40 years ago today...

my parents were married. I look at this picture and think about how they had no idea what the future held. The plans God had for their lives unknown by them. They didn't yet know the ups and downs, the joy and pain they would encounter together. As they promised their lives to each other, they didn't know they would raise and love a boy and a girl. They didn't know they would have 3 grandchildren together and that Mom would go on to have 2 more within a year of Dad's death with another now on the way. They didn't know of the painful and too soon end of their lives together. I'm certain, though, that if they had the chance to go back, they'd change very little. I'm sure they'd still choose to love each other even for a shorter than desired time than to never have loved and lived together. My mom is so thankful to have loved and been loved by my dad. And I know how thankful he also was for her.

Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared 'neath the stars alone
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know I might have chanced it all

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance