I can't tell you, my friends, how long I've waited for this day to arrive.  At 3:00 this afternoon my husband, Gary, will walk out of his office for the last time.  Yep, he retires from his position of Chief Financial Officer with the Department of Energy after 33 1/2 years.  So many have been wishing him congratulations and commenting that they wish it could happen to them at Gary's age.  We smile.  They can't fully comprehend the long road we have traveled and the sacrifices that have been made to get to this point.

As I wrote on our Christmas letter this year, "Gary and I realize that it is through the grace, mercy and blessings of God we are able to enter this era of our lives.  We are thankful for each healthy report we receive and pray retirement brings new opportunities of service for our Lord." 

God has been good.  Gary's career has afforded us, as a family, blessings of provision and security.  Gary has utilized his talents and education to make the most of a career he has loved that spans over three decades.  He walks away today saddened to leave, but excited about tomorrow...and the next day....and the next.  We are anxiously awaiting what God has in store for us.
 
We thank our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the incredible blessings bestowed upon us since the day we met in 1979.  Coming to the anniversary of our 30th year of marriage in a few months, it has been a ride I wouldn't have missed for the world.  Because I feel the world has been given to me through a special blessing....my husband, Gary.  Congratulations, the man of my dreams, I can't wait to continue this journey hand-in-hand with you.