I have been married to an amazing man for 21 years. Some days that is really hard to believe. Is it really possible that we are old enough to be married for that long? The answer is in the pictures. Look at those 2 kids! So excited for what was about to happen. Ready for adventure. Now look at the 2 grey haired adults. The people with 3 children, a house and 3 cars. Life has really been an adventure for the past 21 years. We've had joy, and pain, laughter and rain. And thru it all we have each other and our faith. Faith, Hope and Love are the keys to our marriage. So many times you people will ask what't the secret of your happy marriage? How did you get so lucky to find each other? Luck had nothing to do with it, it was fate. It was our destiny. It was our faith. God had a plan for us and it was to be together.
I met Ken when I was 5 and he was 6. I don't remember the exact meeting I just remember our families always being friends. Our mothers used to have coffee together with other moms in the neighborhood and our brothers were the same age so they were friends. We went to the same elementary school, middle school, high school and even the same church. I remember sitting behind his family in church and thinking he was so CUTE. But back then apparently he was playing it cool and not giving me the time of day. Until one day when we were at his house after going caroling with our church youth group and he showed me a program he created on his computer. Little did I know that was a big deal, I just thought he was a geek at that time.
Fast forward 20 years from when we first met, we met again. This time I was 24 and he was 25. It was shortly after I returned home from graduating from college my mother suggested that maybe if I volunteered I might find someone nice. The first night I volunteered setting up at the Festival of Trees I ran into his mother. Who basically set us up. She said to me, "so what does a 24 year old do in Amsterdam on the weekends?" And I said, "this is it." She then said I should call Kenny. My mother was there and she said, "no he should call her." And he did. Only I wasn't home. My father took the message, which we still laugh at today, because my father has a tendency to lower his voice when he answers the phone, which made Ken a little nervous. So when he asked who was calling he stated his whole name. The next night when I called him back we talked for over and hour. I remember talking about everything and feeling at that moment that it was it. He was the one for me. I can't explain it exactly but it's true what they say, when you meet the right person you just know. Six weeks after we started going out he proposed to me. Most people thought it was crazy. But both of our parents were the same way. My parents and his parents got engaged a month after they started dating. Ken's parents have been married for over 50 years and my parents have been married for 47 years.
Last year we renewed our vows on the beach when we were camping for our 20th Anniversary. This year I gave him this artwork that I made for him. Ken is my compass, he guides me and leads me thru this adventure we are on. My love for him is true North. Our family is also the compass that guides both of us. He is my compass and my anchor. Faith, hope and love are the keys to our marriage. We have his love & this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19
