Happy Anniversary

Mike began radiation treatments today. We will go daily for 7 weeks to Rome at the Harbin Clinic. After that and 2 more rounds of chemo we will see if the mass is shrinking. Mike is very weak but otherwise he is doing ok. He still has no appetite but that is normal. We know God is in control no matter what the outcome is, I just pray this works and he is with us all a LOT longer. On that note, today is our 41st wedding anniversary so I wrote a little story in case you were curious as to how we got here. It's a little long, so feel free to stop reading here if you'd like. 

"A Modern Day Love Story"
A little history of how we got to where we are today.....

1974: Boy crazy 16 year old girl sees blond haired blue eyed hunk for the first time and is instantly hooked. Boy doesn't speak to her because boy is dating someone else and doesn't want to be unfaithful. But boy DID whistle at girl. (this did NOT sit well w/girl) Boy meant whistle to be a compliment but girl interpreted whistle as: (does he think he's God's gift to women, he can just whistle and I will come??) 
Girls takes family vacation to Mexico. When she returns, boy has ditched said girlfriend and is ready to move forward. Girl is on cloud nine.
First place boy takes girl is to his church, while in parking lot, boy mentions ex-girlfriend attends same church. Girl immediately turns and heads back to car. Boy talks her into going inside.
Second real date, boys asks girl to marry him. Girl asks “Are you serious”? Lucky for girl he was. Boy did construction work w/his dad. A building fell on his dad and boy escaped unhurt. Girl begged boy to get out of construction work. Boy agreed. Boy's dad recovered nicely.
1975 Feb- Boy asks girl's mother if she will sign for girl to get married when girl graduates in June because she will still be 17. Girls mother says she will think about it. Girls mother agrees to sign papers immediately IF girl promises to finish school. Girl readily agrees. Yep yep yep. Girl on cloud nine again. On Feb 22nd, boy and girl get married and plan to live happily ever after. Boy has to sign girl's report card for the rest of her senior year. Girl embarrassed. 
1976 April – Boy and girl become parents for the first time. Lori Grace is born and they are instantly in love with her. All of girls dreams have come true, she is a wife and a mother. Boy and girl are so happy!
July – Boy and girl lose precious baby girl to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Words cannot express how devastated boy and girl are.
Girl gets a job to help get over loss of baby. Boy working 3 part time jobs, having trouble finding a full time position. Girl's employer notices boy helping girl at work and offers to send him to appraisal school for Crawford & Company and company car is a perk. Boy and girl are over the moon excited. 
1978 Boy and girl buy first home in Austell, Georgia and have another daughter. Penny Lynn. Life is good.

1980 Boy gets transferred to Dalton, Georgia where another daughter is born. Amy Renee. Boy works for Crawford and Company and girl gets a job there as secretary. God is good. 
1982 Boy and girl move back to Lithia Springs. Life goes on, boy and girl work and raise family.
1986 Boy and girl sign contract on house. Girl goes to doctor, surprise surprise, girl is expecting! Boy tells girl she can have house OR baby but not both. Boy gives in and girl gets BOTH. November brings another daughter Paige Marie . Life is crazy.
1990 Boy and girl buy bigger house to accommodate children. Boy plays softball a LOT. Girl not too happy. Boy gets broken leg playing softball. Boy out of work for awhile. Boy heals nicely and life goes on. Boy tells girl he wants them to be foster parents. Girl says no way. 
1991 Boy finally talks girl into becoming foster parents. Girl is less than thrilled. Girl thinks she is busy enough with her own kids. Boy doesn't agree and thinks they can be a blessing to other children who are needing love and a place to stay. Girl falls instantly in love with these children that enter their home. God is good. Boy and girl very happy but very TIRED.
1993 Boy and girl transfer to Tampa, Florida with USAA. While there, girl gets job at USAA in policy service. Girl gets PAID to talk on the phone. Girl is VERY happy. 
1997 Boy and girl really missing family and friends and move back to Georgia. Boy and girl find house within 5 miles of previous home. Boy builds apt in home for girls mother to move into. Boy is so sweet to mother in law.
1998 Boy and girl resume foster parenting. Boy and girl have scare with boy's health but God is good and girl is happy boy will be around awhile. 
2000 Boy and girl become grandparents for the first time. (Where did the time go?) If boy and girl thought they loved their children, they had NO IDEA how much they could love grandchildren. Girl discovers scrap-booking and is instantly addicted. Girl LOVES taking pictures of Kayleigh Madissen.
2001 Boy and girl adopt one of their foster children (a 14 year old GIRL) who has been a part of their family for the past 4 years. Autumn LeeAnn . One week after adoption is final, boy and girl get custody of granddaughter. Here we go again, now boy and girl have a 14 year old and a 16 month old. 
2004 Boy and girl welcome first grandSON weighing in at 4 lbs. Owen Michael Grega He is a little early but starts plumping up in no time. Girl still scrap-booking.
2005 Boy and girl welcome another grandson into the family. Boy and girl get custody of grandson McKane Michael. Boy and girl so happy they FINALLY got a boy!! Girl still taking pics.
2006 Boy buys a spot in campground in Centre, AL on Lake Weiss. Boy and girl now LOVE to go to the lake. Boy and girl and grandchildren go every weekend they can get away. Lots of photo ops.....girl very happy. 
2008 Boy and girl welcome another grandson. Ellis Bean (yes that's his real name) is Owen's little brother. They get to come to the lake with boy and girl quite often. Boy, girl and all the kids are happy cruising the lake. Girl still taking pics and scrap-booking.
2009 Boy and girl raising grandchildren, working, going to the lake.
2010 Girl moves to Centre, Alabama with children and boy comes over every weekend. The schools and town are smaller. Better place to raise children.
2011 Boy buys girl a new camera for Christmas so she can take even better pics. Boy is still so sweet!
2012 Boy and girl welcome another grandson, Ashtain Mykel, born in January. And another grandson in July, Tristen Dean. Girl now has a million pictures to scrapbook. She will never get caught up. 

2013 Life is good living in Alabama, girl working as substitute teacher and helping out with arts & crafts at the elementary school. Very involved in church in Alabama. Life iLife pretty much the same as 2013, girl missing boy a lot but feel this is best for children. 

2014 Welcomed grandchild number 7, Michael Mateo, born in Guatemala. Life is great but girl missing boy a lot. 

2015 Great news, boy gets to move to Alabama and work from home. Boy and girl together again and very happy. 

 2016 January Boy very sick, cancer found in liver, Boy and girl are devastated at this news. But they know God is in control. Many many prayers going up for boy and his family. Boy is humbled by the outpouring of love and support. Boy started chemo and hoping for the best.

February Boy and girl celebrated anniversary of 41 years.  Girl still on cloud nine and can't believe how lucky she is. Girl thought she loved boy when she married him but now girl knows what true love is. Boy still sick but girl plans to do everything Doctor says to make boy well. Boy and girl plan living on happily ever after as long as  God allows! 
To be continued.....