Twenty-one years.

On Friday Robert and I celebrated our 21st anniversary. Wow, where does the time go?

I look at that picture now and think how shockingly blessed and wise that young and naive girl was to have married such a wonderful man. At that time she knew only that he was the nicest person she'd ever met and that she loved to spend time with him. She had NO idea that twenty-one years later he would still be the kindest, truest person she'd ever known, that he'd be a wonderful provider and the best father ever to their three children. It never occurred to her that the two of them might one day face challenges and that he would be her rock in the task of raising a child with special needs. She never paused to ponder that she had better be marrying someone heroically patient and disciplined because she could be quite moody and prone to indulging her own whims.

The girl didn't think consider any of this because her world had hitherto been pretty controlled and happy, and she had never thought very far past her sheltered little self. But fortunately, the girl's mother and God knew all of these things and more, and they made sure that she chose wisely.

And this girl is very grateful.