An excerpt from today's journal entry:

30 years ago this morning I said "yes" to a question that would forever change the course of my life. I said "yes" to Tom's marriage proposal! How grateful I am that God answered the cry of my heart with a godly husband. He has grown into a man that continually amazes me with his love and unselfish ways. I am blessed to be called by his name, a blessing I don't deserve.

This video is set to the song "The Homecoming", by Hagood Hardy. It was playing in the jukebox at the small diner where we had breakfast on Saturday, September 16, 1978. From there Tom took me to Kraft Azalea Gardens in Winter Park where we sat on a dock overlooking the glassy lake. We talked and laughed and then, to my utter amazement, he proposed to me!

This morning Tom and I left the house before sunrise to enjoy breakfast at a small diner once again to reminisce on that day 30 years ago and all that God has done. As I left the Winter Park Diner the full moon was setting in the clear, blue western sky. At the same time the morning sun was glowing red from the east. How fitting! We can look back on 3 decades of God's faithfulness, kindness and love, but we're only halfway -- should the Lord tarry and bless us with long life. The past is as full as the moon of stories worth telling, where God has led us and guided us every step of the way. And the future is even brighter as we look forward to the fullness and joy to be discovered in the next 30 years. What stories are yet to be written in the journals I will fill? What difficulties will we face that will draw our hearts closer to each other and to our God?

Thank you, Lord, for the past, the present and the future. For there You are and there You will be until we are called home to the place where you will welcome us with the grandest of all homecomings. For 2,000 years You have been at work planning for That Day when we will behold You in all Your glory!

May I never cease to thank You and glorify You with every breath.

Tom, if I had it to do all over again, I would still say, "YES"! I love you more than I ever dreamed was possible. Thank you for the way you have led me and our family.