Copy of my submission to the Chester Co. Independent.

Rev. T.Mark Peter and Lisa Anne Kelley Peter of 485 North Avenue Henderson TN.

 

 

What makes this love story so special is how a Hoosier girl at age 15 went visiting (after a family reunion) with relatives to stay several weeks and while with her cousins in Kansas met a Jayhawker 17 year old boy. Who knew that three years later these same two would find their way back to Hutchinson Kansas, get married in 1983, have their first daughter, Marisa in 1985, second daughter, Melissa in 1988 and third daughter, Melanie in 1989. Lisa attributes the team work involved in being Youth Leaders at church for 13 years to a lot of the unique success in their marriage. Lisa  would come up with ideas for special activities and her husband would really go out and elaborate on those events. This past May 2009, the whole family, including son-in-law Jake, took a missions trip to Ireland to celebrate Mark and Lisa's 26 years of marriage, Marisa and Jake's 1st year anniversary and the birth of Israel Jacob, and many other special events in all of their lives. Not that everything has always been hunky dory and blissful. The attacks have come upon this couple just as they do on everyone. Financial strain, stress from work, and other complications got to be so much at times that it didn't seem possible to keep the marriage afloat. It was during one of the extreme attacks that the family decided to move to Henderson Tennesse for a fresh start and new beginning. Lisa took a job as secretary at the Christian Life Academy where her children were enrolled, and Mark hired on for the Sherrifs department, first in Chester County and then in Madison County. Lisa thinks that her deep love for God and also her Irish determination (bullheadedness is what her mother calls it), to her commitment. Mark is very loving and tolerant of Lisa's many hobbies and thriftyness and that also is a big key to their success. Now a new transistion has presented itself and that is the emptynest syndrome. With daughters living in Hutchinson Kansas and Pueblo Colorado, now it is just back to Mark and Lisa. Mark's folks, Bernice and Larry Peter who live in Finger TN, and Lisa's parents, Keith and Nina Kelley of Massilon Ohio (both couples) celebrate 50 years of marriage this year. Their good examples also attribute much to Mark and Lisa's success thus far, and good Chrisitan leadership has also played a role. To answer the last two questions... The real secrets to lasting love, is really no secret - just take life one day at a time and remember that the tough times will get better. As mentioned above Determination is a real key factor. and you know when you are in love, when the two together practice that determination. (July 23, 1983-forever!) I love you Mark! (written and submitted by L.A. Peter).