FJ and Carole Griffitts’ love story. Okay. This sounds different than one of my usual posts. You’re right. It is.
Valentine’s Day is coming, so I thought I would write about love — one that continues in spite of great difficulties.
We celebrate 56 years on July 15. My disabling difficulties began 12 years into our marriage. That means Joe has lived 44 years with a wife limited in her physical abilities. (PS: I call FJ, Joe.)
The beginning
Our life began with a bang – an unlikely start. We met on a blind date. We were driving home when another car rammed ours because the drunk driver started before his light turned green. Since it was during the Vietnam era and Joe was Air Force, he received the ticket! At least, no one sustained serious injuries.
We dated a few weeks. Then Joe proposed, and I accepted. He spent the next four months in Guam. When he returned, we married at the first opportunity.
We were both Christians who came from Christian families. Since we had the full support of both families, we were off to a good start.
Several years later, Tom joined our family, and three years after that came Bill. I was fully able for several years, and we enjoyed our family time. Joe earned his BA and worked on his M.Div. Then the storms began.
A growing family and caregiving
The storms broke in all their fury when Bill was 7 and Tom 10 and Joe still had 2 years until graduation. Unable to continue working and helpless to do anything at home, Joe, Tom, and Bill had to do everything. I slowly improved for 2 years, Joe graduated, and we moved to his first church. Everyone believed my problems stemmed from my job. Since I no longer needed to work, we thought life would return to normal. It didn’t. However, the limitations were not as severe.
Life continued on its stormy way while the boys grew up, attended college, and got married.
The empty nest and caregiving
For the next 15 years, the storms came and went and we had some great sunbreaks and rainbow days. Our family grew as each grandchild came along. We enjoyed many get-togethers, including BBQs, camping, and travels. Joe and I (with contractors) remodeled our house. I planned; they did the work.
My condition remained relatively stable. At least, until new problems surfaced. Since then, our life has been subject to steadily increasing disabilities. Severe storms, too.
Joe has been a fantastic caregiver for these 44 years. But the last dozen have seen his responsibilities increase. Now, he does most of the housework, shopping, and taking me anywhere I need to go. He has had five major surgeries and three strokes.
Obviously, this impacted our life. Even so, our love has remained strong. We have had a great marriage. We do credit God’s enablement for this.
Summing up FJ and Carole Griffitts’ love story
It has been a wild ride at times, that’s for sure.
We are proud of our sons and their successes in their professions. We love our daughters-in-law and our seven grandchildren. And then, most of the grandchildren are grown and are successful adults. Several are in, or have graduated, college.
Our wonderful life demonstrates it is possible for love to survive – and even flourish – amid difficulties.
Care to share your love story?
Investigate Further
See more family photos on my new website. Keep checking for additional pictures.
Read more of our story in Connected Carole’s page.
