24 years ago today, I married a boy of 19. I was just 18, and carrying his child.
Our marriage had all the makings of a colossal fail.
And there were several times we thought it would.
But here we are.
Remembering back over almost a quarter of a century,
the beautiful moments,
(the birth of our 6th and last child)
the imperfect moments,
(trying to smile for our daughter in the midst of a disagreement)
the hilarious moments,
(the infamous '80s party)
the magical moments,
(in Disney World)
the extra special moments,
(celebrating that first baby boy's wedding day)
and the moments inbetween....here we are.
In love. More than ever.
Holding it together, one day at a time.
Creating space for the two of us, wherever we find ourselves.
Creating time for the two of us, admist very busy lives.
Creating new ways to say 'I cherish you above all others'.
Today, I celebrate the 24 years-worth of days filled with moments I have had with this man.
Today, I embrace all the tomorrows I'll share with him for the rest of my days.
Wedding anniversaries are for remembering back over all the moments that have shaped two individuals into a work of art. Marriage takes more than commitment....it takes creativity, imagination, vision, and a willingness to be molded into a masterpiece together...unique to the world.
I'm proud of us.
Today I say again, there's no one else on earth I'd rather be creating and sharing a life with than this man.
I am my beloved's and he is mine.
You are still my heart's desire.
That was precious! Congrats on 24 yrs! I know it wasn't easy as I'm coming up on 22 years in February. Your right it takes work, but so worth it!!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a beautiful and lovely post...Happy Anniversary to you guys!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I must tell you that 36 years ago, I was just 18 and hubby was 19 we were married under very similar circumstances - we are still married, I'm sure nobody gave our marriage a chance. But we are more in love today than we have ever been - lots of pitfalls and trials, but it is so worth it!
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog a few days ago - can I just tell you that I have so enjoyed it! You have such wonderful ideas and you are very
funny! But, today, I cried. Again, Congratulations!
Sniff-sniff...too sweet! Just precious! HUGS!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary to you both...hope you have an awesome day together.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Linda
That is so sweet! I too have a similar story. I was 18, hubby was 19, and a baby to boot! We are on year 16! :) Great times!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! What a great tribute to your marriage and husband. I have been married for 16 1/2 years, and NO one thought it would last. My husband and I dated for 3 1/2 weeks, got engaged, and got married 3 months later. I knew from the moment I saw him I was going to marry him and everyone said we rushed too fast. Well, 16 years later, 2 kids later...we still love each other and are very happy. Enjoy your anniversay!
ReplyDeleteI'm proud of you, too. Happy Anniversary and many, many more wonder-filled years together! Love you!
ReplyDeleteYou're very lucky and very dedicated. Both admirable! Not many people can say that they made it through and still are in love. I applaud you, and I congratulate you both!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
What a beautiful tribute to your 24th Anniversary. You are both such beautiful people and are made for each other.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations and keep growing older together and more in love with each new year.
hugs~~Sissie
What a beautiful post! Congratulations and a toast to many more to come.
ReplyDeleteCongratulation! What an inspirational post, wow! And what an inspirational relationship and life!
ReplyDeleteKeep on loving each other and sharing lots of magical moments.
Hugs, Erika
this is beautiful!!! thank you so much for sharing the moments with us!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to both of you. You are so right, it does take a lot to keep love alive and to make a marriage work. You guys are wonderful together. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! What an achievement. You should be proud. You make a beautiful couple as well as a beautiful home.
ReplyDeleteDeborah
I teared up reading that! Congratulations, its so beautiful to see such a loving relationship. I hope and pray that mine will be so successful.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless!
Ramsey
Congratulations, what wonderful pictures :) Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary to you both! It's not easy these days. When you have something that works, cherish it!
ReplyDeletetaking a little break from painting, running to the store to look into getting blinds, and buying trim paint.
gail
Awwww, that's beautiful. Happy Anniversary! Hubby and I will be married 30 years this year. He was 20, I was 18 and already carrying #1. Very similar situations with many ups and downs and much love.
ReplyDeleteCindy -- Thank you for posting this. What a beautiful collection of pictures and memories. And how special that you would share your anniversary with us! Congratulations on 24 years!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I got married when I was 2 months preggo with Pierce and like you, we were doomed from the beginning, but through the ups and downs here we are. We'll be married 10 years in March!
beautiful - thank you for sharing from your heart
ReplyDeletePrecious! Precious! Precious! What a testimony to commitment and perserverance! It truly does get sweeter with time.
ReplyDeleteMay God bless you with many more years together!
Traci
Congratulations! Blessings to you both always!
ReplyDeleteOh Cindy, that was beautifully written! What a wonderful tribute to your marriage and your husband. Congratulations!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Claudia
Congratulations to the both of you!!! Such a heartfelt post, I enjoyed reading it. Makes me want to go hug and kiss my hubby right now! ;)
ReplyDeleteOops, let me try that again. Happy Anniversary, you two love birds! This post is just beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteCindy,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
I loved all the pictures and beautiful words you wrote.
Enjoy your day, well, all your days with him.
~Amy
Congratulations on your anniversary! And congratulations for winning the give away at A Day in the Life.
ReplyDeleteso sweet :) goosebumbs
ReplyDeleteAw, what a sweet post! Congrats!!!
ReplyDeleteThis post really touched my heart. Happy Anniversary to you both. I loved seeing all of the pictures and the sweet words that you said about your husband. I could feel the love that you have for him.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Lee Laurie
Congratulations! That is so beautiful and inspiring to see. Thank you for sharing that with us. You guys look soo happy! lulu
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post! and what a testimony to commitment!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Happy anniversary, you make a great couple!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! May you be blessed with many more years to come.
ReplyDeletewith love,
~Olivia
hApPy AnnIvErSaRy! Nowadays it is something to be proud of to make it that long. To keeping marriage sacred and working through those hard times, never giving up. That is a wonderful thing that you married so young with baby of promise growing inside and now can look back with those moments as beautiful memories. How blessed you are!
ReplyDeletehappy anniversary and god bless you both!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Way to "beat those odds!"
ReplyDelete-Trish
What a great post....Congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteLove prevails...
Lou Cinda
congratulations...quite a testimony! blessings!
ReplyDeletecongrats, you should be very very proud.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! You two make a beautiful couple and seeing all of the love that you have for each other makes my heart warm:)
ReplyDeleteCindy
ReplyDeleteAmazing and most beautiful post!!!! Love it and a much needed reminded that love never fails when it is given from the truest part of your hearts.
Congrats to you both
LOve
Kate
I have to agree with everyone. You are a beautiful couple.Those were beautiful words. Wishing you many more years of happiness.
ReplyDeleteAw, what beautiful post! This is true love. Happy anniversary to you two!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary! Thanks for sharing your blog.
ReplyDeleteBEST post I've read all day!!!!!! Congratulations to you - beautiful story the two of you share. my parents have been together since they were 14 and 15 - celebrating 40 years of marriage this year!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on 24 years! Thanks for sharing the walk down memory lane...You have some great pictures of the both of you. Enjoy...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCindy, I could totally feel the love looking at those photos. You two are very blessed. Congratulations on sticking through the hard times. Love it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a super sweet post! Happy Anniversary! I love the photos over the years. What a nice tribute to your marriage. I hope you have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteA beatiful tribute to the two of you - congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI have a similar story except we were both 19 with a baby on the way. It was scary but I was so in love with him that I knew we could make it work. We have been married almost 27 years, and I still feel like I won the lottery every time I look at him and know he is mine!! Congratulations on your anniversary! Why don't we hear more stories like ours instead of about all the failed ones?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, may you have many, many more years of togetherness!
ReplyDeletep.s. My sister and her husband married at 19 with a baby boy on the way and 20 years later they are still happier than most and the best of friends.
Lovely, lovely and more lovely. So well said and enjoyed each picture. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMy sister 'Michelle' commented in here and sent me the link. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I got together when we were both 18. By 19 we were pregnant with our son and we married at 20. I was six months pregnant.
I know we had the 'they'll never make it' you could hear the whispers and gossip at the wedding if you tried(which I didn't).
Today we've been married for 20 years and 8 months. We are happier each and every day and the love only continues to grow stronger. Our children are now 20 and 16(almost 17) and we are so happy with our independent lives. We just turned 40 in December(both of us) and we have so many good years ahead - just like you!
I wish you every happiness and I'm proud to see another couple who has done the 'impossible'. The odds were definitely against 'US' but we did it!
Congratulations! That is so sweet - brings a tear to my eye!
ReplyDeleteSweet--very sweet. Your children are blessed to have parents like you!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful tribute to your marriage and your husband. We're coming up on 24 years in April, and like you, people didn't think we'd make it. Maybe 6 kids was the number for people married in 86 :-)
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Marcia
You got me too. *sniff*
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful testimony for the love you two share. I couldn't be happier for you. :)
Donna
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post!
ReplyDeletethats so sweet,, Happy Anniversary to you both.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteLet's try this again. I just found your blog. Congratulations to both of you. A lovely, inspirational testimony to your marriage, your love, your commitment to each other and your family. This should appear on the front page of every paper in the US. Simply because this is the "good new" that inspires, builds up, gives hope, and blesses. What a story you two have and many, many more pages to come. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteLynn
Thank you for sharing such a lovely post. So inspiring. I sometimes take my better half for granted and I need to work more on showing him my appreciation. Thanks and congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful :) Congratulations on your anniversary and thanks for sharing. Your children are blessed to have your marriage as an example, love, commitment, bumps and all.
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Cindy.
hugs for you both,
rue
Oh Cindy - I love this and all the pictures through the years. Congratulations!!
ReplyDelete