25 YEARS...

Reason 1: She is my best friend. Wow...TWENTY FIVE YEARS! or Nine Thousand, One Hundred, Twenty-Five Days. How blessed we've been over the years. Side by side I have shared with my best friend Michelle some incredible experiences...what a ride so far. This fantastic journey officially began a beautiful late summer day September 9, 1983 in Santa Monica at the magnificent Los Angeles Temple and has kept going. We're taking a brief pause today to celebrate this fantastic journey.

A Few Snapshots Of The Last 25 Years With Michelle:
-Kneeling across the altar from the absolute most beautiful, radiant, gorgeous woman and being joined with her for eternity for the balance of my life. I was so excited and nervous that I attempted to say "yes" to the officiator at a pause before it was time for me to say "yes."
-I couldn't grab Michelle and leave for our honeymoon hotel fast enough after the grooms luncheon. We were the first ones to leave.
-Keeping my young wife alive and holding her hair many many times while she lost her meal bending over the toilet while she was sick with Ashley.
-Seeing my lovely wife holding that little miracle in her arms and nursing her as only a loving mother could.
-Looking at my first two daughters all dressed up perfectly for church with their hair in braids or buns or some sort of "do" and in matching outfits with their little white tights and shiny church shoes all ready for Sunday meetings.
-Witnessing Michelle give birth to our fourth child Alexandria who we thought was going to be a boy. She arrived as Michelle.s last masterpiece and we couldn't have been happier to have our fourth beautiful little girl, who little proud "Big Sister" Abby insisted was not a Daddy! (inside family joke)
-Wandering the streets of London England with my love Michelle, not knowing a soul but having only each other to rely on and share some wonderful memories for a few days before we hopped on a train to rejoin our friends in Scotland.
-Seeing Michelle put together delicious warm meals for cold hungry snowboarders at the (Tom Thorkelson) Big Bear cabin as they arrived back from the slopes. This crew usually included all my family along with three or four boy....friends of my two older daughters. Sometime other family friends.
-Watching my wife scrapbook for days in her night gown with one of her best friends (my cousin) Shawna Farnsworth only taking short breaks to make a meal for her neglected children and husband.
-Being with my beautiful wife and our four daughters while looking over the edge of the Haleakala Crater view point in their church clothes (after attending church at the Lahaina Ward) with the wind blowing their beautiful long hair everywhere. Michelle looked absolutely radiant that day in her floral patterned dress.
-While in the witness chair in the San Diego Temple Sealing room, basking in the indescribable peace, spirit and tenderness of the moment while seeing my eldest Ashley (who looked to me a beautiful princess out of a fairytale) marrying her handsome prince Jeremy, I stared across the room at the most radiant, beautiful, stately woman I had ever seen. It was hard for me to take my eyes off of Michelle and pay more attention to the ceremony as I was transfixed with this queenly vision as she looked on with dignified tears in her eyes witnessing her first born being married for time and all eternity to her prince.

I could go on and on as the memories come flooding back to me. These are just a small sampling.

I love you so much Michelle. I truly can't wait to get started on the next 25 years. They will no doubt be filled with good times and bad, but thank goodness the good times seem to dwarf the bad and are easily recalled. More weddings, grandchildren, baptisms, reunions, memorable vacations, graduations etc. await us. How exciting.

Eternally Yours,

Eric

REASON 2

Reason 2: Because she loves me, and she has shown her love to me in so many ways. She works very hard to do so many little things that please me. She tries to have a warm meal on the table when she knows I'm coming home. She tries to have the house tidied up now and then. Once in awhile I'll come home and she'll have a new t-shirt or neck tie sitting on my bed waiting for my approval. She's gotten very good at figuring out my tastes. She usually know when I need a warm hug to melt away the day's worries. It usually always works too. There are times when I go for a surf or spend a portion of the day watching a soccer match on tv rather than fix (which I am soooo good at) something around the house or spend time with her on an errand, and yet she's happy that I'm happy. Once in awhile that really motivates me to put her first no matter what. I know, I know....I should do that much more often. I know what I need to work on for the next 25 years of our marriage.

REASON 3

Reason 3: She is a great mother. This reason 3 may seem like a repeat of other reasons why I love her but it's not. I touched on her being smart which has served her children well. I have mentioned what a devoted scrapbooker she is for the family and in chronicling the children's lives. I have mentioned what an immense sacrifice it was for her to even bring these girls into this world. These all are a small part of her being a great mother, but there are so many other reasons she is.

I'm sure that our daughters will be the first to attest that Michelle is not a perfect mother, however they cannot at any point contest the fact that she has the absolute deepest love and devotion to each of them. Michelle has always put our children first and above her own concerns. She has always had their spiritual, physical, mental and emotional happiness and well being as first priority, no exceptions. I have never ever been concerned for my girls in regards to them being neglected by their mother because of her putting her own concerns or desires before them.

Thanks Honey. You are AWESOME!!!!!!!

REASON 4

Reason 4: Her Gorgeous Smile. Anyone that knows Michelle with any sort of depth has seen her let her hair down (which she doesn't do unless she's comfortable with someone) and flash that million dollar smile. Her beautiful lips, cheeks, dimples and eyes completely light up and brighten the entire room that she is in. I don't think she even realizes the power she possesses with this incredible "gift of happiness" that she bestows on those around her when she smiles. Pure nirvana is what I feel when she is in this smiling mood. Love you BABE!

REASON 5

Reason: Her Chicken Tortilla Soup. When I come home from tough day at work and catch that wonderful aroma wafting through the air, I am home and all will be alright.

REASON 6

Reason 6: Her great sense of humor. I mean....she married me right? Now this doesn't mean she has the same sense of humor that I do as I wish I had a dollar for every time I've gotten the rolled eye routine when trying to get a laugh. Generally Michelle can find humor in many things and I love her laugh. Once in awhile I've caught her laughing at herself from some silly predicament she found herself in. Very precious.

REASON 7

Reason 7: Her intense love and bond for and with her grandparents. The first family of Michelle's that I met the spring of 1983 was her grandfather Odell "Ted" Tedrow. Michelle's mom Melinda and her grandmother Grace were on a geneology trip to SLC and Grandpa Ted was holding down the fort. It was amazing and inspiring to watch Michelle's deep love and devotion to her "Pampa." It has also been one of the great blessings of my life to be a part of that special family relationship. I was readily accepted as Ted and Grace's grandson and some of our most treasured memories in the early years of our little family was hauling little Ashley and Arica on a plane or in a minivan all the way to El Paso Texas to visit the doting grandparents. The love and adoration that was heaped upon our little family on those visits will be an incredible memory in a very special place in my heart. I owe all that to my beautiful wife and devoted granddaughter.

Thanks Michelle, I love you and dedicate this Reason 7 to two of the most beautiful people I have ever known, Ted and Grace. Thanks for sharing them with me.

REASON 8

Reason 8: Her perfect "Brooke Shields" gorgeous eyebrows. I mean have you seen them? They are amazing and I honestly don't think she's ever done anything to them...ever. Honey, Brooke Shields has nothing on you. I love you girl!