Like most of you we never did the birthday or christmas thing and so over the years Anniversary celebrations were grabbed as a real chance to wrap presents, get festive and party. This habit has carried on and there's a small mountain of shiny gifts all waiting to be torn open on April 5th. Okay, the kids are bit older now (18, 16 & 12) but we all still make a fuss of this one day.
We'll be going out for a slap up meal tomorrow night, just the 5 of us at our favourite curry house. God I love my family!
This year means so much to me. It was six years ago that I put my last field service report in and for the next three or four years things were really tough. My wife is sweet and so large hearted and it hurt her so much that I was rejecting the 'Truth'. Doctrine and belief have never mattered to her, it was the social thing. All her family are very active. Her Dad was the P.O for years and is still an elder. One of my first posts here sums the whole situation up - http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/3771/1.ashx
Anyway, this year marks the first complete 12 months that even my wife has not attended meetings! She does want to go to the Memorial, she just cannot face giving her parents that particular dissapointment, but she doesn't want to go alone. I don't blame her, can you imagine walking into your old Kingdom Hall on Memorial night after a year away?! So if she insists on going I'll be at her side. My love for her is greater than anything else.
One year, and who knows it might be this one, we will be completely out of the cult but in all honesty I can say that we are already free - and my family have never been happier! I hope one day I can introduce you to my wife, I know you'd like her.
Until then I'll leave this message here for her to find in the future and I make no apologies for the mush;
"Baby, I love you. Sorry for the tough times I put us through. I want you to know how happy you make me every day. How I think of you and see your face when I'm out at work in the freezing cold and dark mornings. You've blessed me with three beautiful kids and twenty years of fun, laughter and mischief! Now let's grow old and freaky together!!
You're the greatest!"