Hi friends,
Mike and I celebrated twenty-eight years of marriage this week. Twenty-eight years. We were so young when we married, and we married quickly. We’d only been dating three weeks when Mike proposed, and we were married four months after that. Two months later, I found out we were expecting our first child. Our friends and, to be fully transparent, our families gave our marriage the shelf life of a banana. But here we are twenty-eight years later with two beautiful daughters, a sweet son-in-law, and two blond grandsons running around causing mayhem and bringing such joy to our life.
We met when Mike asked me to dance, and I can honestly say it’s turned out to be the dance of a lifetime. It hasn’t always been perfect by any means, but we’ve—through the grace of God—stuck through it. This is where God’s sense of humor comes in. We’re both stubborn to a fault, strong-willed and, strangely enough, our version of flirting looks more like squabbling to outsiders. We truly believe, our kids included, that the Trinity looked at the two of us and God said, “You want to see something hilarious? Let’s put these two together.”
It’s definitely been a hilarious ride, even through the roughest times. When my health tanks, or my depression flares, Mike still finds a way to make me laugh. We rely on each other, and we treasure the same things—our faith, family, the beach, cuddling on the couch with a fun movie, and going for hikes. In regard to writing, he’s my harshest critic and my strongest supporter.
Today and every day, I’m thankful to God for pairing us—even if it was out of humor. As Vanessa Redgrave says in Letters to Juliet, “Life is the messy bits.” And, it’s in the messy bits where we’ve found the strongest part of our love. We always say…
“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.” –A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh
Reader Question: How long have you been married? What’s one of your favorite memories? If you’re not married yet, and you could meet your husband anywhere in the world, where would you want to meet him?
I can’t wait to hear your answers!
May God bless and keep you,
Dani
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We’ve been married 32 years. My favourite memory is the trip to Spain for our 25th.
Hi Liz,
Congrats on 32 years! We loved Spain but only were able to visit Mallorca and Barcelona, but I could easily live in Barca. Did you have a favorite town or city while there?
Hit 35 years this May in a pandemic. Yes, God certainly has a sense of humor. And our families gave us about a year! It hasn’t always been easy (dang hard at times), but like you, we have stuck it out.
Congrats on 35 years. That’s wonderful. LOL. Glad to know we weren’t the only ones. And, you’re right. It can be dang hard at times, but sticking to it, never giving up…you find blessings together.
Happy anniversary and congrats on 28 years! My husband and I were high school sweethearts and married at age 18. Our friends and family didn’t think our marriage would last either, but by the grace of God, we will celebrate 39 years this December. And yes, God has a sense of humor! We are complete opposites. Sometimes that’s good, but other times … well, I’m sure you understand. 🙂
Thanks so much. Oh. Wow. High school sweethearts. That’s so cool. Super congrats on 39 years. That’s amazing. And, yes, LOL…I definitely understand.
It will be 28 years for us in January. We’ve gone through 6 years of active military service, with 11 moves in the first 12 years of marriage, struggled with infertility, then the Lord blessed with 3 biological children and an adopted one too. It’s been a wild ride but I wouldn’t trade it. Oh and we dated for over 4 years before we married… can’t imagine getting engaged as quick as you did. Lol.
Oh how fun! Early congrats on 28 years. That’s funny. My hubby was also military for 6 years. Moves can definitely be hard, but like you said, also a wild ride. Praying blessings for you and your sweet family.
Dani, I could relate to so much of what you shared. But to answer your question, let’s stick to my favorite memory. I’m a widow now, but Jim and I were married 47 years. The day before he went to be with the Lord at age 72, I caught him staring at me across the breakfast table and asked him, “What are you doing, honey?” He looked at me the dreamy way I remembered from our courting days and said, “I can’t get enough of looking at you.” I was 69 at the time but suddenly felt like the 21 year old he had fallen in love with so many years before.
Oh my goodness, Beth. I just teared up and got goosebumps. What an amazing memory to treasure, and 47 years–what a blessing. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Love, love, love this Dani! Three weeks dating! I joke that the Lord had to put Paul and me together for three YEARS (serving on a team in a dried up mining town in France) to convince Paul to keep me on his team for the rest of our lives. We just celebrated 35 years! (And PS I hired the woman publicist and she’s been a delight. So thankful for your advice.)
Hi Elizabeth,
So now I know how you got to France 🙂 Congrats on 35 years. That’s wonderful and I’m so glad it’s working out well with the publicist.
Happy to chit-chat anytime.
I’ve been married about 2 weeks, lol! Aug. 21st! I’m 37 and have never been married before, so it felt like a long wait! My husband is 42 and also has never been married, which I think is kind of special in this day and age. 🙂
That is special. Congrats to you both!
<3 Thanks!
Dani–I love you story, thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks so much, Becky. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Congratulations. Tomorrow we will be married 37 years. We have a son who is 36 and married now for four years and a daughter who is 34. I think that God did the same with us. We are both introverts and tend to hold things in, so when it bubbles to the surface, well an explosion will happen. Thank goodness we know about taking our problems to God or we would be a mess. Both the kids are introverts also and they learned from our mistakes and what we did right.We have a lot of wonderful memories in our married life. We look forward to many more.
Congrats on 37 years. Hope you do something fun to celebrate tomorrow. I LOVE your description of things bubbling to the surface and then it explodes. <3
Love this so much, Dani! Wish more people had your wonderful attitude! Ken and I celebrated 46 last month! Like you we married young and sometimes our flirting looks more like squabbling too but he’s still the best decision I EVER made!
Wow. Congrats on 46 years. That’s wonderful! Sounds like we’re very similar in that way 🙂
Congratulations on your anniversary! Blessings to you both!
Thanks so much, Jennifer. Hope you’re doing well.
My husband and I met when I came to be a counselor at the camp where he was also counseling. I got off the bus and he told the guy standing next to him that I was the girl he was going to marry! 47 years later, we are still best friends and he is my soulmate!
My husband and I celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary at the end of March. We met on a blind date for dinner arranged by great mutual friends and at their home. Since we were both out of college and working, we were more mature than some who get married, and our faith has kept us close to each other and to God. Congratulations on your 28 years together! May you have many, many more!
We have been married for 51 years. And we just bought our first house. We are very tired and sore from moving. The move was just across town 3.5 miles. Lots of trips in the pickup.
This summer we have been married 52 years. How time flies when you are having fun and too busy to take notice.
Congratulations on your significant anniversary!
We have been married 36 years. I also met my husband when he asked me to dance. Our stories differ however, I always say we met at a disco because my friends and I went there to dance. He always says we met at a bar because he and his friends went there to drink beer. Those who know us now can not see him doing a disco dance nor see me going to a bar!
We met in the Air Force. We met on Feb 9th, got engage on Valentines Day and got married October 21st Been married 20 years next month. Wow, where has the time gone. We are still over the moon in love with each other. Six months after we got married we got saved at the same time. Been in the honeymoon stage ever since. God has been so good to us. Better than we deserve.
“…it’s in the messy bits where we’ve found the strongest part of our love.” I ADORE that! Happy anniversary!
Congrats on 23 years!!!!
It’s in the messy bits. I love that!
I love your love story! So fun!
My husband and I just celebrated our 11th Anniversary on Sept. 12th. We met at church, were close friends, then closer friends, then a couple. We got engaged 2 months after becoming a couple and got married 6 months later.
We have a big age difference, he is older, so many of our family members were skeptical that it was a good thing for us to be together, but God has richly blessed us. We are a perfect match personality wise, love doing the same things and love being outside with our two boys.
God definitely has a sense of humor, and the fun things He throws at us in our relationships keeps things new and interesting.
The minister was taking our details. It was my husband’s turn..
Father’s name ? Joseph, Mother’s name? Mary.
Where born ?
My husband was born in Eden, in the far north of England.
Smiling, almost laughing, the minister said, ‘ A marriage made in Heaven…
So far… Time will tell.
We met one dark and stormy night, 1,000 feet high on a mountain, in a thunderstorm. His tent was washed away, so he asked for refuge… Six weeks later, he proposed. True, honestly…