For those of you that are doing the math, yes, 2024 marks our 51st Anniversary. Our celebration was originally scheduled for June 24th of 2023. We did have a celebration on that day, but it was much bigger than our 50th Anniversary. We welcomed our fifth grandchild, Matias Avila Gonzales Reyes, into this world. He was born on that exact date: June 24th. His proud parents, Daniel ( our oldest son), and Rachel ( his lovely wife), would not have been able to attend our celebration, so we postponed our party to June 22, 2024. And here we are now.

The very beginning of our story started in the summer of 1969; we were both 17. It was August, and my high school, Blessed Sacrament Academy, was sponsoring a back-to-school dance. As I gazed across the gym floor, it didn't take long for it to register what I already suspected: most of the male population at the dance was shorter than me. The story of my high school life; always the girl that was just too tall. For basketball, a good thing; for dances, a not-so-good thing. About mid evening, this very handsome, tall guy asked me to dance. Yes, it was my future partner and love, Ismael. However, that is not the name that he gave me when we first met. He told me that his name was Samuel and that he worked at FedMart. It just so happened that my sister, Diana, had a friend, Joe, who worked at FedMart. So I asked Joe if he knew someone who worked there by the name of Samuel. Joe said that there was a guy that they called Smiley, but no Samuel. Naturally, I had to see for myself and headed to FedMart. As I was checking out, Smiley, aka Ismael, came to sack my purchases. I was cool, nonchalant, and made a point of acting surprised to see him there. We exchanged casual hellos and I went on my way.

Eventually, Ismael convinced Joe to give him my phone number. When he called, my first question to him was, "Why did you tell me your name was Samuel?" His reply was simply that his name was not very common and no one ever remembered it, or if they did, they butchered the pronunciation. So it was easier to make up a name. I let him know immediately that his name suited him and that I thought "Ismael" was very unique.

We dated all through senior year, and started college as a couple. For the next three years, we spent almost every waking hour together or on the phone, which was no easy task for Ismael. This was before cell phones, and he didn't have a house phone. He had to walk to the corner of his street and use a public telephone in a phone booth. In spite of the freezing cold or sweltering heat, we would manage to talk for a long while.

We gradually realized that yes, we were in love and decided that it would be so much easier if we got married instead of trying to squeeze as much time together as my parents would allow. On January 27, 1973 we walked down the aisle of the beautiful Our Lady of the Lake chapel and exchanged vows.

Our time together as husband and wife lasted only ten days. On February 6 Ismael had to report to Lackland AFB to begin basic training and I was back home with my parents. Six weeks later we were headed to Wichita Falls for Tech School and after that we received our first assignment-Zaragoza, Spain. I don't have to tell you that it was a two-year honeymoon compliments of Uncle Sam. We had no family or close friends there, so we truly learned the meaning of depending only on each other as we marveled at the sights.

When we returned to the USA we got down to the business of settling down. Between 1975 and 1987 we both graduated from UTSA, got jobs, bought our first home, and had three wonderful children: Daniel, Patrick, and Jeanette. Those years and beyond were filled with basketball, baseball, volleyball, gymnastics, dance, and a host of other activities that all couples experience when they have a family. And we loved it!

As we became empty nesters, our time together became quieter, less rushed, and very special. We are both still very busy, but we have time to leisurely enjoy a glass of wine before dinner. We have time to pick up and go where we please. And best of all we have time to just sit together and enjoy each other's company.

The Lord has blessed us with fifty years of marriage and we pray that He will grant us more years together as we watch our children and grandchildren become the legacy of our love and union.

Thank you for being a part of our celebration!