Missing Mark

Mark has now completed the first two full days of his week-long educator's conference back east. He's in Virginia now, but will also be going to Pennsylvania, Maryland, and other places as well. He's been touring lots of Civil War sites, going to lots of museums, and meeting lots of fellow teachers from all over the country. And I miss him SO much. He is such a GOOD man. The picture below was taken in the summer of 1971, in my parents' front yard in Santa Barbara. Do you think our kids look anything like us? Who could have predicted on that very day that the ensuing years would include 35 years of marriage (and counting!), five precious children (and three dear "in-law" children), and a love for each other that grows ever more precious with each passing day.

If you read our blog regularly, you might remember that I greatly admire the writing of Ruth Bell Graham, late wife of the Rev. Billy Graham. One of her poems has really resonated with me this week, as I miss my dear sweet husband. She wrote this poem in the form of a prayer, before she married Billy, and her words inspire me:

Dear God, I prayed, all unafraid
(as we're inclined to do),
I do not need a handsome man
but let him be like You;
I do not need one big and strong
nor yet so very tall,
nor need he be some genius,
or wealthy, Lord, at all;
but let his head be high, dear God,
and let his eye be clear,
his shoulders straight, whate'er his state,
whate'er his earthly sphere;
and let his face have character,
a ruggedness of soul,
and let his whole life show, dear God,
a singleness of goal;
then when he comes
(as he will come)
with quiet eyes aglow,
I'll understand that he's the man
I prayed for long ago.

I love you, Mark! Can't wait until you come back home.