Friday, June 3, 2011

Celebrating 40 Years




friday favorite things | finding joy


Good Morning! I have been looking forward to this post for a  few weeks.  On Monday, June 6th, Hubby and I will celebrate 40 years of marriage.  Oh, my goodness, that is really a l-o-n-g time isn't it? And, hey, I'm not even old enough to have been married that long.  Do you hear me? ~smile~


We met in the summer of 1965, right here in Bastrop, LA. and I told my parents after I met him, that one day I would marry him.  Now, that comment didn't give them much thought as I was a mere 12 year old.  Yep, that's right!  Tommy was 18 at the time and that was a hep of age difference at the time, but that gap seemed to narrow as I got older. ~wink~  


 Tommy would tell you that he waited for me to grow up and for him to get a college education and then he came all the way to Virginia to ask me to marry him. (My Dad's ministry had taken us to Virginia by this time.) I was 18 at this time (Tommy was 24) and, with my parents blessing, I said, yes. Did I have any idea what I was doing?  Did we have any idea what we were doing?  The answer would be NO, didn't have a clue.  But, we did as most other couples do, we figured it out as we went along.  And, apparently we figured it out pretty good since we are here to tell about it 40 years later.  


I have left out all the details of our courtship, because it's just wayyyyyyyy too much to tell.  Well, truth be known, there really wasn't much of a courtship.  It's really quite scary when I think back about the whole situation.  But, we both knew that we were God's choice for each other and nothing else really mattered.

Some of my favorite things about these past 40 years of marriage are:

1- Being married to a man with the patience of Job - other wise he would not have ever survived being married to me. ~giggle~  

2- Sharing my life with a man who knows Jesus as his Savior and always desires that we live our lives accordingly 

3- Having a husband that took being a Daddy very seriously and always had time for his children and always looked for opportunities to make memories with them

4 -Knowing that we took the vow of "till death do us part" with utmost seriousness

5 - Watching Tommy with our Grans and knowing that he is in "his moment" whenever he is with them

6 - Seeing how our very, very different personalities have meshed over the years


Life has been good to us these past 40 years.  No, it hasn't always been easy, but most things in life aren't.  Marriage takes a whole lot of work and we have definitely worked as we have journeyed along.  And, we'll keep on working and making wonderful memories for the next 40 years ~grin~


I thought you gals would get a "kick" out of seeing how we have evolved over the years.  I had such fun digging through the photos and seeing all of our "various looks" these past 40 years.  Our children even looked at our wedding pictures one time and said, "what did you two see in each other?"  Wow! they must have thought we were pretty pitiful looking. ~chuckle~  And, hey, they were right, but I'm certain that we both thought each other was the best looking "thing" we'd ever laid our eyes on.  After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. ~smile~




Here's to 40 more..............

Lea @ CiCis Corner
Lea @ CiCis Corner

Hi there! My name is Lea. I've been wife to the best Hubby for 44 years....Mom to a son and daughter....CiCi to 4 precious Grans....lover of family and friends....enjoy laughter and a good time....shopper....picture taking maniac....maker of delicious fudge....organizational enthusiast....memory maker....Southern Belle...and most importantly.....a Child of the King! Welcome to my little corner!

22 comments:

  1. CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS!!! 40 years is AMAZING!

    {see how excited I am? I'm using a ridiculous amount of capital letters!}

    Anyways, thank you for sharing. Your story is so sweet, and is very inspiring to me to read.

    Thank you for linking up, dear friend. And congratulations again!

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  2. Thanks so much for stopping by! And how encouraging to see a couple who has made marriage work for 40 years!! Congratulations!!!!!

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  3. Awwwh, Happy Anniversary(a couple days early!)! Funny thing is - my parents anniversary is the EXACT same day as well! I hope you guys have an absolutely, fabulous day (Monday!). ^__^

    P.S. I am totally digging the 1971 hair of yours. Love! ^___^

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  4. Happy Anniversary! I love the pics of you both every 10 years....1981 being my favorite and you still look cuter than ever!!! It's nice to see a marriage last as long as yours! Cheers to many more together!

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  5. Happy Anniversary to you and Tommy! Love to see the old pictures! Glad you find your soul mate at an early age.

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  6. CONGRATULATIONS to you both!! 40 years IS a LOOONG time!! How wonderful it is! I enjoyed the pics. Wish I had a scanner and could do the same thing. ; ) What an example of how it's done. We've been married 37 so we are right behind you. We know what they mean when they say, "A lifetime" huh? May the Lord continue to bless you and may the next 40 be just as sweet! HUGS

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  7. Happy anniversary!! I am so glad you found each other and it all worked out. I wish celebrating the 40th and more is not so rare. We are only 34 yrs and some months behind you. =) Have a wonderful anniversary weekend!

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  8. Happy Anniversary and congratulations on 40 years!
    Love the pictures.

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  9. Big congratulations to you! I hope you have a beautiful day together. I enjoyed your pictures through the years. I made my husband a video of our past ten years and it was so fun to look through the old pictures.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  10. WOW, 40 years, Congratulations! I cannot believe you met the man you were going to marry when you were 12. That is so sweet! Loved all of the pictures!

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  11. Such a sweet love story! Thanks for sharing it with us. :)

    Enjoy your anniversary!
    -Melissa

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  12. Oh I love, love, love this post Cici! Thank you for sharing your love story with us. What a beautiful testimony of God's blessing on your lives. Happy Anniversary!

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  13. Congratulations! 40 years is a long time and you two have made it through. We are at 37 years, so belive me I know the ups and downs.
    Thanks for sharing your story.

    I love the pictures through each decade!

    Susan

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  14. Love this!! Congratulations! I absolutely adored each picture!

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  15. Oh this made my day! Congratulations and what joy to see your marriage and story.
    I met my husband at age 14 and he is seven years older...he waited for me to grow up..which he tells everyone. We married when I was 19..he was out of college and in his career. We celebrate 31 years on the 14th.

    Your testimony reminded me of all that is right in marriage...and yes, marriage for life.

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  16. LOVE LOVE LOVE this post, Lea! Wow, I just adore your wedding portrait. So pretty--you still are! It is faith-building to read this testimony of a 40 year marriage. Gives me hope (we're coming up on 25) because the going is kinda rough right now. Is that normal at this stage? Anyway, the 1991 picture cracks me up. He looks like a mountain man and you the prim and proper lady from town. Heeheehee.

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  17. Congratulations, you two! I love seeing how you two have changed over the years. Again, congratulations!

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  18. Congratulations. 40 years is such a milestone. My parents have been married for 37 years now I think, well they got married in 1974. I have no idea how they have survived it that long, as they are always arguing?... My husband and I have been married 10 year this year come July 21st and as he is wonderful I don't know how he survives me ;) Have a wonderful celebration and here is to another 40 years of happiness.

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  19. Congratulations! That's wonderful. Love seeing the old pictures of the two of you--and glad to see you finally got him to smile in a couple of them! ;-)

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  20. Hi CiCi:

    I'm so glad you stopped by, it sent me over here to see your beautiful page and to celebrate this wonderful 40 year milestone with you! I think you both look fantastic!

    What a great blog, it's been fun to scroll around and find a Louisiana neighbor!

    Happy 40th!! and blessings for many, many more to come.

    xo

    Sonja

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  21. What beautiful, precious memories!!! You looked stunning then just as you do now! Here's to 40 more!

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  22. Not sure how I came across your blog this afternoon, but just going from one blog to another, came here! I want to congratulate you on 40 years of marriage!! My husband and I will celebrate our 40th in August this summer! How can the years go by so quickly?! Was fun to look over your blog ...

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So glad you stopped by and hope you enjoyed your visit. I love your comments and read each and every one of them and I always try to reply to them. Blessings to you this day!