The Golden Jubilee
FROM MY READING CORNER | 2/27/26
Thoughts from my reading corner:
If you were to take a time machine back to Valentine’s Day fifty years ago, you’d witness the wedding day of my in-laws. My mother-in-law will tell you that it was an abnormally warm day in February, especially for Minnesota. My father-in-law will jokingly say he doesn’t remember. To celebrate fifty years of marriage is quite the accomplishment. To think of your life in terms of time spent, once you’ve been married to someone for fifty years, you have essentially spent the majority of your life with them. As my husband and I just celebrated ten years of marriage last week, it seems life forty years is so far away, but I bet if we asked most married couples that have stood the test of time, they would all agree that it went by in the blink of an eye. From dating butterflies to little league games, graduations, kids’ weddings, and grandchildren, we can remember those little moments like they happened yesterday. We can be reminded of first-date locations, wedding-day jitters, happy tears, and sorrow, but at least they were spent together. When we visited my in-laws over the holidays, I found treasures at the bottom of a box. Memories left to decay from their wedding and early relationship. Some of the pictures were tinged with yellow from age, others crinkled, but all of it was a reminder of a commitment to each other and the innocence of young love.
I couldn’t let all the mementos continue to deteriorate in the dark, cold cement basement. I asked if I could take the items and create something for them. I ended up creating a scrapbook entitled “The Story of Us.” It included newspaper clippings from their engagement announcement and wedding day. Pictures of their parents and pictures of their own family as it grew. Notes and photos from their favorite places and quotes about love. I also included a letter from everyone in the family—my kids even participated in that part. I love scrapbooking. I love immersing myself in old pictures and stories to take the trip down memory lane to a place and time I will only visit with my own imagination. The recurring theme I kept landing on is just how beautiful it is to get to share a life with someone. There will be the ups and downs, the abundance of joy, and also unbelievable grief from those you’ve had to say goodbye to over the span of fifty years, but again…what a blessing when it is done together.
As I reflect on the celebration and my time spent making the scrapbook, I am filled with hope. For those of us who think the biggest blessing in the world would be to look your partner in the eyes and, with the crinkle and sparkle that only the two of you get when you smile at each other, know that it has been a life well lived. I hope you remember to hug a little tighter, or let the kiss linger a little bit longer, because one day, what will surely feel like the blink of an eye, you’ll look back and be glad you did.
Have a wonderful weekend and happy reading.
-Katie Marie
THE KIDS’ CORNER |
What We Are Reading
Tuck’s Bookshelf: Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer by Megan McDonald.
Ella Bella’s Bookshelf: Into the Field Tennessee Summer by Katie Vieira
My Bookshelf: The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak
Tip: If you feel like you have more toys or games than you know what to do with, and a birthday or holiday is coming up, a great gift idea is a Highlights magazine subscription or a subscription to Ranger Rick Jr. magazine. My kids love getting “happy mail,” and it is a fun way to read together as a family outside of story time.
THE CRAFT CORNER |
Scrapbook
While I was making the scrapbook for my in-laws, the kids were interested in helping. Anything with scissors and glue, and they are in! We have a poloroid style camera that the kids get to use when we go on adventures. I thought it would be fun for the kids to make their own little scrapbooks. They can take their own pictures and create them however they want. I’ll update you on how it went and what supplies we used after spring break!
Until next week, happy reading.
