I’ve been friends with Anne and her husband, Rob, since
they were first dating – and this past August they celebrated their 26th
wedding anniversary! A while ago I sent
out to married friends an email with a list of ten questions regarding marriage.
Most of you reading this blog are in the throes of
planning for your wedding and I thought it would be interesting and fun for you
to hear what can happen after you’ve walked down the aisle.
The following are Anne’s answers and I hope you’re as
moved by them as I was – and as soon as Rob gives me his answers, I’ll post
those, too!
Enjoy!
1. What do you know today about marriage that
there was no way you could have known before you got married?
How FUN it is! It is just nice to
know that there is someone out there who not only has your back but is actually
fun to be with! We laugh a lot.
2. What three words do you think of when you
think of your wedding day?
FUN – FAMILY – LOVE
3. Why haven’t you gotten divorced?
Really? Why would we ever get
divorced? We love each other. Laugh hysterically with each other. Have fun
together. Understand each other. We always joke that neither one of us would
ever be able to have an affair because we would have to come home and tell each
other all about it. Plus- who has the energy?
4. What three things are you grateful for in
your spouse?
So many more than 3 things but if
it had to be 3:
·
His complete generosity of spirit. He ALWAYS
puts me first (to the point where I have to tell him not to sometimes).
·
He is patient with me.
·
He shows me and tells me that his love for me is
unending and grows deeper everyday.
5. One sentence advice you’d give to a couple
planning to get married?
Be each other’s biggest fans. Never
put your spouse down to someone else. Talk about problems in private. And
forgive each other when things do go that way. The world is hard enough as it
is. Don’t make it harder for each other.
6. What has most surprised you about being
married?
How fast it has gone!
7. How has your partner helped you become who
you are today?
This is a really hard one because
he has shaped who I am more than anyone in my life. He has given me confidence
in myself and given me my strongest identity as a wife and a mother. Those two jobs are by far the most meaningful
experiences of my life. He has supported me in everything I have ever wanted to
do and encouraged me to do things I was too afraid to do.
8. Are you happy you had the celebration you had
– or do you wish you had eloped?
Very happy. Except that we didn’t
have the celebrant we really wanted. When I see some really great ideas of
weddings today I think that it’s cute but we really enjoyed having all of our
friends and family together to help us celebrate. That was most important to
us.
9. What did you experience at your wedding that
you hope other couples experience at theirs?
LOVE. All kinds of love. Our family
and friends and the whole day was filled with love.
10. In no more than 140 characters sum up your
thoughts on marriage!
We have always told our children,
“The most important decision you EVER make is who you marry.” They roll their
eyes at us because they have heard it so many times. But I think it is the
truest thing I know. Rob makes everything in my life better.
Life has thrown
some doozies at us. We have a special needs child who is now an adult. We have
had that call from the police for our most mischievous child. We have dealt
with illness and death. But there was never a single moment when I felt like we
were not a team. Coming home to Rob is the best part of my day and I thank God
everyday that He brought him into my life.
(This is more than 140 characters! )