Natalie & I got back from Chicago yesterday afternoon. We had a great trip. Went & saw some of the tourist things that you look at when your in Chicago, went & saw Wrigley field, where the sign said, "Home of the World Champion Chicago Cubs," & even watched a scene from Chicago Fire being taped. It was all very cool, but I think the coolest thing for me was seeing this amazing love story unfold before my eyes. My grandpa, whom I never met, my dad didn't even meet him. He was an airborne trooper in WW2, & he died in combat. He died a war hero, but to read the letters between him & my Grandma, it was obvious he was her hero, & not for anything he did, simply b/c he loved her & she loved him!! His letters were detailed, all that he was doing, who was with him, it was everyday stuff, probably if someone texted you that you'd be like, "okay! I don't really wanna know that Slip got sick & is in his bunk all day!" But these letters were their connection. I'm sure her letters back were the same. It was all so very sweet. He was stationed in Alaska for a little while & he would send her the local news. She saved it!! Every little piece of paper, every letter, every postcard, she saved. I pictured her reading them over & over & carefully putting them in this wonderful scrapbook. It was so emotional & then we get to the last letter, not from him...."we regret to inform you that..."my heart broke for my grandma. Then it was sympathy cards & letters not only consoling her but my dad also, who was only 10months old. I know each time I've thought of that scrapbook & those letters, I have fought back tears. Even now typing this my eyes are full. That was such a different time, a different era. Letters were filled w/, "my darling," "my love," "my sweat heart," his letters were signed, "forever yours!" It made me rethink how I talk, especially to Monte. Now I know we're going to get back in the swing of things & he, no doubt will get on my nerves, I honestly think he likes to do that, aggravate me....to the point of my sanity being in question, but I want to always have that kind of love in my heart for him. It was pure, innocent, & good. The verse that came to my mind was Proverbs 5:18- "May your fountain be blessed, & may you rejoice in the wife of your youth." I've prayed that before, "help us to love each other, to remember when & why You've brought us together & brought us this far!" I want to make sure that we leave a legacy of love for our kids & grandkids, & great grandkids, & so on...just like they did. How wonderful, what a great thing to strive for!!! I brought back many great treasures from my grandmas house, but the greatest is the sweet, sweet memories they left for me!!!!