I took these photos this morning
before my parents left to go back home.
********
They have been married for 32 years and now have
an empty nest. . . .they both love
the Lord, their children, and each
other very much.
They both work full time, so when they
aren’t working, they spend all the time
they can, being together.
My mom makes my Dad homemade chocolate pudding.
When it’s ready, she pours it into 1-cup canning
jars and screws on the lid. She makes about 6 at a time.
He loves it. You should hear the racket
he makes, trying to get every last drop.
He calls her “Lovebird” or “Lovie”. He adores her.
They like to be outside on the weekends. They garden together,
work on house projects together, go for jogs together, and also target practice.
When Dad has his camera, Mom points out pictures for him to take.
They would rather be together than with anyone else in the world.
They don’t act the same if the other one isn’t near.
When I go home for a visit, I find their little love notes around the house.
They drink coffee together in the living room or on the porch.
They like making nice pasta dishes for lunch or dinner.
They raised 5 children: two girls and three boys.
They have 8 grandchildren, and my sister is expecting the ninth in February.
They delight in going on adventures together–traveling, walking, making memories.
My mom said, “Sometimes I miss those days with you kids at home. But, I love
it now. I love being home with your Dad, we enjoy
spending time with each other.”
Sometimes they get each other laughing so hard. That’s the time I love the most.
There is a happy, blissful feeling inside me when I see my parents laugh together.
It makes the little girl in me feel warm and secure.
Good to be Home 
they are beautiful. and so is the way you honor them and cherish them!
How beautiful! You are blessed beyond measure! I pray I can be that for my grown children. Thanks.
Just Beautiful 🙂
What a special gift your parents have given you ..I wish my marriage was like that
What a wonderful tribute to your Mom and Dad!
Parents who love each other are truly a blessing!
Awww… How sweet. Wasn’t it wonderful to grow up seeing that? What a great way to prepare their children for wonderful marriages and for what to look for in a mate! That’s what we all pray we have with our spouses.
That is a beautiful testament to what God can do with our lives when we live one another like we’re supposed to. Thanks for sharing! Love the picture of you all together!!
Shari
What precious parents you have! I’m praying all of that for my parents!
Your parents look adorable together. Handsome and very precious couple, from your description.Much of your post reminded me of my own parents, who are also inseparable. Aren’t we soooo blessed to have parents that love the Lord, eachother, and us so much?
You’re blessed!
These pictures are treasures just like your sweet parents.
What a sweet tribute ~ how blessed it is to have good parents ~
How wonderful to have such happy parents — and for you to have such a good relationship with them. Your children will also cherish you as you cherish your parents.
Love this post…
That is awesome.
Aww, this is so sweet. 🙂
Shanda, what a great post. I have a magnet on my fridge that says “One of the greatest love parents can give their children is to love eachother deeply” (or something very close to that) Isn’t it a blessing to have your parents be so in love? I am also blessed with that joy, that security of knowing my parents are one together, and with the Lord.
the combination of those precious pictures of your parents and the lovely violin music in the background almost made me cry.Seeing the love that your parents still have for each other is awesome. I should know. My parents have been married for 28 years, and they now have an empty nest. My daddy calls my mommy “beloved”…it makes me have warm fuzzies when I hear that…Having God-loving parents is the best thing in the world…and I feel so luck y to have had the parents that I have…
This post brought tears to my eyes. The love your parents had was always evident over the years and it is so great that their children had something great to model after. Such great photo’s you took Shan! I can’t wait to put one in a frame and hang it on my wall. I hope you have a great week! Love, Lish
Can you imagine how different the world would be if everyone had parents who love the Lord and each other? You made me miss my parents.
That was a beautiful post, and the love they feel for one another is evident and clearly seen. . .so precious. It also makes my heart ache however, for what I don’t have because my parents divorced after 22 years of marriage when I was only 17 years old. It was devastating, one of those life-changing events you hope you’ll never experience. Somehow God pulled us through those years and brought joy, singing and dancing back into their separate lives, BUT it’s not the same. I often think on it now, how wonderful it would be to have them visit together, loving one another, cherishing these empty-nest years together. . .it makes me sad. And yet all the more determined to love, cherish and adore my awesome husband so that when we are on our own again I can make him his favorite desserts and we can whisper sweet nothings in each others’ ears to the the delight of our adult children. . .:)
What a great post you did to your parents. I’m glad you had a good visit with them. They look so happy. The one of the 3 of you is really good. I guess you get your love for photography from your Dad:)
Shanda-what a blessing it is to have parents who adore each other and love to overflowing. My mom too misses us girls, but she has enjoyed so much being with my dad and sharing her days with only him. There is a time and season for all things. Your parents seem so in love and happy with one another. That is just as it should be. I got your letter by the way! I will be writing back soon. It’s raining here today, I thought of you.
What a SWEET relationship, I am SO looking forward to growing old with my husband like that.
What a sweet post. We so enjoyed our “empty nest” years – as well as the full nest ones!! But now he is in heaven enjoying even more! He used to tell couples “The greatest thing you can give your child is to love your wife”. True.
What a sweet and touching post. Their love for the Lord and life shows in you as well! I love the 3rd picture ~ it made me smile too. 🙂 Thanks for the anniversary wishes. We had a great day together. God is good.
This post made me cry! A happy, good, sweet cry that is. Thank you so much! I loved these pictures (then again, when don’t I love the pictures posted?) But these were such a blessing to me and a challenge as well!!! I looked at these and read what you wrote and said, “That is what I want!” and “This is what I want my children to feel and be able to write someday when they are older!” Thank you for sharing!
There is no more wonderful gift to give ones children than a happy marriage. What a beautiful couple. How the world longs for that kind of life and love and relationship. Lovely post Shanda. Love and blessings, m in SC
They are a beautiful testament to what a marriage should be. I can only hope to have such a legacy for my children to say of us and to give God the glory for when Phil and I have been married 30 years.
I can see why you wanted me to not miss this one. I have long admired your stories of your parents, I am sure it is a source of security for you! They have a rare friendship, and set a high example for those around them!