Friday June 23 2017  LOOKING BACK

Forty Four years ago today Dave and I were married.  When I walked down that long aisle in a borrowed church I had no concept of how quickly 44 years would go by.  I am still the same person, but yet, so completely different.  Immaturity is only understood from a distant observation.  And when I look back from this distance I am utterly aghast at some of the things I did and said “way back when”.  And now, even though I am older and hopefully wiser, I often times still make big mistakes.

But, there is one thing I did in my life that was no mistake and that was to marry Dave.  Not even for one day have I ever regretted it.  To this day I truly believe it was only through God’s provision that I met and married the perfect man that God picked out for me.  Since he is a man he is not perfect, but for me, he was exactly who God designed just for me, so that made him perfect for me.

To celebrate 44 years we decided to make ourselves an adventure.  We headed out with no destination, no plans in mind except to stop by the AAA and pick up some maps so we would be able to find our way home.  Yes, we have GPS on our phones but it seems much more adventuresome to “map it out”.  And believe me, when you get out on the back roads of Wisconsin a map comes in handy.

We ended up in a little town on the edge of The Wisconsin River known as The Village of Prairie du SAC.  And the highlight of our day was our last stop at a mom and pop bakery named THE MIXING BOWL BAKERY.  All the food in the bakery is made from scratch and looked delicious.  And the highlight of going there was the soft serve ice cream made fresh daily.  Vanilla and chocolate were the only flavors offered.  I had a small taste of chocolate, and then an entire 8 ounce cup of the fresh vanilla.  OH MY GOODNESS!!!  It was ecstasy!  Funny, but 44 years ago I remember ecstasy as being something quite different than a scoop of vanilla soft serve!  THE MIXING BOWL BAKERY is already beckoning my return.

It was interesting when we entered the bakery to see several children scattered about.  The couple who owns and bakes everything themselves have 9 children under the ages of 11.  They are a beautiful family and the children were so wonderfully behaved.  I asked the baker mom if she home-schooled and she answered yes.  I had great pleasure in conversing with the children.  I was amazed to see how well they interacted with an adult and how candidly they spoke.  I was informed by the oldest that she was the “eldest” in the family and she also volunteered the information that four of her siblings shared the same birth date.  The eldest child (and self appointed spokes-person) informed me that there were two sets of twins, born two years apart on the exact same calendar date.  It appears that the children spend their day at the bakery.  It was actually quite a homey atmosphere.  I also believe they may have living quarters under the same roof toward the back of the building.  To say the least, it was an interesting set-up and they portrayed a beautiful model of a family working and thriving together.  I was impressed by how well behaved the children were.  Oh, I was also informed (by the eldest) that there were three babies already in heaven.  I must say, a busy mom (and a busy dad)!

ECSTASY WHAT A WONDERFUL WORD

Kathleen Martens

June 23, 2017

www.visionsofpoetry.com

Ecstasy!  What a wonderful word

For joy, happiness, and elation heard.

A cup of ice cream offers bliss

Like a Seventh Heaven or well lighted kiss.

OH the thrill of such a taste

As a bite of chocolate eaten in haste!

Such a pleasure of sweet excitement,

A once a year treat with such delightment!

A day of adventure ending sweet

As our 44^th anniversary we did meet.

About future we know not what’s in store.

As for anniversaries, we hope for 31 more!

Thank You God for these past 44 years.

Thank You God for all the time we have before us.

Thank You especially for our two children born from our love, one from our hearts and one from our seed.

Thank You for Your protection over our family these past 44 years.

Thank You God for the love that you have placed in mine and Dave’s hearts for each other these past 44 years and 8 months.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOD BLESS YOU.

P.S.

FUN FACTS!

We met October 28, 1972

We were engaged on Valentines day February 14 1973.

We dated long distance and had 23 actual days of being together during the eight months before our wedding.

Married June 23, 1973.

AND LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER (ESPECIALLY AFTER OUR KIDS LEFT HOME!)

And now, wouldn’t you know it, they can still interrupt us just as much with a few dozen texts as I try to write this blog!!!