in Chicago and two plots in Chapel Hill in Grand Rapids. Any suggestions what I might do with them?

Having the MacDonalds visit our home for an evening capped off a delightful week at the coast. They’re on a tent-camping vacation at Champoeg State Park (a favorite of theirs for many years) all the way from Phoenix. Since Craig is a daily blogger, I get to know what they’re up to most of the time. But there’s just nothing like a face-to-face conversation with friends who share history.

History! That’s the only cue I need to post a couple of illustrative photos of our shared history.

Brother Howard “introduced” Mauri, and Craig “introduced” me at our wedding.

And seamstress Pam used her gifts to create Quinn and Rachel’s dresses.

and we thought that was pretty romantic.

I had to wear my heart shirt to work. And Rachel snapped this picture to compare to the one from sixteen years ago.

I agree! We haven’t changed much at all! (hahaha)

No review of our wedding day would be complete without remembering this fun discovery. Just Mauried!