celebrating 50 years of love

my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this june.  the whole family, minus three grandsons, got together in soda springs, idaho (my parents' new home) to join in on the celebration!

we had a week to spend together as a family.  the cousins played.  we spent time at bear lake and alexander reservoir, playing in the water and picnicking.  had dinner at a cowboy BBQ in the mountains.

but my favorite activity was the day we spent doing 50 acts of service.  we divided our crew into three groups and went about the town doing good.  

we all donned on blue t-shirts (that two of my sisters designed and printed) and planted flowers; put flags on veterans' graves; delivered donuts to the police department, county court offices, and sheriff's office; sang at two nursing homes in town, sprayed for weeds in a local widow's lawn; donated my dad's favorite book to the library; picked up trash by the reservoir and city park; left detergent pods at the laundry mat; painted a wall of the Senior Center; taped $1 bills in the dollar section of the local ALCO; left inspirational quotes on car windows; paid for someone else's lunch; and many more.

my parents have always been wonderful examples of service.  they have freely given of their time, resources, and talents.  and have involved us, kids, in projects and opportunities as we were growing up.  and taking a day to serve others seemed like the best way to honor their marriage and legacy to us. it was a lot of hard work, but so fun, unifying, and uplifting.