ANN'S FOOTPRINTS 11/6/2011

These last several years since retirement, I have probably spent more time with my wife than I did in our first 30 years of marriage.  Funny, I thought I knew her really well.  I thought we were intimate with each other concerning all our thoughts, goals and people skills.  I have found, since retirement, I knew Ann much less that I thought.
Recently, while visiting our #2 son's family, I went for a walk with Ann in their neighborhood.  We came upon these footprints left in the sidewalk.

 They struck me as symbolic of Ann's sweet quiet spirit, who goes about quietly leaving her mark on all she meets, especially her family.  Quietly, patiently, unassumingly, she loves our sons, their wives and their children and leaves a path for them to follow of how to behave, how to love and how to live.  She leaves a path of footprints of her quiet examples as she moves through life.
A few days later, when the business of four grandchildren was taking its toll on my nerves, I went for a walk alone.  I found myself later standing and then sitting near those footprints.  As I sat there, thinking of Ann and these footprints, I cried.  There sitting on this sidewalk in front of somebody's home, I thought of what a blessed man I am to share my path through eternity with such a wonderful person.  I thought of me slogging along, tearing through life like a bull in a china shop, thrashing through the learning experiences of life and families.  And there quietly along side of me is a gentle, smiling woman, leaving a loving path for others to follow, all the while letting me think I am the one leading and creating a trail.

 Over a period of time, as I composed myself, wiped away the tears of love for she to whom I am married, I contemplated telling the story in pictures of the power of those small footprints and the effect they had in form of an experience of self recognition they had upon me. So, a few days later I gathered two of my grandchildren and Ann and took them with me to the footprints.
I set up the following shots to tell the story of the wonderful woman to whom I am married and the example she sets as she quietly walks through life, leaving examples behind of how to live, serve and love.....leaving.... her footprints.

 Sometimes those examples are followed by those around her and dear to her.  Still, even though time may pass, those examples she leaves behind continue to influence lives that pass where she has walked.  Generations later, lives I'm sure, will be affected by the path she left behind her.

 Generations that follow are and will be influenced by her example.  I have seen it already in her relationship with her sons and then her daughters-in-law, and now, her grandchildren.  They see and feel of her love.  They see her pattern of life.....

...and strive to emulate her....

 ....her path she has trod influences those that come after her.

 We all, at times, contemplate our lives and the paths we desire to follow.  It is good that we have good examples to follow, footprints left by those who have gone before.

Whether now or many generations down the road of life eternal, I am sure there will be those who choose to follow the examples Ann has left behind.  She is leaving good footprints for her loved ones to gain direction.

 May we each be leaving good footprints for others to follow.  I know, because of being blessed to find my path through life at the side of Ann and because of the self reflecting experience I had with these footprints left in the sidewalk, I will try to be better at the examples I set and the footprints I leave behind.

  Just today I was reminded of the power of Ann and the footprints she left behind her while we served our mission in Oakland a couple years ago.  Today we met with some of the Cambodians we served while on our mission.  They flocked around us, shook my hand, smiled at me and then lovingly embraced Ann.  Unabashedly, they expressed their love for her and tearfully told her how much they missed her.  I was there too, but the focus was on her.  I puddled up as I watched my quiet little wife.  These people truly loved her and truly were effected by her footprints she left in their lives several years ago.
I am a blessed man to be by her side, trying to leave gentle footprints where we tread.  May we each leave good footprints.