Trinta e três em Portugal

Yes, thirty three in Portugal!!!

We arrived in Lisbon a few days ago and were greeted by smiles and hugs from our dear friends, O, M and J!  Ahhh,its good to be here.  The weather has been warm.  And already reconnecting with friends has been even warmer!  

But for this post I want to talk about thirty three... thirty three years that is...

thirty three years of marriage to my wonderful husband, R!  If you would have told me that I would be celebrating someday in Portugal, I would have said you were crazy.  This wasn't an anniversary trip specifically, it just happens that this was when we had planned to come to Portugal.  

Thirty three years ago... 

 we were married in Kingsburg California;

it had been 100+ degrees all that week;

we were young;

R had just completed four years in the US navy;

I was out of college, R was just beginning college;

we were skinny;

gas was about 75 cents per gallon;

and rent was 1/12th of what it is now.

We were in love;

we are in love still.

I thought I had the most wonderful husband in the world,

now I know I have the most wonderful husband in the world.  

How does one celebrate an anniversary in Portugal?  Well, little did our dear friends, V and G and PLNU students know, that when they had invited us to lunch in their home here in Massama, it was our anniversary.  We walked into their beautiful home and were led to a perfectly set dining room table.  

Lunch began with appetizers incredibly arranged on trays.  

Then came the shrimp - excellent.  Soup was served next.  Out comes trout, heads and tails included with vegetables carefully placed around the edge of the platters.  Oh wait, next comes 

the beef and mushroom platter, with salad and rice.  Where was I going to put all this food???

Just when I think I can't eat anymore, the dessert plate with a filled crepe with chocolate sauce over the top.  (Of course there's always room for dessert!)  Last but certainly not least, the table with the coffee and tea was uncovered and coffee was served.  

Nearly four hours later, we were finished.  The meal was not only full of tasty and artfully presented food, but with warm conversation and laughs with dear dear friends.  There even is an anniversary song to sing here in Portugal, we were sung to!  

What a special and unexpected celebration it was!!!

Our dear hostesses - G, B and V -- Muito Obrigada!!!!

As we returned to the church were we had been working, (I will share on that in another post),

M presented us with a colorful arrangement of flowers.  A sweet sweet surprise!

July 19, 2013

A completely unexpected day of reminders of thirty three years of marriage to the man that I love with all my heart.  I am grateful to God for bringing him into my life and allowing me all these years together.  

Obrigada, eu te amo sempre.  Thank you, R!  Many more... I love you always.