Today, in my family, is a day worth celebrating.

Today my parents have been married for forty years.

When John, Jacob, and I celebrated with them a few weeks ago, we gave them a gift that included some photos of then, now, and the days in between. It was my dad who noticed that they are standing in the same poses in this photo, taken when they were dating,

and this photo, taken on a vacation to Champagne, France earlier this year.

I love what these photos symbolize about their relationship. There have been ups, downs, and changes, some of which I may never know about. Yet what I saw was that no matter the circumstances, something stronger kept them standing side by side, every day.

The love between them blossomed into two other people (my brother and me). It’s a love that works together and laughs a lot. It’s a love that lives in their relationships with their friends, a love that is being passed down to their grandchildren.

When I was growing up, there was a little plaque in our kitchen that said, “Happiness is being married to your best friend.” I am blessed to be living that reality now, and I owe so much of it to the example I’ve had in them my whole life. I am looking forward to the day when I can say I’ve spent the majority of my life with my spouse.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for teaching me how to love by loving the very best you could. I love you, and I am so grateful to be your daughter.

Happy anniversary!