All because two people fell in love

ByDeborah Raney
36 Comments

DSCN6336Today is my 40th wedding anniversary. (Not sure how that can be since I’m only 35, but it’s true.) And oh how quickly those four decades have flown! It seems like just yesterday I was that wide-eyed nineteen-year-old heading down the aisle on my father’s arm, wearing a dress my mom sewed—like she did all my clothes. At the end of that aisle was the man I loved more than life itself. I’m not sure Daddy would have let me go so easily if he’d known that man would haul me off to New York only four months later.

When you’re a Kansas farm girl, New York is like a foreign country. But the two years we lived there were some of the best times of our life together. We had each other and the Lord. Not two dimes to rub together, and no mamas nearby to run home to. We had to figure it out for ourselves. And we did.

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Oh, if we could have seen glimpses of the joys to come. But then, we would have also seen glimpses of the hard times. Ken always jokes that we’ve been happily married for thirty-fill-in-the-blank however long we’ve been married minus two years. It’s not that we had a bad run there, but we figure the bad days—or weeks—probably add up to somewhere close to two years in total. And they’re mostly forgotten now. We’re in a good time these days. A time when God has taught us that the little stuff doesn’t matter…and it’s all little stuff.

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Ken’s grandparents on their 75th anniversary. They celebrated six more before Grandma died, just 18 days before their 82nd anniversary. Grandpa followed her Home four months later.

Forty years seems like for-ev-er. But we have a history, a wonderful legacy of long (really long) happy marriages. Between both of our parents and four sets of grandparents, the anniversaries add up to well over 300 years! That’s a lot of till-death-do-us-part. We want to be counted in that amazing legacy. And we figure if we’re stuck with each other for almost 82 years the way Ken’s grandparents were, we might as well enjoy it! Shoot, if we match their record, we’re not even halfway there yet!

Happy anniversary, babe! Here’s to the next 40!

 

 

 

 

And the best part? What happens forty years after two people fall in love. . .

 

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L to R: oldest son Tarl, youngest son Trey (with our only granddaughter) and wife Jen (their baby boy is on my lap); son-in-law Ryan and our oldest daughter Tobi (the three little boys are theirs); youngest daughter Tavia and husband Collin.

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DEBORAH RANEY's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched Deb’s writing career. Forty books later, she's still creating stories that touch hearts and lives. Her novels have won RWA's RITA Award, the ACFW Carol Award, the National Readers Choice Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She is also a four-time Christy Award finalist. Deb is on faculty for several national writers’ conferences and served on the executive board of the 2,500-member American Christian Fiction Writers organization for 18 years before retiring in 2022. She is a recent transplant to Missouri, having moved with her husband, Ken Raney, from their native Kansas to be closer to kids and grandkids. They love road trips, e-biking, Friday garage sale dates, and breakfast on the screened porch overlooking their wooded backyard.

36 Comments

  2. Happy Anniversary!!!! What a blessing! And what a family legacy! Love that last picture. God is indeed good.

  3. Happy Anniversary to you both. Nice to hear there were some rough times. Makes it more normal. And helps to know there will be struggles. All things work together to make it is what it is today. Love how you love others and enjoy each other.

    1. So true, Kathy. There WILL be struggles. Almost impossible for two humans to live under the same roof and not have the occasional fallout. But it’s SO very worth it to ride out the storms and wait for the sun to shine again. As many times as it takes. And to forgive and move on and celebrate and emphasize what’s truly good in a marriage.

  4. Congratulations. Marriages are to be celebrated. 40 is a milestone. It is all about leaving a legacy, and you two are well on your way. God certainly has blessed you both. We are now in our 26 year! Yay God. Blessings.

  7. A beautiful family and heritage! You have the same smile as in your wedding picture!

  10. Our crazy blog is acting up again and I haven’t been able to reply to individual posts, but just want to say thanks so much for all the wishes and congratulations. I feel very blessed, not just in the family God has given me, but in the richness of friends like all of you!

  11. Congrats, Deb! What a wonderful legacy. Your smile never changes. So sweet and joyful. So thankful for the marriage you are celebrating. A true happily-ever-after!

  13. Congratulations to you and your Dearly Beloved, Deb! Have a wonderful Ruby Wedding Anniversary. and may the next 40 years be as good as the first! You two are truly blessed to have each other. I love the picture of your entire family and you look fantastic my dear! 🙂

  14. Again, thanks so much, everyone! And I should mention that our oldest daughter and her husband share our anniversary. 13 years for them today! (They are the couple standing directly behind us in the family photo…the three little boys belong to them. The little girl and the baby boy on my lap belong to our youngest son and his wife.)

  15. For those who’ve asked, I’ve captioned the family photo. Very proud of the precious kids God gave us, the wonderful people they’ve married (who we prayed for from the time our kids were born!), and the adorable grandkids they’ve presented us!

  16. Double Celebration!You do keep it in the Family, Deb:).Did you know the 13th wedding anniversary symbolises Lace? Do hope your daughter and son in law have a wonderful day!:)

  17. Beautiful story and legacy. It brought tears to my eyes and I have known all of those that have
    celebrated their lives together. Love and thanks for the story and the wonderful years that you
    have shared with me and My son, Ken. (KW)

    1. Mom, Ken and I have both said that our parents get so much credit for our happy marriage…not just because you both set godly examples for us to follow, but you also have never interfered or taken sides, or any of the things that so often derail a marriage. Thanks to you, I have never gotten the whole mother-in-law jokes thing because I have the best! Love you much!

  19. CONGRATULATIONS DEB and KEN!!!! 🙂 Wow Deb–your post was so sweet—I have chills (the good kind) after reading it.
    Loved the photos too—especially the last one of your precious family. 🙂 Wanted to add that Tavia looks beautiful! Of course you all look wonderful, and what a special time that must’ve been having your family all together!
    Hugs, Patti Jo

    1. Thank you, Patti Jo! Tavia grew up, didn’t she? 🙂 And she starts her first full-time teaching job this week. We’re so proud of our teacher daughters (and son-in-law teacher, too).

  22. Happy Anniversary!
    And almost 82 years…awesome. 🙂
    My husband says he wants to live to be 100 just so we can have a long marriage and can say “this is what a good marriage is”. We are going on 29 years now.

  27. Thank you yet again, everyone, for the wonderful anniversary wishes! We just got back from going out for pizza, in memory of our very first meal as a married couple. 🙂 Now there’s a homemade apple crisp (made with apples from our tree!) in the oven, to be eaten later (with generous scoops of ice cream, of course!) It’s been a very good day! Looking foward to another 40 years’ worth!

  29. Thanks for the touching post and beautiful pics, Deborah!! Happy 40th to you and Ken – hope your day was full of blessings, joy, and sweet surprises!!

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