Pastor Mark Hopper

By Pastor Mark Hopper

My wife and I will be celebrating our 45th wedding anniversary on June 4th.  It is hard to believe that we were married 45 years ago.

We actually met at the beginning of our freshman year at Scottsdale High School in 1964.  I was elected as the freshman class president and she was elected the class secretary.

We became good friends as we worked on Homecoming floats and various class projects.  We enjoyed being with a group of friends as we cheered our hearts out at the school football games and enjoyed high school life in the 1960’s.

However, we didn’t actually start dating until our senior year.  She said that I was too busy dating girls with long blond hair and I didn’t seem to notice this cute red head that would be my future wife!

We continued to date as we went to college at Arizona State University.  As our friendship deepened, it seemed inevitable that one day we would get married.

On my wife’s birthday 45 years ago, we went out for a special dinner at the Camelback Inn overlooking the lights of Phoenix.  It was a perfect setting to give her an engagement ring and ask her to marry me.

Recently, we went back to the Camelback Inn to celebrate our 45th anniversary.  The setting was beautiful and the food was great.  We took time to reflect on our journey together.

We have been very blessed to have four wonderful adult kids and seven grandchildren with another one on the way.   It has been an honor to serve together for over 40 years in two wonderful churches – 13 years in Arizona and 28 years here in Diamond Bar.

When we told the server at the restaurant that we were celebrating our 45th anniversary, he presented us with a special dessert at the end of our meal.  The chef had written “45th Anniversary” on the dessert plate.  We took a picture to capture the moment.  It really was a dinner to remember!

Let me encourage you to make time to express your love an appreciation to your husband or wife.  Make a date and plan a dinner to remember!  You will be glad you did and they will too!

Pastor Mark Hopper is from the Evangelical Free Church of Diamond Bar, 3255 South Diamond Bar Blvd.  Sunday services are 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.  For more information, call (909) 594-7604 or visit Efreedb.org.