Friday, June 19

WOW.......50 Amazing Years!


Tomorrow we are celebrating my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary....what an accomplishment! We wanted to hold a big shindig for them, to shout it out to the world that they have done the first 50 years and are still in love and happy. They wanted it a bit quieter, just their children and grandchildren to celebrate with them......they won. You usually do when you choose to foot the bill.

Lyle Nelson Cole and Sharolyn Butters were married on June 9th, 1959 in the Slat Lake City Utah LDS Temple. They were married/sealed together for time and all eternity by family friend Harold B. Lee. A garden reception was held that evening at Grant & Eulala Butters' home in Bountiful. Best man - Jay T. Cole, Brides maids - the Darlene Butters Ostlund, Lynette Butters & Diane Butters. Also in the bridal party Parents of the bride, Grant and Eulala Butters and grooms mother Bertha Cole.

They meet at BYU. Dad was moms home teacher......She says he dated all the girls in her apartment then finally got around to dating her. He says that he was saving the best for last.
My whole life dad said that it was Grandma Butters cooking that sealed the marriage deal......and she is a fantastic cook.

The weather was just like it is most early Junes in Utah, always a chance of rain. I asked mom this year if the weather was a problem? She replied 'we didn't know if our reception was going to be indoors or out until about an hour before the reception.'

Dad and Mom have had the ups and downs associated with any marriage, and survived!
Their example of how to give and take and stick it out through it all is amazing....especially in this world where the norm is disposable relationships. They both have expressed that they entered their marriage with the 'this is forever' attitude....that is, you work through it all and are committed to your spouse first and foremost, because your spouse is never going away.

I remember as a kid loving the whole anniversary thing....in fact when I was about 10, I made them a card that has survived all these years..... it was on plain white typing paper, I drew an odd sized bride and groom and a red rose......
I am so glad that I have had a such a wonderful example of what a marriage is supposed to look like inside and out. Mom and Dad never sugar coated it, as kids we got to see and hear it all......amazing considering the era. I knew from them that marriage was work, but that the work is always worth it......and it looked to me that it got easier and better over time......with age I and personal experience I too have learned that really does get easier, and better.

Happy 50th Anniversary Mom and Dad!

MCC

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