The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear of God.(Prov. 31:30, MSG)

Today is Dina’s birthday. What a blessing she is to her family, friends, students and colleagues. The fruit of her life fills the world around her with beauty, care, fun, comfort and love. She is a gift from God and it is a joy to celebrate her today. 

Happy Birthday to the one I love with all my heart. —Ryan

“There are some upon this earth of yours,” returned the Spirit, “who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their goings on themselves, not us

 –The Ghost of Christmas Present,                    A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

I just came across this video and had to share it. 

Andrew Peterson is one of my favorites.

How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives. –Annie Dillard

My Dearest Dina, 

Look at us in this picture—just a couple of kids starting out on the adventure of life together.  Wow, I loved you lots then, but nothing compared to how much I love you now. We have shared some wonderful adventures together, and some tough ones too.  

The alchemy in it all is the word: together.

What a joy it is to live each day with you; to make memories together, to laugh together, to learn together, to pray together, and to love together.

Today is our 30th wedding anniversary. Thirty years have come and gone all too quickly, but I thank God for every single moment, because I have spent my days with you.

With all my love,

Ryan