REMINISCING

It's a special time for me as my beloved and I have just celebrated our wedding anniversary. At times like these we tend to think back on our lives together and remember the milestones.

This photo is a cover back when people listed to L.P.s (Long Playing records.) It was fun to record because our son who was studying violin at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music joined us and played a couple of duets with his dad. We included him as he would sometimes accompany us on our ministry trips.

We've retained this and now use it on a CD  with new original music I wrote some time later.

The photo was taken in our living room by the old pot bellied stove. We now live many miles away and this this old house is now the home and business of an estate agent. I guess because it's well placed on a busy street corner.

We constantly thank God for our marriage over these years. Like any marriage it's had it's 'ups and downs' but if there has ever been any discord between us, we never go to bed without getting things right and that includes saying "I'm sorry." We have learned to respect each others' differing opinions and act with courtesy (as you would with even a stranger.) And we have proved the old adage, "the family that prays together, stays together."

That's enough of my reminiscing for now, but as it was a special anniversary, I've enjoyed it. I really hope you, my dear reader, will try to remember to build up your own marriage relationship with love and care. It will always bless you in your own heart and soul. A joy filled marriage is close to the Lord's heart. 

Why don't you read I Corinthians chapter 13 in the Holy Bible for the true meaning of love.

ANNIVERSARY HAPPINESS

Author Megan DiMario shares why she and her husband are riding on a Greyhound bus.

35 years ago today I awoke to an overcast day. Less than a month before, my honey and I made the decision to live for Christ. It changed our lives! (We lived separately until our wedding day.)

Snow wasn't predicted, but as I prepared to meet my groom it began to fall, and fall, and fall.

Meanwhile, Carl flipped open his Bible. The passage his gaze fell upon was Isaiah 1:18. "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow." Such a beautiful promise!

Such a great 35 years of adventure, traveling through the ups and downs of life together. I'm blessed, and I know it.

His family rented a Greyhound bus to drive up from Long Island to Wynantskill, NY. We hopped aboard and rode with them to our reception.

What fun memories to share, Megan!

RECIPE for HAPPINESS

In our local paper I read about a couple who had been married for many years and had just celebrated their wedding anniversary.

Mr Leo Antich had some advice for young couples. He said, The key to a successful relationship is to understand each other and be able to compromise.

That sounded like some very wise words. In my kitchen I have a plaque with similar thoughts and I'd like to share it with you:

 RECIPE  FOR  HAPPINESS

Two heaping cups of Patience,  One heartful of Love, Two handfuls of Generosity,

One headful of Understanding , and a dash of Humour.

Sprinkle with Kindness, Add plenty of Faith and mix well.

Spread over a Period of a Lifetime and serve to everyone you meet.

I'd like to add this saying: A married relationship can be like a triangle. The two base points are man and wife, with God at the top. The closer each comes to God the closer they come to each other.

Marriage Covenant

Queenslander, Jo Wanmer shares her story.

Forty-two years! Forty-two years of shared happiness, sorrow, joy, tears, frustration, arguments, devastations, surprises and yes, sometimes even boredom. We have experienced most of what life can dish up and now we embark on our future years with all that experience and commonality.

I was married as a twenty year old. My expectation was for a family with lots of kids, maybe five,  leading normal, always happy life, for ever after. It never occurred to me that one day I'd be old, or that I'd be married to an old man, though I did expect in years to come that I'd have a bald husband. At that time, I thought anyone over forty was ancient!

Once married, we soon discovered we had different expectations. I thought a husband always bought his wife a cuppa first thing in the morning. That's what my Dad did. Didn't that happen in all marriages? He expected long cosy mornings, sleeping in as long as possible and couldn't grasp the concept of a wife who wanted to get up early enough to see the sunrise! By the end of the honeymoon some realities were beginning to set in!Then, despite our plans, children didn't come either. Adoption bought us our two wonderful children, but there was no hope of three, let alone five. (Steve was secretly relieved about that!)

So forty-two years later I look back. Has life been easy? Has marriage been all joy, love and laughter? No, but its been good...very good!

 I'm thankful for an amazing husband who understands everything about me - well the basics anyway! I'm grateful for his steadiness and steadfastness that has been an anchor stabilizing my impulsive and crazy ways. I'm pleased that my impulsive and crazy ways have stretched him to greater adventures and achievements than he ever dreamed possible.

 I'm thankful for the really hard valleys that have trained us, strengthened us and led us into a deeper relationship with God. When I look back over my life together, the stand out memories are those times when we have helped each other get through the seeming impossibilities that life has thrown at us. And I'm thankful for eight wonderful grandchildren! What a privilege it is to be a grandma.

But mostly I'm thankful for a marriage covenant that has melded two people together; the commitment that held us close through the storms and trials. Its the tough places that produced our oneness, a unity that's only possible when two individuals have been tempered by life's fire.

Now, leaning on each other, we can walk into the most exciting years - they are just in front of us. Yes, we are privileged. Not many are as fortunate as we. We count ourselves blessed!

You and Steve have surely been blessed. Thanks for sharing with us, Jo.

Her book, Though the Bud be Bruised, has also been a blessing to its readers.