My husband and I are celebrating our 30th anniversary this summer. Here’s one of my favorite candid shots, taken as we were leaving the chapel immediately after the wedding ceremony…
In 1993 we were 24 (him) and 21 (me). Now that I have children around this age, I can fully appreciate how very young we were to be making such a giant commitment. But we were also smart enough to recognize that we were in the perfect stage of life–no kids, no mortgage–to work overseas for awhile. So we followed his job as a tennis pro to the Caribbean island of Anguilla, where we lived for three years. It was during this time period, in 1994, that I tried my hand at writing for the first time. I fell instantly in love with it. For the next four years, I wrote manuscript after manuscript, submitted them to literary agents and publishers, and received nothing but rejections.
Then he was offered a Head Pro position at T Bar M Racquet Club in Dallas, where he’s been ever since and has served as the Athletic Director for many years.
In 1998 I received “the call” from an editor at Avon Books in New York who wanted to buy and publish my debut novel. That general market historical romance (now out of print) released in 1999.
When we added our first baby to the family in 2000, I’d published two books and had the third in the publishing pipeline. I’d intended to continue writing after our daughter arrived, but I was overwhelmed by the demands of taking care of her and burned out on writing by then. What I really, really wanted in that moment was to set the writing aside. And so I did. I thought I was quitting forever, which was bittersweet. Sweet because I was eager to stop. Bitter because that ending was hugely disappointing. Despite my years of effort and big dreams, my writing career had been unremarkable and short-lived.
Our son arrived in 2003. When he was almost five two things happened. 1) I heard God saying, Becky, it’s time to write again. This time, books that will glorify Me. I was incredibly surprised because I hadn’t planned on resuming writing . . . ever. 2) After two years of infertility, we learned we were expecting our third baby. I DEFINITELY hadn’t planned on resuming writing while taking care of two young kids and expecting a third. But those God calls, He equips. I suddenly wanted to write. I was suddenly inspired. When I sat back down at my computer and opened a blank document and started typing, I felt that great love of writing that I’d once had come rushing back.
I began the manuscript that would become My Stubborn Heart in August of 2008, working only during the hours when my daughter was in elementary school and my son in pre-school. By the time the new baby arrived in late April of 2009, I was just a few chapters from typing The End, but I set the book aside and didn’t open it for ten months.
My mother-in-law has always been a huge supporter of my writing (and everything and everyone else connected with her family). “I’ll come over as many times as needed,” she told me, “to watch the baby so that you can finish your book.” And so, she took care of the baby. I wrote. And the rest is history.
Our little ones grew.
And grew.
At this point, His Highness and I have lived the majority of our lives together. Friends, partners, spouses, allies. We were young when we spoke our vows, but we’ve been living them out from that day on. When I think back on these thirty years of joys and sorrows, ups and downs, I’m abundantly grateful. And so very cognizant of God’s incredible goodness and faithfulness to us.
We’re trusting Him with our family, our work, our future.
“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:4
Becky Wade
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Happy anniversary, Becky! I loved hearing about your marriage journey! Ken and I are celebrating our 49th anniversary today! (And it’s our daughter and her husband’s 22nd!) We were even younger than you guys, but I can testify that it just gets sweeter and sweeter as the years fly by! May you have many more precious years together!
Congratulations, Deb!
Deb! Happy anniversary. How exciting that you’ll be celebrating 50 years next summer. That’s going to call for something extra special!
Happy anniversary to you and your husband!
I love this post. So very inspiring to me. Thank you!
Thank you!
Happy Anniversary! What a great story and life! I sold my first book in 1993! This post brought back so many of my own memories. I hope you celebrate big! And I’m glad you went back to writing. I’ve enjoyed your books!!
I’m glad I went back to writing, too! It’s been such a blessing. I love my job and it’s amazing to think that God has sustained me through 12 (almost 13) books since I returned to it.
Happy Anniversary and congratulations! Thanks for sharing your writing journey, it is so inspiring!
My pleasure!
Congratulations, Becky! I love your story.
I married my husband at 19, a month before I turned 20, and he was 24. We were married for 57 years when he passed in January of this year.
May you have many more wonderful years together, and keep writing!
Thank you so much, Betty! I’d love to follow your example of a 57 year marriage.
I ❤️ everything about this post. Happy Anniversary!
Thank you!
Loved this post, Becky! And Happy Anniversary!!
Enjoyed seeing your family photos over the years.
I also have 2 girls and a boy (all three grown) and am amazed at how the years have flown! But sooo many blessings! 🙂
How nice to know you’re also the mom of two girls and a boy, Patti Jo! We have that in common. 🙂
Happy Anniversary Becky! What an incredible milestone. As someone whose still single, you & your husband’s story of your marriage & faithfulness to Him is inspiring! Thank you for your writing! ☺️📖💚
Thank you for the sweet note and anniversary wishes!
Hi Becky, I loved reading more about you and your family and your writing journey! Lots of blessings and growth along the way for everyone!
Yes! So many blessings and so much growth. 🙂
Aww…beautiful tribute and happy 30th!
Thank you, Shelley!
Happy Anniversary to you and his Highness!
Thanks, Kay!
Congratulations! My husband and I will be married 30 years this spring, so it was fun to see your family grow and think of my own family’s journey through time 😊 Thank you for responding to God’s call to pick up your writing again. You are an inspiration ❤️
Thanks for the encouragement! It’s fun to hear from other women who’ve been married the same amount of time. Instant relatability!