Tag Archives: Anniversary

Sabbath Rest – Dancing in the Minefields

I know it’s a bit of a departure of my usual Sabbath Rest song, but since today is both the Sabbath and our fifty-second wedding anniversary, it seemed only right to share this song (again) and reprise a blog post (with some adaptations)from a couple of years ago –

GarySteph Wedding
Fifty-two years ago, on a warm Friday evening, these two youngsters committed their lives and their love to each other. My brother-in-law, Fitz, gave us a ‘charge –
Gary & Stephanie, tonight is the beginning of a new way of life for both of you. Long awaited. No longer two separate individuals, but one family in Christ.

At 19 and 21 respectively, we thought we knew what marriage was all about.  Ah, sweet innocent youth! Little did we know what we were in for! I’m not going to kid you – not every moment of the last 52 years was easy. Or fun.  Some of it was downright hard. We raised three children, renovated a 100+ year old house and owned a small service business (part American dream and part  American nightmare.) But through all the years, through the good and the bad, the joy and the hard, the beauty and the ashes, God kept us together.  He never gave up on us, and we never gave up on each other.  Grace. His amazing grace is what has held us together these many years. And our prayer continues to be that His Grace will hold us fast in the years ahead!
Happy 50th52nd to my beloved!

This might be our theme song –

And we went dancing in the minefields [And there were OH-SO-MANY!]
We went sailing in the storms [Some doozies to be sure!]
And it was harder than we dreamed [Amen!]
But I believe that’s what the promise is for {Praise God!]

Dancing in the Minefields (by Andrew Peterson)

Well, I was nineteen, you were twenty-one
The year we got engaged
And everyone said we were much too young
But we did it anyway

We got the rings for forty each
From a pawn shop down the road
We said our vows and took the leap
Now fifteen fifty-two years ago

And we went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storms
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for

Well “I do” are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another, I’ve heard
Is a good place to begin

‘Cause the only way to find your life
Is to lay your own life down
And I believe it’s an easy price
For the life that we have found

And we’re dancing in the minefields
We’re sailing in the storms
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for

So when I lose my way, find me
When I lose love’s chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith, till the end of all my days
When I forget my name, remind me

‘Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man
So there’s nothing left to fear
So I’ll walk with you in the shadowlands
Till the shadows disappear

‘Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos
Baby, I can dance with you

So let’s go dancing in the minefields
Let’s go sailing in the storms
Oh, let’s go dancing in the minefields
And kicking down the doors

Oh, let’s go dancing in the minefields
And sailing in the storms
Oh, this is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for

Music video by Andrew Peterson performing Dancing In The Minefields (Official Music Video).

Some things ARE hard

Today marks the completion of nineteen years of life in our motor home. Nineteen years of seeing this beautiful country (and a bit of Canada too). Nineteen years of meeting the most amazing people and seeing God at work in ministries big and small. We’ve slept in every state except North Dakota and Hawaii (still waiting for that bridge) and visited most of our national parks. It’s been a grand and glorious adventure – totally unexpected in so many ways, yet never once have we doubted that we are right where God wants us to be. But still, some things ARE hard. Recently I had some first-hand experience with one of those ‘hard’ things.
Earlier this summer I noticed an unusual spot on my upper chest. It started small but over the course of a couple of weeks it continued to grow and it could no longer be ignored. I sent a photo to our primary care doctor who strongly suggested that I find a doctor and have it removed and tested. Ah – those ominous words “find a doctor”.
One of those Hard Things.
Step one – Call a local doctor, explain my situation, and ask for an appointment. “Well, we have to send you some paperwork since you’ll be a new patient. Once we get the paperwork back, we should be able to get an appointment for you in four-six weeks.” Nope. That wasn’t going to work since we’d be out of the area by then. She suggested I contact an urgent care center.
Step two – Locate the closest urgent care center and make an online appointment. They confirmed via text and asked why I was coming in. I explained that I had a cyst that my PCP wanted to have removed and tested. “Oh, we don’t do that,” was the quick reply. They kindly suggested that I go to an emergency room.
Now I have to say, this did not seem in any way shape or form to be an emergency room event to me. But early the next morning Gary and I headed off to the ER at a small hospital about 30 minutes away.
Step three – The ER. We were seen quickly and a young ER doctor examined my cyst. “Hmmmm…Let me talk to my surgeon friend.” She came back a few minutes later. “Can I take a picture of it?” Sure! Click, and off she goes. At her next appearance, she had an appointment card in her hand. “I’ve made you an appointment with a surgeon next week. He should be able to take care of this for you.”
Step four – Go to the surgeon the next week, fill out new patient info (again), and hope that maybe today will be the day the problem will be resolved. After a careful exam of the cyst, he feels he can better take care of the removal in his surgical center. Next week. Two days before we’re scheduled to leave the area.
Step five – Return to the hospital, get checked into the outpatient surgical unit, and wait patiently for the surgeon to arrive. He arrives, we chat, he numbs up the area, does the deed, and sends me home with instructions not to go swimming for 10 days.
Step six – Call the surgeon a week later (and 200 miles away)to see how the testing came out. As expected, it was a small squamous cell carcinoma, but all of the margins were clear and there is nothing further to be done. Except stay out of the sun, and have my regular doctor check it over in six weeks. That should be easier to accomplish since we try to swing by that way at least once a year.
So all is good. It was a Hard Thing – but not an Impossible Thing. The timing was close – but we received good care (even if it took a couple of extra steps!). No pictures this time. (You’re welcome.) I may not be wearing any V-neck tops for a while, but I’m pretty sure they’ll be back in the wardrobe rotation soon!

But hey – NINETEEN years!! How crazy is that!

August 1, 2004
 

Grace. All Grace

GarySteph Wedding
Fifty years ago, on a warm Friday evening, these two youngsters committed their lives and their love to each other. My brother-in-law, Fitz, gave us a ‘charge –
Gary & Stephanie, tonight is the beginning of a new way of life for both of you. Long awaited. No longer two separate individuals, but one family in Christ.

At 19 and 21 respectively, we thought we knew what marriage was all about.  Ah, sweet innocent youth! Little did we know what we were in for! I’m not going to kid you – not every moment of the last 50 years was easy. Or fun.  Some of it was downright hard. We raised three children, renovated a 100 year old house and owned a small service business (part American dream and part  American nightmare.) UntitledBut through all the years, through the good and the bad, the joy and the hard, the beauty and the ashes, God kept us together.  He never gave up on us, and we never gave up on each other.  Grace. His amazing grace is what has held us together these many years. And our prayer continues to be that His Grace will hold us fast in the years ahead!
Happy 50th to my beloved!

This might be our theme song –

And we went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storms
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for

Dancing in the Minefields (by Andrew Peterson)

Well, I was nineteen, you were twenty-one
The year we got engaged
And everyone said we were much too young
But we did it anyway

We got the rings for forty each
From a pawn shop down the road
We said our vows and took the leap
Now fifteen years ago

And we went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storms
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for

Well “I do” are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another, I’ve heard
Is a good place to begin

‘Cause the only way to find your life
Is to lay your own life down
And I believe it’s an easy price
For the life that we have found

And we’re dancing in the minefields
We’re sailing in the storms
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for

So when I lose my way, find me
When I lose love’s chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith, till the end of all my days
When I forget my name, remind me

‘Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man
So there’s nothing left to fear
So I’ll walk with you in the shadowlands
Till the shadows disappear

‘Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos
Baby, I can dance with you

So let’s go dancing in the minefields
Let’s go sailing in the storms
Oh, let’s go dancing in the minefields
And kicking down the doors

Oh, let’s go dancing in the minefields
And sailing in the storms
Oh, this is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for

Year 16 is in the Books –

Happy Life on The Road Anniversary to us!! Today marks the completion of sixteen years of traveling around the country in our trusty RV, Lizzie, helping out where we can and getting to experience this amazing country (and Canada too!). I was looking back at some other “Anniversary Posts”, and thought that the one I wrote last year did a pretty good job of summarizing the wonder that we feel at the life we have been led to live. Here you go –

Fifteen Sixteen Years of driving new roads and old roads, and willing to be surprised about what’s around the next corner.
Road to Hoover Dam-8
2011 Calendar saguaro-1
2011 Calendar7
Road Shots New Years 2016-33

Fifteen Sixteen years of living in 300 square feet with this guy –
cfc 36
and loving him more with each passing year.
Gary Auction

Fifteen Sixteen years of following the LORD’s calling and serving Him at ministries all around the country. From little camps in Arkansas
wabccampers
to rescue missions in Arizona
Morning Commute-8
to international ministries in Idaho
Nate Saint Plane
to missionary training centers in Pennsylvania,
IMG_8939

we’ve been honored and blessed to see God at work.

Fifteen Sixteen years – from the minutia
Walk to the Pond-13
to the top of the world.
Top of the World Hwy-5
We never could’ve imagined all the places God would take us when we set out on this “One Year, maybe Two” journey on August 1, 2004.
To Him be all the Praise and Glory!!