I Will Remember

On January 23rd Steve and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. We didn't do anything special like go on a trip or out to eat--I think we were both okay with that because of our trip to Hawaii last January. But, my husband who doesn't typically call me throughout the day, called me several times to tell me "I do", or "I still do." Instead of taking a trip anywhere to celebrate our years of marriage, I have been taking a trip down memory lane. I pulled out our wedding album and remembered some of the thoughts and feelings of the day. We made some serious vows that day, and we both take them quite seriously. We are remembering our vows. We will also remember to laugh and take pleasure in life. I am remembering my dear friends. As I look at the pictures of my bridesmaids, I am so thankful that they are still my very dear friends. Time has not changed that. This is Marcia Koch. When we got married, she was Steve's little sister. She is the hub of family gatherings, making things happen. She is devoted, conscientious, creative, compassionate, caring, trustworthy, a great listener and advisor. My very good friend and my sister. This is Sue Gasser. She was my friend before I was Steve's wife. She too has an incredible strength of character. We all will be forever grateful for the Gassers' hospitality at Thanksgiving and for starting the tradition of a Stieglitz Family Weekend each summer. Sue welcomed me into her heart and home soon after I moved to Leo and we became fast friends: sharing a love for the Lord, music and her brother.

This is Brenda Wieland, who was my maid of honor (expecting Daisha at the time--my little flower girl :-) ) Proverbs speaks of a friend that sticks closer than a brother/sister. That is my Brenda Joy. I named my daughter Whitney Joy after her. She is loyal as the day is long, constant and caring. Wisdom and counsel exudes from her. Her passion for the Lord and all things spiritual is evident to all who are blessed with the opportunity to listen. Steve's cousin and friend Lynn Stieglitz was his best man. When Steve was looking through these pictures he said, "He looks so innocent!" The responsibilities of life, business, family, and church all take their toll. We are remembering the commitment of friendship and leadership that Lynn has given us over the years. We are thankful for many things that are the fruits of his labors, one of them being the children that he and Leonda have raised. They are friends to our children, but to me also. Cathy Wieland and I still enjoy a brisk walk together on occasion, lunch together or a heart to heart talk at a Wieland gathering. We encourage each other in parenting, wifehood, taking care of ourself, or other things that just have to be tended to among friends. We met in Bay City as teenagers. She unconsciously nudged me along in publicly acknowledging my repentance and walk with the Lord. Years later we found ourself both in the Grabill area raising our children and homeschooling. God is good to give me lifelong friends that I can get together with, even if it isn't real often.. I am blessed. Evie Blunier-Mogler is my roommate from Japan. We learned, laughed, cried, taught and ministered together. Another great encourager and mentor in my life who I treasure. It is so fun when a friend marries a friend. Steve has memories with Randy as single brothers too. Carla Fritz and I might find ourselves sitting down together at church lunch, teaching our kids together at Unit Study, going through a Beth Moore Bible study together and numerous other activities that friends who attend the same church avail themselves of. What different character traits can I use to describe Carla that I haven't already used on my other friends? Why should they be any different. Steve and I like loyal, wise, diligent, and interesting people!!! Carla and Steve were friends in high school. By the grace of God, we are friends by a turn of events that would typically separate people, not bring them together. Another friend who married a friend. Brother Dave Bertsch was very happy to unite us in marriage. We also remember the part that Roy Wieland had in our service and Willis Ehnle's morning service. It was also just as much fun to look at pictures of the crowd at our wedding as it was to look at pictures of us. We remember the people who came to support us and celebrate with us. We remember the craziness of trying to take off for our honeymoon. Those Bollier boys look like a couple of gangsters, don't they? They hijacked the bride. That little Bollier boy is Andy. Why do you suppose he is there? He is learning from his uncles how to cause a friend who takes a lot of pride in his nice car a lot of stress! We're finally ready to take off. The first stop was the car wash! The vows were said, the marriage license signed, the bride returned to her groom, the rice thrown....we are remembering that we will live happily ever after, by God's grace.