Love, Ever After

Today is my sweet parent's 24th anniversary. Twenty-four. Is that not an incredible accomplishment?

I feel like in today's world, we're lucky if a marriage lasts 72 days, much less twenty-four years. I have no idea how they've done it. Actually, that's not true. I do know how they did it, and how they will continue to do it. My parents love Christ first. They love each other second.

My generation longs for the passion and the romance of true love. I am so blessed to see it in action everyday. It's the way Daddy gets up in the middle of the night to help Mama. It's when Mama reminds me to make dinner so that there's food on the table when Dad gets home. It's the alarm set on Daddy's phone to remind him to take Mama out to dinner, just the two of them. It's the outfits Mama sets out for Dad, so he doesn't have to dig to find his clothes. It's when one calls the other in the middle of the day, just because they want to talk to each other. You'd think they'd be tired of each other after twenty-four years! Ha.

Here's to my parents, Steve and Mariana. Here's to surviving 24 years of marriage, and here's to another 24 years of marriage. Here's to love and laughter and health and fun in the future. Thank you for putting the Lord first, your relationship with each other second, and us girls third. Thank you for loving us girls.Thank you for being such an inspiration. I love you both.

Proverbs 18:22- "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord."

Ephesians 5:33- "He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church."

Hebrews 13:4- "Let marriage be held in honor among all."

"All that I'm after is a life full of laughter, as long as I'm laughin' with you
I'm thinkin' that all that still matters is love ever after, after the life we've been through
'Cause I know there's no life after you"

"Let me call you sweetheart
I'm in love with you
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too
Keep the lovelight glowing in your eyes so true
Let me call you sweetheart
I'm in love with you"

Anniversary Playlist:
May I by Trading Yesterday, Never Stop by SafetySuit, A Thousand Years by Christina Perri, Everything Is Okay by Turn Off The Stars, Falling In by Lifehouse, You And Me by Lifehouse, She's Everything by Brad Paisley, Hundred More Years by Francesca Battistelli, Bless The Broken Road by Rascal Flatts, L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole, Just The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra


Why Marriage………..by Mari Nichols-Haining

Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person,
With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body…

Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me,
Who won’t hold them against me,
Who loves me when I’m unlikable,
Who sees the small child in me, and
Who looks for the divine potential of me…

Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
With someone who thanks God for me,
With someone I feel blessed to hold…

Because marriage means opportunity
To grow in love in friendship…

Because marriage is a discipline
To be added to a list of achievements…

Because marriages do not fail, people fail
When they enter into marriage
Expecting another to make them whole…

Because, knowing this,
I promise myself to take full responsibility
For my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness
I create me,
I take half of the responsibility for my marriage
Together we create our marriage…

Because with this understanding
The possibilities are limitless.

 

~~~~~~~XO, Bethany