Sixteen Years Later

It seems just like yesterday that I was standing in nervous anticipation in front of a crowd of people, waiting for my bride to come gracefully down the stairs of the Overlander Lodge in that white dress. I decided that maybe it was time to update the log as Lanita has been asking me if I had done it yet. There is a few changes from a month ago. You may have heard that we did get Lanita up to the ski hill to view the slopes for the kids spring break but since that time, no more trips. They have hooked up a drug pump, etc., to make her comfortable and she stays mostly in a semi concious state with quick moments of alertness, every once in a while. She made the decision that icechips are the food of choice as food no longer tastes good and also, doesn't want to go down. I decided that a letter today would be nicer than some boughten card. I decided that it would be alright to share.
                A Little Piece of Canvas.
      My phone is ringing....I picture the pretty face on the other end, I answer, and a voice bubbles through the phone..."Good Morning! I Love You!" That was 16 years ago on our wedding morning, and it seems just like yesterday. I feel that I have been blessed in so many ways. God took two hearts and put them together but he also put our hands together to paint our picture on the canvas of life. Its been 16 years on this journey and alot has been been painted. I have always loved your smile and beautiful brown eyes, your love to travel, and your amazing ability to get things done. Sometimes though, it's hard to see the most beautiful work, the most masterful strokes of the brush, until you are made to step back and view things under a different light. I see clearly, that God in his mercy, didn't remove his hand from the brush when he joined our hands together. I want to thank you for what your faithfulness has done in helping me keep anchored. I never had to question whether we would be at a meeting, at home or abroad. Everyday I get to wake up and see in our 3 beautiful children, the love you poured into them, the time you spent teaching them, their love for the workers, and also in their taking their own steps in walking with God. Yes, it seem's that we've had more than enough challenges but I feel that it has caused me to understand that God wanted my heart to be a little larger, to learn to be a little more caring, to be a little more loving, to be a better man. He chose you to help me this way, and for this, I am thankful.I watch now as God finishes with the brushstrokes in your heart and I am reminded again.... It isn't the canvas of life that is important, as it is simply a canvas that gets rolled up, but the canvas of eternity, the most important one, it continues to unroll forever. Thank you again for showing me what canvas to paint on.... "I Love You" Eldon