Dear Daughters,
Last week Dad and I took a short day trip to Carmela Winery 
Restaurant in Glenns Ferry which is about 35 minutes away via the freeway. It was a beautiful day, sunny skies, warm, no wind. After lunch at the Winery we decided to take the old frontage road for a relaxing, scenic drive along the Snake River on the way home. According to the map, the road would wind around gently near the river all the way home.
Our map was not topographical (yes, we use old school maps at times) showing no elevations, and the road was described as improved. We figured that had to be a few steps above unimproved. Anyway, our path home started out in some beautiful farmland, emerald green alfalfa next to a beautiful newly plowed field of rich brown earth. 
The entrance near the field was complete with real metal cattle guards, not the fake painted-on guards that we have seen in many other places. 
We decided to use Google Maps for more detail and it was guiding us well, leading us from the frontage road directly to Shoestring Road, the improved road. We came across the entrance sign to Shoestring that read: Road not maintained in the winter – 5 miles. No problem, it was 78 degrees and no winter weather in sight so we need not worry about maintenance. We wondered aloud why there weren’t more people enjoying this lovely scenic road.
After traveling about a half-mile on Shoestring we started going up the canyon. Suddenly the road got narrow, really narrow. Of course in Idaho there are rarely guard rails on gravel roads, but since Dad is a great driver I wasn’t a bit concerned for our safety. We’ve been on this type of road in years past so no big deal.
Then came the switchbacks, curving around one bend then another. We found that the canyon walls were steeper close up than seeing them from a safe distance below. Our speed was 20 mph, tops, but the view was beautiful. We did not see the river much, however, because other cliffs rose up in the way. So we simply enjoyed the tumbleweeds and sagebrush that were all around us.
We were chatting, I should say I was chatting about the tasty lunch we had enjoyed and how glad I was that we were out exploring on such a beautiful day, but I noticed that Dad was strangely silent. Then I noticed his white-knuckled hands and asked if his armpits were sweaty as well. Sure enough, he was tense and not enjoying the precarious journey nearly as much as I was.
On we went, up more steep grades, around another hairpin curve, the beauty of the river becoming quite scarce. For a second we thought about turning back, knowing that we were probably not even halfway through the 5 miles. Silly idea that was since there was barely enough room for one vehicle, much less a turnaround spot.
So, continuing on around yet another curve we glanced down and saw two cars that had fallen half way down the cliff, rusted and colorless, forever abandoned by some sad souls. Quickly dismissing that sight out of our minds we persisted on our way and finally summited the top of the canyon wall. Now we had only the descent, slowly and carefully.
In another 20 minutes we were safe and sound, driving over the rushing river and on to the long awaited treasured asphalt that was soon to follow.
Once we got home I was thinking about how our long and winding road today was a picture of marriage, my marriage and yours. It starts out in a beautiful green pasture, gradually gets more dangerous, sometimes one or both folks wondering if they should turn around or call it quits. It’s scary, and what makes it more so is seeing other marriages that have become rusty and fallen along the way.
But to those who persevere, to those who keep on loving, to those who “forgetting what is behind and strain toward what is ahead, pressing on toward the goal….” (Philippians 3:13), to those who believe that God can make something beautiful out of two deeply flawed human beings – on those God’s face will shine and cause love to grow. Love will grow, slowly, sometimes unperceptively but it will mature in strength and grace.
I remember one anniversary, I think it was around 27 or 28 years, I received an anniversary card from a good friend. On it she wrote “Thank you for showing God’s faithfulness in your marriage. It is such an encouragement to me.” This card came at a time during which my friend knew things were difficult between Dad and me so I was somewhat speechless. I had been complaining to her how Dad was being so uncooperative and just annoying me in all he did. What I didn’t understand at the time was that she admired us for continuing to work through the tough spots, continuing to keep our vows in spite of disagreements and frustrations.
When we look back along that long and winding road of our marriages we can see the growth and feel the bonds strengthening. We stand in awe, knowing how the years of commitment and faithfulness to God and to each other will indeed produce a harvest of love for generations to come.
Love, Mom
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