MY SWEETHEART!

I wanted to share this a couple weeks ago, however, no computer for a couple of weeks made it a challenge to keep up with my blog...so I'm sharing today....which seems apropos.

When my father died last year we planted a cherry tree in his name on the back hill, (his favorite cherry pie was the inspiration).  
After the kids moved out of the cabin and dismantled the entire back hill from fencing, years of run down gardens, eleven ducks and all that that implies... it was a mess, it just sat with piles of rubbish, pots and dead things, poles stuck out of the ground and when my mother moved out, no one ventured to the back hillside anymore...except me to water the cherry tree and say hello to my father.  

Finally, forlorn by the fact that it felt like I abandoned my father,  I asked Ray to help me relocate the cherry tree to the front of the house where I could see it daily.  THIS made all the difference in the world.  My father's tree is planted next to the brick walkway into our courtyard and his garden bench sits facing out across our yard and looks out into the forest revine.  It was a good choice.

Fast forward to now.

When Ray and I were driving home from the jewelers house where we were discussing the design of my engagement ring, this was our conversation, (more or less).

"I talked to your dad today."
"You did?"
"Yea, I sat out under the cherry tree and talked to him."
"Really? That's nice."
 "Yea, I just sat there for a while, it was sad thinking about him, but then I asked his permission to marry you.  I wanted to get his blessing."
"You did?" (tears choking my response), "You know that if my dad were alive, that is precisely what he would expect from you."
"I know, that's why I thought I should talk to him.  It made me sad, I got teary, but I knew I had to do it.   "
"What did he say?"
"He said yes."

And by this point we were both crying....

This is the man I am going to marry.  My first marriage ever, my first wedding ever, at my ripe old age of 57.

He's the one dad, it just took a lifetime to find him.   And how I wish you were here to witness this day.

One of the last things my father ever said to me was this.

"He's a really good man daughter.  I'm really happy for you.  The kids will turn around in time, just be happy, that's all I want for you.   I think you've made a good choice here."

And today, Valentines day,  I walked down to my desk and I found this.   It's a box he made to house the red brick ocean formed heart we found walking down the beach one day.  It was lying in the foamy waves with some broken up red clay surrounding it...we were amazed the water created this shape.  This is the nature of our love....hope your sweetheart is as good to you as mine is to me.

look how well this is made!  he's unbelievable!

Enjoy your world of discovery and love...xoxo juners