“Guess what today is!” I asked the kids this morning as they waited for waffles.
“A holiday! No school!” Ryley wrongly, but enthusiatically, guessed.
“It’s our anniversary!”
This news was greeted with yawns and demands the toaster step up its toasting because everyone is starving and may we have juice, too? It means nothing to them in their naive youth.
There is no Anniversary Squirrel who leaves gifts for the children of the celebrating couple. They would be disappointed anyway, since tradition dictates the ninth anniversary as Pottery. Here, Sam, a Thomas the Tank Engine soup urn.
It means nothing to them, yet it means everything.
Hubby and I have a lot in common, including growing up in families with the original married parents. My parents will celebrate their 37th anniversary next month, hubby’s parents will celebrate their 37th in January. We saw the good times and the not-so-good. We witnessed the mortifying spectacle of our parents kissing and hugging, dancing around kitchens, and laughing. We saw them deal with the deaths of parents, family moves, family changes, empty nests, and retirement. Together. It means everything, even as adults, to see them persist on and on.
It is inspiring. I have a very deep and serious sense of responsibility to show our kids marriage is serious business, a commitment made unequaled and unmatched, except for their commitment to God. It is also a best-friendship, a source of support, the soft place to land, and the launching pad.
Marriages die. I know that. Some of the dearest people to me are divorced or from families of divorce. My mother once told me, when I asked her about divorce, that it was never a word in their vocabulary.
When two people wed, saying their vows to be persistent, forgiving, patient, and loving through everything life launches their way, the future is listening and keeping everything crossed. I knew we wanted children. I thought about them as I said my vows to God. I thought about a lot of things to the point I don’t remember much of the ceremony:
The trivial: is my hair holding up under my veil? The profound: this is a model of Christ’s love for the Church. The silly: that soccer ball groom’s cake is going to turn everyone’s lips black.
Yes, it did. Yes, it is. Yes, Grandma looked like a Goth chick.
Tomorrow: The honeymoon
Best wishes for this anniversary and many more.
Happy Anniversary – what a wonderful day!!!
Too bad more people don’t take it as seriously. Happy Anniversary! Hope you at least get time to eat a waffle with Hubby!
Happy Anniversary! May you have many more years of happiness together.
Happy Anniversary! I am loving this series on your wedding and marriage. Can’t wait to hear about the honeymoon. You and hubby had good role models for marriage and you are providing your kids with the same good model. May the two of you be blessed with many more years together!
Congratulations!!!!! It doesn’t seem like nine years ago… my how time flys. And your hair looked fabulous (since I did your hair…)
Happy Anniversary! My parents were great role models as parents, but unfortunately not as a married couple since they divorced when I was 11.
I love that your mom said that divorce was not in their vocabulary. My husband and I have the same motto! Too bad more couples don’t feel that way!
Happy day.
Happy anniversary! Most of all, here’s to many more!
Happy anniversary. Your children are very fortunate to have you and your hubby as role models for a successful marriage!!
Happy anniversary! May you be blessed with many more wonderful years together!
I wanna Thomas the Tank Engine soup uuuuuuurn! 🙂
Happy Anniversary.
Happy day. It is wonderful to read about good marriages. I’m going to go write about it and reference you. Hope you don’t mind.
You are blessed–first, to have parents who demonstrated a long, healthy marriage and secondly to have found a man who shares your commitment. (I must see a picture of the soccer ball cake.) ((Your groom looks like he’s about 14 and I can’t see your face–do you look as young, too?)
*racked with fits of laughter*
We were both 25 when we got married. We watched the wedding video last night and were amazed—we looked so fresh-faced and wide-eyed. Now we’re just wide-eyed.
Happy anniversary to the two of you!!
Happy Anniversary! You are both blessed to have parents that have persevered for so many years!
As I’m approaching my 1st anniversary it’s lovely to read about you having your 9th!!
It is always great to read about people who take their wedding vows seriously!
Happy Anniversary.