40 and Counting

Greetings from Ruidoso, New Mexico, site of the 40th anniversary celebration of Judy and Jim Gerlt. We drove from Lubbock last evening and are enjoying the beauty of the area. We've also been doing a lot of reminiscing as we approach the actual anniversary day (August 22).
August 21, 1970. Rehearsal night at First Baptist Church, Sedalia, MO. Judy's dad officiated the ceremony. We had the rehearsal then went to the fellowship hall where my folks had arranged the rehearsal dinner. They basically provided the food from our own freezer, garden and pantry. (Not your typical rehearsal dinner of rubber chicken and cold peas.) My family was shy and retiring (not that you'd know it if you get my dad alone--he can talk the horns off a billy goat with the goat running at full speed.)Judy's father was gregarious. It would have been proper for my dad to say a few words--he was the host for the meal. Dad was too shy to speak. Judy's dad wasn't. He wanted to say "just a few words" and 25 minutes later, sat down amidst a thunderous ovation of snores. Oh well, he tried.
August 22, 1970. WEDDING DAY. Some of my friends spent the night with me at the farm. One had never been on a farm to speak of. So, we went riding around on dad's new 4020 John Deere tractor--what a machine. Yep, the morning of my wedding, I've got my posse rampaging the farm. Judy spent the morning with her friends preparing for the big event. And no bride has looked more beautiful than mine. My heart skipped a beat and my knees got weak when I saw her walking down the aisle. WHAT A MOMENT!!!!!! The ceremony went smoothly but it seemed like the reception would never end (probably the thought of most grooms). We honeymooned in an isolated cabin on Lake of the Ozarks, borrowed from my aunt and uncle.
August 22, 1971 Our first anniversary was celebrated at Elk Creek, MO. I was the pastor and we were having a week-long revival before school started back. Judy and I were staying with one of the families, so our celebration was public. She gave me a purple shirt with a white tie (our school colors) for our anniversary and I probably gave her grief. Actually, I don't remember what I gave her.
August 22, 1972 Fort Worth, Texas. We'd graduated college and had moved to Ft. Worth for seminary. Howard and Sharon Smith were married on August 22, 1969--were college friends--were at Southwestern Seminary--and celebrated our joint anniversaries at an Italian restaurant. We even had a private room.
August 22, 1973 Judy was pregnant with Angela and I was working long hours at Buddies Supermarket in Seminary South Shopping Center. She brought a sack lunch and we had dinner together in the break room of the grocery store (hey, call me romantic).
August 22, 1977 Burns Flat, Oklahoma. I was pastor of FBC, Burns Flat. Following evening worship, while friends baby sat Angela and Brigitte, Judy and I had a nice romantic meal at--a truck stop (about the only place to eat on a Sunday night around Burns Flat). As we ate and talked, Judy asked me how long I thought we'd be at Burns Flat. I expressed a total lack of clarity. Judy then said, "I think we'll be here a while." Her statement demonstrated that she is NOT a prophet. Within 2 weeks I got a call from Gary Lombard, representing the pulpit committee of Knob Hill Baptist Church in OKC. I became pastor of Knob Hill the first Sunday in October of '77.
August 22, 1979 The Baptist churches of Southwest OKC were participating in an area-wide evangelistic event called "Southside Crusade." I had responsibilities, so we had and early dinner, then I went to the crusade while Judy took care of our 3 children.
August 22, 1980 Our tenth anniversary. This year I was the chairman of the southside crusade and in charge. At least I recognized Judy during the evening crusade and acknowledged it was our 10th anniversary. (What a guy!)

I think/hope I've done a little better these past 30 anniversaries than I did during the first 10. It's a miracle Judy has stuck with me these 40 years, but I'm so glad she did.

August 21, 2009 We received the news that Judy had cancer. Oh my goodness! She'd had a biopsy on August 19 and we were not expecting the news that she had cancer. Our 39th anniversary was a little different, a bittersweet day. We knew the prognosis was good but there's always the possibility that...well, you know. So, for the next 4 months we lived through 2 surgeries and a month of radiation at M.D. Anderson in Houston. We spent a lot of time apart, but it was worth it. Today, Judy is cancer free and we're trusting she will stay that way.
Which brings me to anniversary number 40. A romantic get away (finally, after 40 years) in beautiful Ruidoso with no pressure and only enjoying each other. Thank you, Jesus, for bringing us together. Thank you Judy, for enduring some rotten anniversaries to get to this one.