That very special day I was preparing for by getting all those pictures in albums had arrived. It was the day of our 50th wedding anniversary, which was June 10, 2007, but celebrated June 28, 2007.
When I found that little Valentine card I was overcome with emotion. After looking at it a few minutes to make sure that what I was seeing was real, I went into Dale’s office to show him. Of course, neither of us remembered giving nor receiving that little card, but we both knew it was genuine. We hugged and kissed and emotional tears of joy spilled from our eyes as we realized our love for each other started at a very young age. Dale has always teased me by telling others, “She chased me until I caught her.” Perhaps this was the start of such teasing!
This day was very momentous for us in many ways. A few of our former Adventist pastor friends ended in divorce and/or giving up belief in God. We felt blessed that we still were married and we were so grateful for God’s grace to us. We continue to thank God for showing us the way of truth, for showing us that Jesus is our Sabbath rest, and it is Jesus, not a day, that is important.
I was thankful for Dale and his honesty and courage to be different and to stand for his convictions by not teaching the false doctrines of Adventism regardless of the consequences. I was thankful for his kindness and patience with me through the years. I was thankful for our two boys who were with us that day and thankful for their wives and our four grandchildren who were also present and enjoying the day with us.
I was thankful for my four sisters who were present and who helped with the work in preparing for our celebration. I was thankful for the many friends we have had through the years and for those who were present with us that day. I was thankful that the task of putting together all those books of pictures was finished and thankful for the enjoyment I could see the boys were having in sharing those family memories with their children. It was a good day, and we praised God for His goodness to us.
Divorce is a word we decided would never be part of our vocabulary. Yes, we have had our conflicts, however, our commitment is strong, and we have worked things out to an agreeable solution. Our love and feelings for each other are still strong. We try never to go to sleep with unresolved issues. We ask for forgiveness when necessary. We tell each other every day we love each other. We always kiss good night and say, “I love you,” before going to sleep. We enjoy each other’s company and have fun hiking, bicycling, gardening, and studying our Bibles together.
Through the years we have made many adjustments. I try to keep my shoes out of the path! Dale tries to keep his sink clean! Together we have each been able to accomplish things that neither of us could have done without the help and expertise of the other.
Dale and I renewed our vows that day, which were read to us by our sons, and we each read a tribute to each other. Our vows included loving each other; Bruce, Denise, Melissa and Leonard; and Mike, Sandy, Ericka and Kenny, for the next fifty years!
Dale’s tribute to Carolyn
Since I first met you, you have been esteemed in my eyes. The childhood attraction I had for you when I was in the fourth grade turned into love when we were in high school. Our mutual desire to serve God, my admiration of your trustworthy character, your high moral values, your compelling smile, our interest in the beauty of nature and the many fun times we had together led me to want you for my life partner. Yes, we followed counsel of our teachers when they told us we were getting too serious and did not date for many months. However, after I had a chance to evaluate a few other girls, I decided that no one else would do but you alone. After my first year in college we got married. That was 50 years ago, but I can still smell the limburger cheese my “best man” smeared on the manifold, the door handles, the hood release and the trunk latch of that 1950 Studebaker. We were young and broke, but we had each other and we were incredibly happy. Some years later our family expanded and Bruce and Mike enlarged the circumference of our love and the scope of our happiness. And now, having added two daughters and four grandchildren—what a wonderful family we have. Carolyn, our journey over the past 50 years has taken us down many winding roads, over hills and through valleys, but we happily traveled the road together. Even when we made a few wrong turns, we can now see that God was working all things together for good. Now, Carolyn, after 50 years of marriage you are more dearly esteemed than ever. I love you more than the spoken word can tell. I don’t know what lies ahead, but I do know that I am committed to love you, provide for you and care for you to the best of my ability, and yes, I really do love you, I really do, and I always will.
Carolyn’s tribute to Dale
My Dearest Dale, Thank you for 50 wonderful years of marriage. Never did I dream that meeting that cute boy in the fourth grade when I was in the third grade that we would be here today celebrating our love, especially since you moved away during the school year. Your patience, caring, thoughtfulness, honesty, courage to stand for the right, commitment to seeking truth and your sense of humor all are an inspiration to me and cause me to love you more each day. I thank God He led my family to move to the same town as your family when we were in high school and that we shared so many fun times in our teenage years. Today as I think of our love for each other my cup overflows with thankfulness to you and to God. I love you.
Dale was holding me in his arms shortly after we were married when he said, “OK, we have an un written contract for the first one hundred years!” He laughed and added “After that-? We will reevaluate!” Fifty-one those years are now past so we have forty-nine to go! We try to keep healthy, and unless the Lord comes first, we will do everything in our power and with God’s blessing, to get as close to that commitment as we can!
The picture of our life’s puzzle is being painted more beautiful with time. Jesus is still fitting the pieces of our story together! As we have reviewed our path, we surely can see that this was “a God thing!”
Our Cup Overflows!
My Cup Overflows. Copyright © 2009 by Carolyn Ratzlaff. All Scripture quotations—except where otherwise noted—are from The New American Standard Bible, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1979, 1994 by the Lockman Foundation, used by permission. All rights reserved. Life Assurance Ministries, Inc.
Carolyn has always been a positive person enjoying life and outdoor activities such as hiking and gardening, and she and her husband currently raise a good portion of their own food in small grow boxes. She also reads many health journals and is often surprised at the contrast between what was taught through the writings of Ellen White on forbidden items of diet and health, and the beneficial evidence of these same items which is supported by a plethora of scientific studies.
She and her husband Dale Ratzlaff have two married sons and four grandchildren.
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