• I barely remember those early years...struggling financially while R went to school in Pittsburgh.  I worked full time and he worked part time while he went to school full time.  We barely saw one another.  He was in bed when I left in the morning.  He was at school or work when I got home.  By the time he got home from work, I was in bed because I had to get up early.  Somehow, we managed to move our way through those 18 months growing in our love and learning about one another.  We had our moments of romance, disillusionment and pure joy too.  When we had time together, we worked together...cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping.  We met friends and enjoyed get togethers for cards or "whiskey sours" (yuk!) or listening to a jazz musician named Harold Betters at a little jazz club called "After Hours" (I think).   
• This was a trying time in the US...Viet Nam, the assasination of Martin Luther King.  Pittsburgh was in the middle of curfew the night we left for Dutchess County, NY.  We were worried that we would be stopped before we could get out of the city.  We were filled with anticipation and hope, while our country was in turmoil.  R was starting his job with "Big Blue" and I was pregnant with our first baby. 
• After living in PA all my life, moving was an adjustment.  Making new friends was hard.  I was kind of shy and unsure of myself.  Preparing a nest for that baby was the highlight of those early days in NY.
• A baby girl in November of 1968 was the most amazing thing.  I remember we had asked what Novembers were like.  We were assured that there would be no snow.  Well, guess what?  8 inches that night.  We had been out and had come home to the snow starting.  We played in the snow outside our apartment...throwing snow balls at one another and having a great time.  I was already 4 days late with this baby, so running around sounded like a good way to wake this baby up and make her want to come out into the world.  We went inside and had hot chocolate and donuts.  Big mistake...I later found that out.  Around 10 pm, I felt that first twinge and told R.  He quickly got the alarm clock, his writst watch and another watch to time the pains.  Within 20 minutes, he insisted I call the doctor who told us to drive on up to Poughkeepsie which was about 18 miles away.  As we drove our little VW Bug, we were making our tracks through the snow.  No plows were out.  Miss T made her appearance at 5:33 am the next morning, weighing in at 8 pounds and 19 1/2 inches long.  She was a cutie and we were in love.
• 2 1/2 years later her brother made the scene.  He took a little longer to make his appearance and was a week late, weighing in at 8 pounds 15 ounces and was 21 inches long at at 7:39 pm.  He was a handsome little guy and we were in love again. I remember the nurses saying he was going to be someone important someday.... and he is.   
• 7 years later we had another son.  Some might say because he was so much younger, that he was and "accident, a surprise or an after thought".  I think God knew all along we were going to want that third child in our lives.  We wanted another baby to love.  He was even later than his siblings and weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds 9 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long at 11:59 am.  One long and tall guy.  We never doubted for a moment that a third child was exactly what our family needed.
• 6 years later, we lost a child to miscarriage.  It was hard to understand.  Through time and prayer, we came to accept and know that somewhere a baby angel watches over all of us. 
• These children grew and we moved to AZ .... disrupting our lives and theirs.  It was an adjustment leaving our home and friends.  We all made new friends and kept the old....what is it they say, "one is silver, the other gold."
• Those children challenged us and forced us to grow.  They taught us about love, patience, endurance, joy, hope, fear, disappointment, acceptance, understanding, and pride.  They opened doors we had never seen and helped us widen our horizens.
• We watched them grow into adults who will always be our children, but are now our friends too.  We enjoy being in their company and they continue to help us grow.
• Our nest is empty and it is just the two of us.  Because our relationship has always been the most important thing in our lives together, we continue to grow.  We enjoy one another's company.  We have our own interests, but coming together to do something is still our number one priority and source of happiness. 
• We are grandparents and a whole new side of life and love and joy is opened to us. 
• We continue to learn about one another and grow in our love.  We continue to try to understand one another and respect one another.  We continue to do our best to be the support and encouragement the other one needs.  We fail sometimes...but, we keep trying.
• God is the center of who we are and without that center...we could never have made it through these 41 years.  God has blessed us over and over and over again.  He does not allow us to be complacent.  He calls us to be more. 
• I have tasted "love" and it is better than chocolate.  Thank you for 41 years.

We are all holy people –

This is holy ground – we are standing on holy ground.

For wherever God is – is holy –

 And, wherever we are –

God is there.

We are blessed to be here –

We are blessed to be a part of this family.

As we touch this small child’s head

With holy water from another holy place,

May she know that this is just the beginning

 Of her holy and spiritual journey through life.

May she be blessed with words of kindness in her life –

May she see light to guide her on her path on this earth beneath her feet–

May she be blessed with sunshine to warm her body –

Rain to wash away any sorrow –

Wind to soothe any pain –

 And always, always –

 Love to nourish her throughout her life. 

May her faith and spirituality

 Be an adventure that she shares with others.

  May this blessing be only one of the many,

That will be a part of all,

That makes her the precious gift of love, she is to each of us.

Sojo, we bless you in the name of

The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

Amen

The meditation pond was a perfect place for the blessing and we felt so blessed that T & D asked us to do this.  What a gift to be able to bless this holy child and know that she is and forever will be a part of who we are.  Our only prayer is that we can be present to her in positive and encouraging ways throughout her life.  We pray that we will have the time to make a difference in her life in small and important ways.  We thank God for the gift of Sojo in our lives.