I dug around in my pictures and came up with a few that I thought you'd enjoy.

A copy of the first record of your census count.

The love of your life.

All nine of your grandsons.

And another of you and dad.

I hope when you count your blessings on this day you won't be able to finish the job!

If I had to say what interests Justin the most, I would have to say that he's interested in anything that moves or can be moved. If it can be explored, taken apart, built, studied, rode, shot, cut, hammered, blown up or caught, he's probably interested in it.

Even though Justin has many hobbies, fishing is one of his passions. I've spent many hours untangling lines and just waiting while he angled for the next big one (and caught many small ones in the process).

He's waged war against the squirrels that inhabit our property and

taken great pleasure in dissecting his prey.

He's tried his hand at backyard blacksmithing

and wood carving while on a field trip.

When he had to have surgery on his feet, he spent a lot of time with our cat, but he couldn't wait to get back on his feet after each procedure had him laid up for six weeks at a time.

Whatever he's doing, he's usually doing it with a song and a loud one at that.

Whether he's investigating something or quietly writing a new story, Justin is one treasured son.

We celebrated our twenty-second anniversary today. Yes, we went two different directions throughout the day, but I had some time today to reflect on the years that we've shared together.

We've lived in four different homes in three different states.

We've had two paper pregnancies and adopted three handsome sons.

We've traveled to 48 states with our boys.

We've had five out-patient surgical procedures between the two of us.

After replacing three transmissions during our first year of marriage, we now drive vehicles that don't let us sit.

We've traveled to New Mexico and Pennsylvania more times that I can count.

We've visited world class exhibits in museums learning about things that we had only seen in books.

As much as we love the exciting stuff, there are little things that we love and that help to keep our love strong.

Like the Saturday mornings when we send the boys outside and we sit at the kitchen table after breakfast and talk for an hour or more

Or the evenings when we talk until way late.

Or the text messages that zip back and forth.

Or the times when one of the boys comments on a kiss and we kiss again just for his sake.

Or the box of chocolate that shows up unexpectedly.

Big and little, exciting and mundane, expensive or economical. I'd do it all over again.