40 Years of Marriage!

On January 1, 1971 my parents, Mark and Kay Spallinger were married.  So on January 1, 2011 they have reached the amazing mark of 40 years of marriage.  

Sharon, Paulene, Elaine, Karen, Kay (Mom), Pastor Cannon, Mark (Dad), Tim, James, David, Charles

 

 Mom and Dad chose to only have their siblings in the wedding party.  This was not to challenging since my dad is one of nine and my mom is one of seven. 

My father always had a beard since my mother had known him.  But, he decided it would be a nice surprise for Mom if he shaved off his beard...so he surprised her at the wedding.  She says that she told him to grow the beard back!

Bob & Leola Stemen, Kay & Mark Spallinger, Ellene & Paul Spallinger

 Off they go ready for the next 40 years of life.  This is my favorite picture of my parents.  I love their expressions.  My dad was 22 and my mom was only 20 years old.

 Forty years later, all of us kids took Dad and Mom to Steve's Dakota Grill in Findlay, Ohio.  Here they are with Julian, one of their grandsons. 

I am the oldest child and then Steve is next.  He married Amy and they live in Fort Wayne, IN.  They have Julian who is 5 and Josiah who is 4 months in this picture.

Ann is the third child.  She married Bob Watkins and they live in St. Marys, OH.  They have Eli who is 3 years old and they are expecting the first granddaughter in May.

Finally there is Caleb, the youngest.  We are the single siblings.  Caleb lives in Dayton, OH and currently I am enjoying life in Kandern, Germany.