Yesterday Mr. Décor and I celebrated 17 years of wedded bliss!
On Friday evening he took me to a lovely B & B. As we were at dinner we talked about that while on one hand it feels like we have been together “forever” there are other times we can’t believe how quickly time has passed.
Now it’s no secret that I was 28 year old divorcée with a 7 year old daughter when I met a certain 33 year old bachelor. I was cautious because I had already traveled down a devastating and heartbroken path. But as he likes to remind me “He wore me down”. To which I will say that indeed he was truly a Mr. who Righted all the Wrongs.
I remember at our rehearsal dinner I went around the room and asked for secrets and tips from all the long time married couples in the room.
Many said “Just love each other”. Which SEEMS simple… but can be truly hard. We now know that there are days when you really just don’t FEEL like loving your mate.
This past year we had read another couples secret where they only allowed themselves 10 minutes a day to have the “I can’t stand you another minute, get out of my sight” fury in their eyes and hearts.
A few days later there was a situation that made Mr. Décor say to me “I think I may have sent you into a 10 minutes mode.” To which I quipped “No, since I was fine the past three days I’ve been saving up my time so technically I can be angry at you for 40 minutes.” To which he started laughing and when he starts laughing….well, I can’t stay mad at him.
And perhaps that is the secret. Laughter and Forgiveness.
Because trust me, it’s been hard.
We’ve dealt with years of infertility, loss of family members, money woes, health scares and completed over 7 major moves plus 5 terms of temporary housing. That’s 12 moves in 17 years.
I know much less has crippled other couples.
Many times the only way we didn’t give up was to remind ourselves we made promises before God.
Mr. Décor here’s to many more years of love, laughter and forgiveness!
Laura
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” ~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Congratulations on your anniversary. I hope that you have many more years together in your lovely home with SB and the F circling around you!
Your dress was lovely and classic! So many dresses seem dated 17 years later, but not that one!
Beautiful and truthful post. You two are a great couple that God joined together. Happy Anniversary!!!!!
Happy Anniversary! Beautiful wedding gown – and bride, too! Best Wishes for many, many more years together!
Happy Anniversary!
Laura, here's to many more years of happiness with Eric. He is truly a gentleman, a handyman, a very smart man, and definitely a dreamy man! A keeper as they say. You have together traversed the ups and downs that every relationship has and done it because of your commitment to each other. Blessings!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Artist Nathaniel Galka
I love this post, Laura! Yes, a good sense of humor is invaluable in a marriage, especially when raising children (and Scottish Terriers and dachshunds, right?) Your wedding dress is beautiful; you and Mr. make such a handsome couple! Congratulations, Happy Anniversary, and wishing you MANY more happy years together.
Warm hugs,
Denise at Forest Manor
Congrats!! You were ( and still are ) a beautiful bride! My hubby and I are coming up to 30 years! Married at 191/2 years of age in 1985! Now that is hard to believe!!! Have a wonderful Anniversary!
Congratulations to you and your honey, Laura. I truly wish you both MANY more years of married life! Susan
To the both of you….congrats on a job well done….so far….here is to at least 17 more years!
Happy anniversary! Stars in in my eyes as I read how you two found each other!
Congradulations, love birds! Here's to many more years of bliss!
You got to celebrate together this year! I love it! You are such a handsome couple! Congratulations to you. It's worth every set of ten minutes.
Hugs, Laura, from Santa Fe, Texas,
Kelley~
Congratulations!! ♥ Wishing you many, many years of continued happiness.
By the way, for me – love is better and real the second time around – it's only through what I learned in my first marriage that my second marriage is a success. After 13 years of marriage, my longest relationship, I know that Jim and I will truly be married for all the days that we live. As you shared, it's not without those “10 minute” sessions but both of us were ready for commitment in our second marriage.
Love, Linda
Happy Anniversary! Your dress was amazing!
What a sweet post! You make a lovely couple! May the Lord give you many, many more happy years together! Happy Anniversary!
Blessings,
Nici
Sending very happy anniversary wishes 🙂
What a beautiful post. Congratulations on your 17th anniversary! It's not easy but it is a wonderful adventure when you share your love with someone special.
And I had to giggle at the 40 minutes saved up comment. I guess here are spells when I must have saved up a few days worth of mad time! lol
GREAT post!!!! I love the 10 minute idea :^) Marriage is fun most of the time though.
On the 12th, hubby and I celebrated 18 years. We are a LOT older though, and have grands and great grands now :^)
Congratulations to both of you….remember every day is a gift!
Blessings,
J
Wishing you two a Happy Anniversary!!!!