Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Happy Anniversary Honey

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Thirty-three years ago tonight we were married.



I wrote the following for the blog eight years ago.
It's pretty good.


*****



You never met a more naive girl in your life than the girl I was 25 years ago today.
I knew nothing of sacrifice.
Nothing about forgiveness.
Nothing about giving.
Nothing about self-control.
Nothing about trusting God.
Nothing about love.

I was so unprepared for marriage.

And yet...here we are.

I had a dream. A dream of a husband and children.
That dream has come true.

That dream has come true because of you, dear husband.






Yeah...Sappy Shania Twain song...

I say it's our song.

Patrick isn't the type to pick a song, to be our song.
And I'm sure it wouldn't be a Shania Twain song...
he is more an Eagles or Rolling Stones kinda guy.

We may be about as different as two people can be...

But, what we do have in common is a deep sense of commitment, ability to forgive, love of our children, and abiding love for one another.

And laughter. 

God has held us up and shown us the way. 
At least that's the way I look at it :o)

And I think we are getting the hang of it.



Love seems the swiftest but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century. ~Mark Twain



Never feel remorse for what you have thought about your wife; she has thought much worse things about you. ~Jean Rostand, Le Mariage, 1927



Twenty-five years later I am not naive anymore.
I know something about sacrifice.
and forgiveness.
and giving.
and self-control.
and trusting God.
and love.








True Love takes on a much less naive and romantic bent when one looks up the word for 'true'.


Consistent with fact or reality; not false or erroneous.
Truthful. 
Real; genuine. See Synonyms at authentic. 
Reliable; accurate. 
Faithful, as to a friend, vow, or cause; loyal. 
Sincerely felt or expressed; unfeigned: true grief. 

Love forever true.
Donna

36 comments:

  1. P.S. I took this picture myself. I put my Minolta on top of my car, set the timer and took the pictures. I'm so happy it turned out!!

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    1. A photo to cherish!! ♥

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    2. amen! it is a wonderful photo :-)

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  2. Happy Anniversary, Donna!

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  3. I loved reading that. Congratulations to you and Patrick. I have found myself thinking those same things as my husband and I approach 20 years. Marriage and family are truly a journey of self-discovery and a great gift at the same time.

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  4. Anonymous9:31 AM

    Happy Anniversary!

    Love,
    Sarah P. from Iowa

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  5. Happy happy Anniversary. I Adore that picture of you two....it hold promise and tenderness

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  6. Anonymous9:35 AM

    What a precious picture. All the more so as you took it yourself and it turned out! Have a good day. Regards-Jamie

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  7. Happy Anniversary! What a gift you give to your children: the comfort of parents committed to each other. I hope your day is full of good reminders.

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  8. Anonymous9:43 AM

    So very happy for you to have found each other and loved your way through all the years. That photograph touches my heart. love and prayers and Happy Anniversary! jep

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  9. Anonymous9:47 AM

    Happy Anniversary Dear Donna!! Here's to 100 more!
    Amy in Italy

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  10. Happy Anniversary! You are an amazing woman...a great mama and wonderful wife-I'm sure.

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  11. Happy Anniversary my friend. Have a wonderful day!!

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  12. Anonymous10:18 AM

    Happy Anniversary! I love the picture too! Such a promise of love.

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  13. Happy Anniversary! Love that you took the photo yourself. I need to go dig up my honeymoon pictures. They are somewhere in a mysterious box in the basement.

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  14. Happy Anniversary! I hope this is a wonderful day for you both.

    The words in this post are precious and full of truth and wisdom.

    We are just two years ahead of you - we celebrated 35 years in June. I say a hearty amen to everything you said. I was an even more naive 19 1/2 year old! I'm grateful for my blessings.

    God bless you, Donna

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    1. P.S. I love Bing - what a sweet clip

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  15. Amy J in WI11:22 AM

    Awww....happy anniversary to you both! And I must say, you may have been naive on your wedding day, but you certainly were stylin' with that cape :).

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  16. Anonymous11:36 AM

    What a lovely vintage photo with the red hair, red tie, cute barrette and cape!! Simply beautiful -- not only the photo, but the life you have built together. Happy, happy anniversary to both of you!!

    Mary Z

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  17. LOVE the cape
    LOVE the photo
    LOVE the red hair
    LOVE the Bing
    LOVE Shania.

    Lots to love in this post today!

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  18. Anonymous11:42 AM

    Happy Anniversary, Donna and Patrick Sr.! I love the photo and especially the fact that you took it- you camera savvy goes way back. My husband and I will celebrate our 39th next month. Hard to believe. I love your very beautiful and apt words about marriage and especially your line, "God has held us up and shown us the way." So very true. Not every minute has been easy but when I get in bed with my husband at night I am so thankful for his presence and all that he is to me and the love that we share.

    Debbie Z.

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  19. Happy Anniversary Donna & Patrick!

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  20. Anonymous12:56 PM

    Happy Anniversary!

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  21. Happy Anniversary!! I giggled as I was watching the Shania Twain video thinking of you two.. So sexy you rascals.

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    1. Anonymous4:24 PM

      Just got back in here to watch the Shania Twain video….Wowza! jep

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    2. ditto! wowza indeed! it's a sweet song and a spicy video ;-)

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  22. Anonymous2:10 PM

    Happy Anniversary Patrick and Donna! Wow! Thirty three years! That's fantastic! What an example you are to your kids and grand kids! May you have many more! We just celebrated our thirty ninth! Wish I could go back and start all over, time is just going by too fast.
    I love the way you are reaching up to kiss him, and look at those shapely legs! Congratulations you two!

    Beckie from Kansas

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  23. Happy anniversary!!

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  24. Your reflections on marriage are so solid, Donna. Life experience and true faith seep out between the words...wisdom and contentment, too! Happiest of anniversaries to you and Patrick. And, hey! Patrick! We need some wise words from him soon. I miss those.

    I keep looking at that cute picture of you love birds, and I cannot help but mention how beautiful your hand is. I wonder what it says about me that I always ALWAYS see the hands. And you know I love a good head of red hair. What a feast that is between the two of you.

    Again, best wishes on your anniversary.

    Love,
    Di

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    1. Anonymous10:32 PM

      Diane, I noticed Donna's hand too! How lovely. She could have been a hand model.

      Debbie Z.

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  25. This made me cry and cry. I am so happy for you.

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  26. Anonymous7:31 PM

    Awwww! Happy Anniversary! ! ♥

    XOXO
    sis' cindy :D

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  27. Happy Anniversary, Donna and Patrick!

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  28. Happy anniversary ... lovely post! Linda

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