What God has joined together...

On March 29, 2010, Ralph and I will celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. I think that this statement by Michele Weiner-Davis most reflects my feelings. http://marriage.about.com/b/2007/03/28/is-marriage-hard-work.htm

Funny that through all these years, the moments that are etched in stone are the happiest and most meaningful.

Our Time Line:
04/23/72: Met at Rte 19 Bowling Alley
05/05/72: 1st date to “Puppet on a String” and to a high school house party
08/15/72: Ralph sent me a letter from Baseball Camp and wrote that he loved me
12/21/78: Proposed during a Sunday Afternoon Ride…somewhere in North Franklin Twp.
03/29/80: We married our High School sweethearts!
02/21/82: Found out that I was pregnant with Michael!
10/21/82: Michael was born @ 10:22AM!
05/18/84: Found out that I was pregnant with Megan! (my mother’s birthday)
01/17/85: Megan was born @ 11:02AM!
12/07/85: Moved into our second house that we bought from my dad
01/31/87: Found out that I was pregnant with Mallory! (my dad’s birthday)
10/03/87: Mallory was born @ 6:52AM!
02/22/92: Moved into the house that we built which we still call home!
05/??/05: Michael graduated from Washington and Jefferson College!
12/??/06: Megan graduated from PITT in Oakland!
12/19/09: Mallory graduated from Penn State in State College!
01/12/09: Ralph was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.
06/11/09: Ralph received a successful stem-cell transplant.
03/29/10: We will celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary!
04/01/10: Megan became engaged to Nathan Boxx.
11/13/10: Megan and Nathan were married @ I.C.; reception @ Willow Room.

As I reflect, I know that there were good and bad times; some years were more financially sound than others; we have been faced with sickness and appreciated health; and will be together until death do us part. “Grow old with me, the best is yet to be!”

LONG WINTER...

Everything is going OK with Ralph. He is able to do a little snow shoveling, and his many doctor visits keep him occupied as well as monitor his health which seems to be good. His maintenance chemo can make him chatty and lack filtering...I pray for patience and forgiveness, when I do not do well at tolerance. He still goes out of the house, daily. He can do about 1/3 of the work that he once did, because his bones ache and are weak, plus he needs to rest in between. Nonetheless, he still enjoys appraising and real estate. Ralph also manages to get to the TRINITY boys and girls basketball games.

EXHALE...

Goodness, I am guessing that this is the way our lives will be. We will hold our breaths and exhale after receiving results. Fortunately, answers are as prompt as possible. Ralph went to a renal specialist who did a sonogram of his bladder and kidneys...only to order an MRI, because he wanted a clearer picture of a spot on his kidney. After a little more than a week to get approved by insurance (He had already had 2 MRIs this year.), we have news that it is a cyst. PHEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! Today is a good day to CEleBRaTe LiFE! ENJoy!

One year ago...

January 12th is the day that our lives changed. Adversity brought about a lot of really positive things. We reconnected with old friends and family. We are awed and humbled by an outpouring of true concern and the desire to help by an entire community. Our nuclear family's bond strengthened. Issues and things that once mattered seem trivial. Our needs and wants are totally different. We relax. We appreciate staying at home. Sounds we once took for granted seem like music. We truly take our time to smell fragrances that were ignored. The seasons need to come and go more slowly. We no longer live for someday; rather, we enjoy now.

Ralph spends a lot of time at doctor visits and check-ups rather than at work. He also spends more time at home and with our children and me. We watch television together rather than in different rooms...we compromise. We are more considerate of one another. In the hustle and bustle of life, we had lost what is most important...we have found it again! In the back of our minds, there is a gray cloud, but for the most part, this year has been life altering and we have found peace. Praise the Lord!

2010

It was an emotional ringing in of 2010! Ralph was feeling the blessing of life and the fortune of celebrating a new year! I have been haunted, this holiday, with thoughts and feelings of the beginning of 2009. No, nothing and no one is taken for granted at our house. We talk to God a lot and give Him thanks. We are hoping for a healthy, safe, and peaceful new year for ourselves, our families, and our friends!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A little more than a year ago, we had no idea what our lives would be for the holidays 2009. Thanks to biochemists, modern medicine, intelligent researchers and doctors, prayers and more prayers, and the grace of God, we were able to spend a quality Christmas with our families, children, and friends! Tonight we will enjoy our traditional dinner at Angelo's with Jim and Sue and bring in another year! Tomorrow, we will celebrate at my brother's watching football and eating foods that are to bring good fortune! We feel blessed! We are grateful! We have learned to live moment to moment!

http://www.llerrah.com/newyearwishes.htm

We wish you peace within your heart, love from family and friends, and faith to guide your way!