Today is "date day" for Lyn & me. (The "GFFL" in the title = "Girlfriend for life!!") We are going up to beautiful downtown Burbank for the taping of tomorrow's ELLEN show. (We went with Kristi in February, but only made it to the Riff-Raff Room. Today we have guaranteed seats.)
Anyway, I was planning to do my own little Blog Tribute to my wonderful wife on our 36th anniversary (June 16), but since my fellow bloggers keep writing about their wonderful husbands and wives, I knew I couldn't wait until June. Especially since I have the best spouse on the planet. The delay just wouldn't exactly be fair to her, would it? The fact that she has no idea I'm doing this on such a random day is all the more fun.
Today isn't our first "Date Day" of course. When we were first married, we lived in Melbourne, FL, and took advantage of every opportunity to slip over to Walt Disney World. (It opened in October of '71; we married in June of '72.) One of those Disney Date Days found us at King Stephan's Court in the Cinderella Castle. THIS summer our whole gang will be eating there together. TOO much fun!
At King Stephan's Court - circa 1973
Lyn has always been a tireless, selfless woman. My dad used to love to tease her about never sitting down for more than 30 seconds. She always made the battery bunny look like a wimp. Every Christmas at our first ministry (Eau Gallie Christian in Melbourne), Lyn & I would present a concert of vocal, piano, and organ music on the Sunday afternoon before Christmas. We would follow the concert with an open house at our home. Of course, Lyn baked and cooked everything that the crowds consumed.
Lyn on the afternoon of one of
our Christmas Open Houses
While we were at Melbourne, we got the wonderful news that Kristi was on the way! She took her jolly good time getting started, I gotta tell you. (Let's just say, we are thankful she's not part of a set of quad- or quintuplets!) When Lyn was 8 months pregnant, we moved to Knoxville, Tennessee where I began my teaching career at Johnson Bible College.
The happy "children" at their
farewell party at Eau Gallie Christian
We loved being at Johnson. Kristi and Jennifer were both born there. Lyn was always such a sacrificial, devoted mother. We didn't have the luxury of being near grandparents, so the "Date Days" back then were few and far between. In fact, other than their time in childcare when Lyn worked, the girls were almost never left with a baby-sitter. We just never left them with other people. Lyn just wanted to be with her girls. In the picture below, note two things: Lyn with short hair and us at the zoo. Kristi has passed on her love for animals to her own girls.
With Kristi at the Knoxville Zoo on
a hot Tennessee summer's day
Here's the Lyn we all recognize more quickly--with that long, beautiful blonde hair of hers. Not sure what the occasion was, but everyone certainly looks happy, huh? I think Jennifer looks so much like Lexi here! Kristi is thinking, "I LOVE my dress! I LOVE my dress!" :) [Well, WE did!]
The picture below is with Lyn's grandfather, Roy Reid, who passed away 10 days short of his 100th birthday. (As you may recall, her maternal grandmother recently passed--just 5 months short of HER 100th. Good genes here!)
Love this picture! Lyn is beautiful, Kristi is
SO Haley. I imagine Emily will look like
Jennifer here in a few months.
Fast forward to California. (I didn't have any pictures on my computer of our Louisville years. Wamp Wamp!) Moving to the Golden State was totally my idea. I always wanted to live here. I know it was not Lyn's life goal. It most certainly was not in Kristi and Jennifer's plans. Yet Lyn was ALWAYS supportive of my desire to teach at PCC. Even if it meant a cut in pay, paying rent (after finally owning a beautiful home of our own), commuting our daughter over 2 hours a day to OCHSA, and being 3,000 miles away from family and friends). Darn! I'm such a J-E-R-K!!
One of my favorite "current" pics of Lyn.
At the Ballaggio "Conservatory" in Vegas
Thank you, Lyn, for being the greatest wife, girl friend, companion, and co-minister a man could ever ask for. I'm looking forward to our Date Day! Even if Ellen's show is probably going to be B-O-R-I-N-G when it airs tomorrow!!!
Christmas at Five Crowns 5 years ago.
Yes, I've gained weight and need to
lose 20 pounds (at least). But this
is about Lyn!
9 comments:
What a sweet husband you are!!! And you're right...she is the greatest!!! Love ya Lyn!
very sweet post. you are both a good looking couple but she's a hot one! i love how you still call her your girlfriend... there is something fresh about that phrase. enjoy your time together at Ellen!
Ok, so looking at Lyn I saw Jennifer in one picture and than Kristi in another. Don, you are pretty lucky to be surrounded by such beautiful ladies.
What a loving post. I consider it a privilege to know the West Cost Sewells. (And their descending branches the Templetons and Johnsons.)
I am sure mom is sobbing by now. Man, is she hot or what???!!!! She is not only a wonderful wife, but an amazing mother. Love you Mom!!!
very sweet---I agree with Sarah. The picture with mom in the red dress, making some silly face reminded me of me and then the picture below it with mom pregnant---looks like Kristi. Not that Kristi looks pregnant--just the look she is giving the camera. Thanks for writing that about mom---she is certainly deserving of such kind words!
Thank you, Don, for all the sweet things you said in this blog. As you all surmised, tears ran down my cheeks the whole time I was reading it. I loved the sentiment, and I loved the pictures. So many wonderful memories. And thanks to everyone else for your sweet comments. You're the best!!
P.S. Date Day was a blast!
Lyn is gorgeous - you guys are such a great couple. the pic where Lyn is wearing the red dress, she looks EXACTLY like jen!
Jen and then Heidi said exactly what I was going to say--the picture in the red dress looks EXACTLY like Jen! Amazing! What a wonderfully sweet post! You guys are a great couple...
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