As your kids grow up, times seems to accelerate in a crazy way. I’ve often told young parents of babies, “Tomorrow they will be dating!!” They always look at me with an “assuming” gaze and say, “That will be a long time yet!!” Of course, when their child starts dating, they wonder where the time went. I don’t know if they recall what I said or not, but they realize the truth of what I said. Now what seemed like yesterday has left me with not only grown and married children, but grown grandchildren, and great grandchildren who are growing up faster than I want to think about.
My younger daughter, Amy Royce, and her husband, Travis, are celebrating 31 years of marriage today. I can still vividly picture her as a tiny baby, and a little girl who was a feisty as ever. These days, Amy is a seasoned insurance agent, and far from the teenage girl I remember teaching to drive. She and Travis have two adult children, and soon to be a son-in-law, and have built a wonderfully happy life together over the past three decades. I never imagined my girl would choose country living, given how much she disliked it when we lived in the country when she was a child, but times change. They’ve created a peaceful, serene sanctuary in their backyard, a place their friends love to gather. Their home in Ferndale, Washington is not so far from Bellingham, Washington that they can’t make a 
quick trip to town for anything they need. For that matter, there are a number of towns within a twenty-mile radius, including the Canadian border, so they have access to pretty much anything they might want or need.
The truth is, Travis has made my daughter incredibly happy over the years, and that is all that matters to me. The Pacific Northwest suits them well, though I wish they had liked this area more than they did. Still, I can’t imagine them coming back to the frigid Wyoming winters they always disliked, and especially to the wind we have here. The beauty of where they live now is such a big attraction. The rainforest and all the flowers bring my daughter so much joy. Her garden and backyard are her happy places, where she spends hours watering, planting, enjoying, and even weeding. Travis loves yard work too, happily building anything she dreams of…from ponds to a covered patio. Mowing the lawn, in particular, is still his peaceful escape. That’s a hard thing for me to imagine, but he has always enjoyed mowing the lawn, whether pushing a mower or riding on one. I think that’s very cool, even though it would not be something I would enjoy.
I couldn’t have wished for a better life and marriage for my daughter. Travis is perfect for her, and they make a great team. That’s why they’re celebrating thirty-one years together today. Their love is strong and beautiful. That is very evident and always their 
top priority. From the start it was a perfect love, and it’s only grown over the years there in the Pacific Northwest. Who could ask for more from their children’s marriage? Today marks Amy and Travis’ 31st wedding anniversary. Happy anniversary Amy and Travis! Have a wonderful day and a fantastic year ahead!! We love you so much.
