Luis G. Lobo and I are married 26 years today. Now I could sit and write all about our beautiful love story and how he's the best thing that ever happened in my life and how we will love each other until the end of time. Well some of that is true! But let's be honest here! In 26 years of marriage, you've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly!
Over 26 years, Luis G. Lobo and I have loved, grown, loved, changed, loved, argued, loved, raised children, loved, traveled to absolutely amazing places, loved, had thoughts of packing a small bag and going on a sabbatical...for like a year...alone, loved, disagreed, loved...and this list could go on and on and on! But if you notice, there is a common thread...26 years of LOVE! 26 years is a long time to be stuck with one person. Oh wait, did I say stuck? Well not stuck in a marriage, or stuck with each other, but we have stuck together like glue! Through thick and thin we stick together like a bottle of Gorilla Glue!
TEAM LOBO was officially formed on April 30, 1988, but I think the real deal for TEAM LOBO was sealed with the birth of our second child, Andres, in 1992. Not because he was born, but the timing of his birth. Four weeks after Andres was born, Luis was transferred and we were moving from one state to another. So we decided this might be a good time for me to become a stay home Mom! Upon arriving to our new home, Thomas was starting 2nd grade and Andres was 12 weeks old.
Not going to lie; becoming a stay home mom was a huge adjustment for me! I loved working! I loved getting up every day, getting dressed up, going out into the world and talking to adult people. So basically I cried at some point of the day, every day, for about a year. Luis would come home and say, "My goodness, just go back to work! You don't have to be a stay home mom! The children will be fine whatever you do!" And I knew he was right, but I would cry harder and say, "But what kind of mother doesn't want to stay home with her baby, and be the class mom for her 2nd graders class, and be a PTA board member... and PTA president??? Like what kind of mother has this opportunity and doesn't just jump at the chance and thank God for it every day???" Well eventually I got there, and became a VERY happy stay home mom and have never looked back.
OK, so back to 26 years of marriage... Upon settling into being a stay home mom, Luis and I truly became TEAM LOBO! Luis cleared the way for me to put all focus on our children, our home and being a community volunteer working almost full time for many organizations over the years. He has always called me a domestic engineer, and even when I say, I'm good with being called a stay home mom, he says, no way, you are so much more. And I cleared the way for Luis to focus on his career. It has been 26 years of hard work on both of our parts. Luis works 60 plus hours a week, he travels, he is also out in the community, volunteering and doing amazing things, and most of all he is a great Dad! I handle every other aspect of our lives from buying and selling our homes and cars, to uprooting our family and moving us 7 times, to house repairs, raising the children, etc., etc., etc., you name it and I do it. Luis does his thing, I do my thing, and together we support each other in our perspective roles on TEAM LOBO. I do believe each of us supporting the other has made all the difference in our 26 years of marriage.
What I can tell you about 26 years of teamwork is it has paid off big time. TEAM LOBO has three beautiful children who we could not be more proud of and 2 beautiful grand children...so far, yes we want more in the future. We are also raising our nephew who will turn 12 this May. We are very proud of him as well. Together we have built a life, a home, and we have both worked hard to support the communities in which we have lived.
So here's to TEAM LOBO!!! We march on through the good, the bad and the ugly! Why? Because when it comes down to it, through thick and thin, there is one common thread; LOVE. And LOVE always wins!
