Real Love

First, I need to say I learned about enduring love from my wonderful parents, Howard & Darell Buck. 

This August, they will celebrate FIFTY YEARS of marriage.  I can tell you I've seen joy, sorrow, laughter, crying, pain, exhilaration...No...their marriage has not been perfect and all chocolate and roses, but it's been a REAL LOVE marriage.  Through children, miscarriages, brain tumors, breast cancer, work layoffs, financial strain, living paycheck to paycheck, grandkids, kids moving away, getting old and physically realizing it...They have shown me what I strive for in my marriage...A GOD CENTERED MARRIAGE COVENANT!  There will never be enough words to tell them how much I love, admire, respect, and appreciate ALL they have given (and given up) for me.  Thank you Mom & Dad...
Thank you!  I love you.

Second, to some very special ladies in my life, I have learned about true friend love from them:

Jean Cahoon,
You have been the answer to my prayers that God would send someone who would "get me"!  Someone who would understand me (even when I didn't understand myself!) and who would give me the type of friendly loving I needed...a sweet loving encouraging word, an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, or a good hard kick to the butt!  I don't know where I'd be without you in my life!  I thank God for the answer to pray when He put you in my life!  I love you, my friend!

Sara Bailey,
I laugh when I think about you and me because you are what I would love to be more like!  You are just as feisty, sarcastic, blunt, and odd as I am; but you come in this little sweet package so you have everyone fooled!!!  LOL!  I love you Sara for your encouraging heart!  You have just the right way of saying things to put them into perspective!  When I get your texts in the morning, they make me smile and thank God for the friendship I have with you!  I love you!

Misty Powers,
I have learned so much from you!  You have taken the struggles in your life and you have learned from them.  You continue to be a light to others while learning to find God's will for you.  I can't even begin to tell you how much I love seeing you!  When you walk into the room, your smile just warms my heart!  You truly know how to love a friend with your words and your actions!  Thank you for "calling me out" when I need an attitude adjustment!  It takes a strong loving person to be able to do that with someone as bullheaeded as me!  I just love and admire you so much!

Laci Strickland,

We seem to be polar opposites, but I know that you struggle with some of the very same things I struggle with!  I love your sweet kind heart and the way you love people with such openness!  You allow yourself to be vulnerable and people are drawn to you because of that vulnerability!  I admire the way you give yourself completely to the life God has called you to.  You are such a beautiful mom to Ella and Noah!  They are such wonderful examples of how you show them God's love everyday.  Thank you so much for being my friend and for being open to me.  I know I am not as open and I don't easily allow vulnerability in my life, but you accept me anyway and that says SO MUCH of the kind of Godly lady that you are! I love you!

Lora Ebeling, 

What can I say?  You are more of a friend than I will ever come close to deserving!  I can't count how many times I have NOT deserved your friendship!  We ARE complete opposites!  You are kind, sweet, gracious, loving, open, caring.  I feel so unworthy of your friendship.  Thank you for being you!  Thank you for showing me true grace and friendship!  Thank you for looking into my heart and seeing the good in me (even when I can't see it for myself)!  Thank you for being such a beautiful example of a Godly woman!  You are the epitome of grace and beauty in a Godly lady!  I love you!

There are other ladies I admire and appreciate, but it would take too long to list all of them!  These are the ladies in my life that show me everyday REAL LOVE!