Happy Anniversary, Hon!

Dale and I were married 18 years ago today! I thought it would be fun to reminisce on how it all began! We first met when mutual friends, Paul and Debi Hoffman, introduced us to each other at the Kingsdale Fire Company where Dale was playing music. (August 27, 1988) I can still remember Paul's words, "Dale, this is Gwenda Wagner. Gwenda, this is Dale Eyler. Ok, I've introduced you, the rest is up to you." Paul then walked away! This was during a break in the music. We talked with each other throughout the entire intermission. Just before getting ready to go back on stage, Dale handed me a pen and notebook, asking me to write down my phone number, which I did. I really wasn't expecting to hear from him, but he called me two days later on my 24th birthday, and asked me out!

Our first date was to a steak house in Hanover. Can't remember the name, but it has long since gone out of business. At the end of our night Dale explained that he had several music engagements coming up that would take him out of state, back and forth for a few weeks. His next several weekends were booked. He said he would call me when that was all over, in about a month. I'm thinking, "Sure, you'll call me in a month. Whatever." I really never thought I would hear from him again. However, true to his word, he called me a month later and asked me out again!

It was on our second date that Dale taught me about the Plan of Salvation. It all made perfect sense. (I had always known I lived with my Father in Heaven before coming to Earth.) It was at about this same time that our mutual friends, the Hoffman's, also introduced me to two missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I began the missionary discussions and continued dating Dale. Let me make one thing clear, when I say Dale and I were dating, it was all strictly platonic. There was not even any hand holding! Our dating continued in this manner until a month AFTER my baptism into the Church -- eight months. Dale told me later he didn't want me joining the church because of him. It needed to be for the right reasons, and it was. I think this speaks volumes about Dale's character. Dale also told me later that he knew when we met that I would one day join the church.

We continued dating. It was New Year's Eve of 1989 when Dale first told me that he loved me. In early summer of 1990 we started talking about getting married. In August of that year we applied for our marriage license. We then had our November 3 rd wedding in the Washington DC Temple after dating two years and two months.

Our wedding day was beautiful! Temperatures must have been in the upper 60's, it was warm and sunny. I couldn't have asked for a better day! Now here we are, 18 years and seven children later! I am so blessed to have Dale as my partner and eternal companion. Not a day goes by that I don't thank my Father in Heaven for him. Dale is loving, understanding, supportive, protective, and a great provider to me and our children. I know this is hard for people to beleive when I say this, but he has never spoken harshly to me, never raised his voice to me in the more than twenty years that I've known him. I love Dale with all my heart! Happy Anniversary, Hon! I love you!!