Happy Anniversary Tom!

This is Tom, and today is our 7th anniversary.

Tom is my dearest friend and most constant companion. I trust him like no other.

I love taking long walks together. It gives us a chance to talk and draw close without so many distractions. We discuss challenges & opportunities and make plans for the future.

I enjoy the time we spend taking car rides together for the same reason, (but not as much as the long walks!)

I enjoy our time doing geneology together and learning more about each other's family tree.

I enjoy working together in the same room, each on our own projects, no conversation, just being in the same place together. So much can be communicated without words, if you're listening.

This morning Tom woke up early to attend a 7:00am Priesthood Meeting with the Stake President. He didn't get to sleep until after midnight. His faithfulness in fulfilling his callings increases my love for him and strenthens my trust that he will do what's right, often with a notable personal sacrifice. His offering to the Lord.

Those who know me are aware that my ability to trust others has been significantly affected by a number of painful events that have transpired in my life. Some lessons come the hard way.

When Tom and I were dating, he told me that he loved me. My first response was to roll my eyes and express "Yeah, right." It took a while to recognize that this was a man whose talk matched his walk. If he said it, it was true.

(Unless he said it with a certain twinkle in his eye, and then you knew that his Irish ancestry was showing and he'd kissed the blarney stone, but that's another story :) )

Tom is an exceptional individual. He treats perfect strangers with uncommon respect and courtesy. He seems to always be on the lookout for small acts of kindness that will brighten someone else's day.

When an individual gets in his face with rude, offensive or untrue remarks, Tom doesn't react, he takes a thoughtful course of action designed to make a friend of the accuser if possible, and if not possible, to at least leave the man with some dignity when he recognizes his error.

Tom, these last seven years have gone by so fast. There have been many bumps in the road; changes of direction, tears, laughter & heartache, uncertainty, struggles to blend/understand two family styles with a minimum of stress, loss of employment, down-sizing & moving, changes of workplace, funerals, births, divorces & marriages, etc. Through it all, there has been understanding and hope. Things have a way of working out the way they need to.

Tom, I love you with all my heart & soul. Thank you for taking this walk with me.

Sandi