Happy Birthday Tonya!

Well, it has finally arrived after all this time, my wife has finally caught up with me and has turned (??), don't think I'm going to tell. Tonya is the strongest woman that I've ever known. She has without consideration for her own needs, unselfishly and endlessly helped others with her life. After being raised in a troubled home, she has allowed the Lord to give her the strength to pull up out of that heritage and become the planting of the Lord. She is a tree of righteousness as Psalms says.

One of her favorite verses is; Proverbs 18:22 "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD". Well, I have found the best in her. We dated for 5 years and on April 21st, 1979 we were married on our 5 year dating anniversary - that means we've been together for more than 34 years! This next year we will be married for 29 years, she was just a pup - :-)) I am the blessed one in our married and we tend to say, I know that I married up! She has blessed me with 2 great kids, who have in turn blessed me with a daughter-in-law and 2 granddaughters - WOW!

She is not only an awesome wife, mother and Meme, but she is a super Pastor's Wife. It's not easy living in a glass house in a small community, where we have lived for the past 25+ years. She has watched me go through the ups and downs of pastoring and has stood by my side through it all. It's not always been easy, but we are still here!! Tonight, yes on her very special day, we'll be doing what we've been doing for over 25 years, we'll be here in church worshipping the Lord and teaching the Bible to our church family.

I love her strength!! She is my 'best friend' and all that goes along with that. She is my partner through life and I thank my God for this great gift that He has bestowed upon me. Tonya, I love you dearly and am very thankful for you in my life!


Have A Great Birthday Honey!
Mark