40 years later...

40 years later and this is all of our family (Neil & I). Neil's mom is on the far left. There are 25 of us all together! Whooppee! We have 11 grandchildren. This is how we celebrated our 40th anniversary! All our children and families came together for Christmas and we spent it at Neil's mom's home. What a blast!

Top row on wall left to right-QuintinWard, Tyler Gleed, Adelaide Newby & Brynnly Ward, Braxton Ward, Lauren Gleed

2nd Row-LaRue Newby, McKenna Gleed, Brooklynn Gleed, Matilda Newby, Zachary Ward,

3rd Row-Valdine Guptill (Neil's mom), Douglas & Ashley Guptill, Neil & Diana (Mom & Dad), Lisa & Jordan Newby, Angela & David Guptill, Julie & Bob Ward, Michelle & Chris Gleed
Chair-Kirsten Guptill

This is a recent picture of Neil at his cousin's daughter's wedding.

This was taken earlier this year.


This was taken at our wedding reception a few weeks after we were married, way back in the day, 40 years ago!

A lovely picture of this very young couple, 40 years ago!

A picture I took earlier this year for Valentines Day. Yes! I kept the wedding cake top piece! The decoupage plaque is of our wedding invitation. It was 'the thing to do' back then to decoupage your invitation.

As you can see, 40 years later, the cake top piece shows signs of wear. Ahh, so does the bride and groom! :o)

December 24, 1969 Neil and I were married in the Arizona Temple in Mesa, Arizona. I remember the day vividly! It was Christmas Eve and the weather was 75 degrees, sunny, clear and gorgeous! It didn't feel like Christmas! Neil was in the Air Force. He did his four year tour and in 1970 that ended and we moved up to Oregon to be near his family. He went to college and I worked.

We have 6 beautiful children. All, except Kirsten our special needs daughter, have married wonderful spouses and 3 of them have beautiful children. The other two have only been married just over a year. We're blessed to have Kirsten still with us. She turns '20' on April 2, 2010.

I don't know where those 40 years went! Some times it seems like it's been forever and other times I can hardly believe it's been 40 years! We are happily married and hope to make it to our golden anniversary, ten more years from now.

What have I learned over the past 40 years?

Gravity takes over, curves pull downward and are not as firm! Wrinkles come more often!

Marriage takes work, every day of your life!

You learn to compromise. Neil is my other half. We are not the boss over each other.

Being 'right' is dumb. Agree and move on!

Forgiveness is divine!

See the best in each other. That takes work!

Be a cheerleader for each other.

Be selfless, not self absorbed.

Never take each other for granted.

Somehow our personalities reversed! I am like he used to be. He is like I used to be. Hmm. That's a good thing.

Forgetfulness occurs. I sure wish our brains had 'instant reply' when I've lost something I'm looking for!

Our mountains have turned into molehills.

You spend far less time worrying over mundane things!

It's dumb to be mad and pouting, uses too much energy. Just move on!

I've learned to just wait until the final moment for events to occur, his mind changes often like a revolving door. Just stay tuned in because at the last minute things fall into place.

The garage is my husband's lair. I have right of passage...to go through it!

Live, love and laugh a lot!