Happy Birthday, Sweetheart

Today my husband is actually older than me, by about 12 hours or so. I want to wish him a very happy birthday. We love to see the look on people's faces when we tell them we were born one day apart at the same hospital.

I am so lucky to have him as my eternal companion. He has been the source of so much happiness. He certainly makes my life easier and much more comfortable. He seems to always put me before himself or anything else. He treats me like the queen he deserves to have.

Let me indulge and tell our story here.

After graduating from high school, my two friends went to Logan to go to college and I went to Ogden. Jay Mark entered the farm mechanics program at USU where he met Garth. The three of them, (Jay, Joy, and Garth) became very good friends for the next 3 semesters. Jay and Joy married in April (I think) and Garth went on his mission in June. During the next fall they encouraged me to write a letter to this friend of theirs serving his mission in California. Not knowing what I was getting into, I step up to the dare and wrote him a letter. He responded with many questions, and I answered them. The writing had begun. For the rest of his mission we corresponded, not totally every week, but regularly.

In June 1977, the day before Father's Day, Garth returned from him mission. His parents had gone to California to pick him up and they drove him together. Garth called me and made arrangements for us to met on Father's Day. He left his father on the first Father's Day home from his mission! True love!

I still remember seeing him coming down the step to my apartment in Ogden. I was so nervous, but happy to finally be meeting him. I knew I loved him and he was very special, but I didn't know what was going to happen.

We drove to the temple grounds, and even went into the visitor's center and watched the Joseph Smith movie...our first date. I am sure he was reliving his mission and giving the discussion to the missionaries there! We walked around the temple grounds and enjoyed talking. After walking everywhere there was to walk we returned to my apartment, where I had a big strawberry pie waiting. It was the pie I am sure, that sealed our fate. During the evening he turned to me and asked, "What would you say if I asked you to marry me?" Did I look stupid? Did he really think I would jump up and "Yes! Yes! Yes!"? If I did, I was sure he would say something like, "Well, I didn't ask you yet! I was just wondering what you would say." And anyone who knows Garth wouldn't put that past him! Always the kidder. So, not wanting to put myself out to be put on the spot, I responded to his question with, "Why don't you ask me and find out?" So he did, and I said yes.

And that is how we got started. Not an e-mail or on-line dating, just snail mail and old-fashioned letter writing. We were married just 2 months later, and are still happily married after 31 years.

Garth, thank you for being such a wonderful husband and father. You are the center of our family. All your children look up to you as an example and a sweet, caring father expects them all to do their best. They all know you will be there for them when they need you. We all love you so much. Have a very happy birthday!