I love this pic of Gpa! (October 2008)
The happily married couple of 61 years now!On early Monday morning, Gpa was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Turning 89 next week, life seems so short and it's caused me to reflect on all the wonderful memories I've had with my grandparents. I don't think words can really explain to anyone who doesn't know them. Maybe telling you that we have lunch at their house every Sunday after meeting, will help you see how active they are in their old age!!!
As kids, we spent every summer with them at the lake and cabin at Buffalo Pound by Moose Jaw, SK. That meant having my birthday there most years with Gpa always making a popcorn cake! It meant usually going to Aylesbury Convention with Gma every summer too. They have truely spoiled us growing up, and now our kids are the receipiants of that generosity! The kids are crushed when they can't see Gpa and Gma with the RED door!
Last night in our Bible study we had a verse from Joshua where the people had to make a choice whether or not they would serve God. The words... "As for me and my house, we will serve God." So thankful that Gma made that stand throughout her life... now her kids, grandkids and great kids are making that same stand.
Anyways... this is a long post and I coudl go on and on... thought I'd include the speech I wrote and gave for their 60th wedding anniversary back in the Fall of 2008.
***********************************************************************************
Well, here we are… the day has finally arrived! Gma’s been talking about this party for over a year now, we’re glad that we’ve all made it and can help gpa and gma celebrate this truly momentous occasion.
I was thinking of marriage… 60 years is sure a long time. Glen and I have been married 8 years and sometimes that feels like 60 !!!! I think with Gpa and Gma that their 60 years have probably only felt like 8!
I wondered what the ‘gift’ was for 60 years. Every little milestone in marriage is associated with a certain gift. 1st anniversary is paper… 5th wood… by the 15th it has a bit more value with crystal. But 60??? Well it’s the Diamond.
So it caused me to think of why would the diamond be chosen for 60 years. What qualities does the diamond have that could relate to 60 years of marriage.
I did some research.
When jewellers look at diamonds they look for the 4 C’s.
The cut: a diamond can be cut in many different ways… so I thought of life’s experiences and how they cut us and shape us… we don’t want to allow those experiences to cause us to be chipped or to hold grudges. Experience comes and they cut in qualities such as humility, selflessness, love, compassion, understanding, empathy… Gpa and Gma have been through many experiences that could’ve cut them the wrong way, but after 60 years… I think the cut is about perfect with many remarkable qualities.
Then there’s colour: it determines the price of the diamond. Intensely coloured diamonds are very rare, and are also very attractive and desirable. Reminded me of Gold and how it’s tried in the fire to remove the impurities. Life’s experiences… there are many in 60 years, try us, and make us shine brightly. Gpa and Gma are intensely coloured diamonds. Invaluable infact.
The 3rd C is for Clarity: Clarity is also sometimes called purity. Purifying is a process that isn’t easy. In purifying water there’s a settling that has to take place. In purifying gold, there’s the heat of the fire. In 60 years there’s been experiences that have settled and there’s been the fire, but it’s clarified the love that gpa and gma have for one another and for their family.
The final C is the Carat Weight: Carat weight is not a factor which denotes diamond quality. It purely denotes the size of a diamond, by its weight. Obviously it also affects the value or price of a diamond, because consumers tend to prefer bigger rather than smaller diamonds. Large diamonds are also rarer than small diamonds. Because there is higher demand and lower supply for large diamonds, they command higher prices. The value of Gma and Gpa’s marriage of 60 years. How weighty is that? Can’t put a price tag on that… especially in today’s society where people don’t even seem to try to make their marriage’s work. Gpa and Gma have tried and succeeded over 60 years. That’s a weighty matter.
(60 years…) Reminds me a quote from a member of the royal family when speaking at the Queen’s 60th wedding anniversary…
“The years stacked up and as their weight increased, they pressed the stone of time to diamond -- immortal, mortal, in its brilliant strength.”
There are many stories we could share… memories that will be with us as long as we have a memory… But there’s no time for such reminiscing… we just want to say thank you. Thanks for sticking it out and for sticking together. You’re both like intensely coloured, pure, perfectly cut, weighty diamonds to us.
I was thinking of marriage… 60 years is sure a long time. Glen and I have been married 8 years and sometimes that feels like 60 !!!! I think with Gpa and Gma that their 60 years have probably only felt like 8!
I wondered what the ‘gift’ was for 60 years. Every little milestone in marriage is associated with a certain gift. 1st anniversary is paper… 5th wood… by the 15th it has a bit more value with crystal. But 60??? Well it’s the Diamond.
So it caused me to think of why would the diamond be chosen for 60 years. What qualities does the diamond have that could relate to 60 years of marriage.
I did some research.
When jewellers look at diamonds they look for the 4 C’s.
The cut: a diamond can be cut in many different ways… so I thought of life’s experiences and how they cut us and shape us… we don’t want to allow those experiences to cause us to be chipped or to hold grudges. Experience comes and they cut in qualities such as humility, selflessness, love, compassion, understanding, empathy… Gpa and Gma have been through many experiences that could’ve cut them the wrong way, but after 60 years… I think the cut is about perfect with many remarkable qualities.
Then there’s colour: it determines the price of the diamond. Intensely coloured diamonds are very rare, and are also very attractive and desirable. Reminded me of Gold and how it’s tried in the fire to remove the impurities. Life’s experiences… there are many in 60 years, try us, and make us shine brightly. Gpa and Gma are intensely coloured diamonds. Invaluable infact.
The 3rd C is for Clarity: Clarity is also sometimes called purity. Purifying is a process that isn’t easy. In purifying water there’s a settling that has to take place. In purifying gold, there’s the heat of the fire. In 60 years there’s been experiences that have settled and there’s been the fire, but it’s clarified the love that gpa and gma have for one another and for their family.
The final C is the Carat Weight: Carat weight is not a factor which denotes diamond quality. It purely denotes the size of a diamond, by its weight. Obviously it also affects the value or price of a diamond, because consumers tend to prefer bigger rather than smaller diamonds. Large diamonds are also rarer than small diamonds. Because there is higher demand and lower supply for large diamonds, they command higher prices. The value of Gma and Gpa’s marriage of 60 years. How weighty is that? Can’t put a price tag on that… especially in today’s society where people don’t even seem to try to make their marriage’s work. Gpa and Gma have tried and succeeded over 60 years. That’s a weighty matter.
(60 years…) Reminds me a quote from a member of the royal family when speaking at the Queen’s 60th wedding anniversary…
“The years stacked up and as their weight increased, they pressed the stone of time to diamond -- immortal, mortal, in its brilliant strength.”
There are many stories we could share… memories that will be with us as long as we have a memory… But there’s no time for such reminiscing… we just want to say thank you. Thanks for sticking it out and for sticking together. You’re both like intensely coloured, pure, perfectly cut, weighty diamonds to us.
2 comments:
Yes...they are a very special couple and have been wonderful grandparents to you all.
Beautiful tribute to your Grandparents Jessica.
Post a Comment