Twenty-fifth anniversary...the story of us!

For those of you who don't know the story of Brian and Patty....in June of 1984 I was working in Lafayette, IN as a pharmacy technician and living in an apartment complex in town. Brian was getting ready to begin the summer session at Purdue before his senior year and also lived in the same apartment complex. He'd sworn off women for the summer...too much of a distraction and too expensive! One hot summer afternoon Brian and his brother headed to the pool. When Jim asked where Brian wanted to sit his reply was "purple bikini." We talked for awhile...he asked me out...I turned him down...he showed up anyway...and I went out with him. Our first date was to see Ghostbusters and eat at Pizza Hut...with Jim, Jay, Roger, and Chris! That was on a Sunday. On Monday he met mom & dad, and on Tuesday we started tossing around the idea of getting married. On Friday he asked me to marry him...5 days after we met! We were married in December...in between semesters at Purdue. (He jokes that he needed a tax credit!) Five months later he left for Officer's Training School and I headed to the orthodontist to get braces. It's been a crazy journey...many Air Force assignments...lots of moving vans...3 beautiful daughters...etc. Thru it all, God has blessed us abundantly! I'm sure when we decided to get married most of our friends didn't give us much of a chance of making it. The odds were against us. We've worked hard, though, to grow and respect and love each other thru the ups and downs. And I wouldn't trade my guy for anyone in the world. I love you, Brian Keith Anderson! Happy 25th anniversary.

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Today marks the 57th anniversary for my parents...no small feat in this day & age. Way to go Mom & Dad! I love you!

All hearts come home for Christmas

Finally, we have a houseful again. Amy arrived yesterday with her friend, Phil, and Laura arrived this morning. There've been lots of laughs and stories shared...hugs galore. it's been wonderful! And I'm quickly learning that having 2 culinary students in the house is a bonus. Today the three of us made not one, but four batches of cut-out cookies (to be iced at a later date.) And afterward we enjoyed the made from scratch apple pie that Amy brought home from her baking/pastry class at JWU. Yeah, the house is a bit chaotic and there's clutter all over the place, but it's a good kind of chaos. We're ahead of the game with the to-do list. We pretty much just get to enjoy one another. And that's the reason I was crazy during the month of November...so I can relax and have fun now. Hope you're having awesome family time, too.

No more braces!!!

update...

These last couple of weeks before the college kids finish up are full of stress on a daily basis for them. Laura and Ian have a LOT of projects and assignments to finish before they can even think of finals. Laura has residents to check out, too, while everything else is going on. Amy is now in lab classes 6 hours a day in addition to working 3 hours several days a week. She has to ice her feet every night but is pleased that she's hanging in there. I know all of the kids would appreciate any and all prayers lifted on their behalf. There's enough normal stress that comes with the holidays, but they all have even more with schoolwork/jobs. Soon they'll be home and able to relax a bit and I know they'll love celebrating the reason for the season!