Happy Anniversary - 34 and Counting

Today Ken and I celebrate our thirty fourth wedding anniversary. It seems like only yesterday we were standing in the gardens of Sherbrooke Lodge, Australia exchanging our vows. It was a small, intimate wedding of about sixty guests mainly our Australian friends and relatives. What made it special for me beyond the actual wedding day is that my parents made their first flight to join in the wedding celebrations. We have had thirty four years of all that married life offers – challenges and blessings. Ken and I were talking last night about what makes a marriage last. I used to always say we stayed together because neither of us wanted to take of the children by ourselves. (LOL) But I think it goes back to commitment and those words spoken in the beautiful garden of climbing roses, clematis, hydrangeas and Christmas lilies those many years ago…

I will love and honour you, protect you in sickness in health, in prosperity and in adversity, and always be to true you.

After we exchanged rings these were our words :
Ken:
We love each other.
This not the end result, but the beginning.
Love begins when two people join together
To form a unity of souls written in their hearts.
A new direction
Which requires acceptance, patience and understanding.
Acceptance for differences,
For the struggles and the hardships
And most of all, for change and growth.

Jan:
Patience to allow time to take its natural course
To flow, to blossom.
Flowers and love thrive on the same things,
Time, warmth and care.
Understanding is the wisdom of maturity.
The combination of patience and acceptance.
We love each other.

I made a card for Ken this morning with a homemade verse that sums it all up in a few lines. Here is the card and the verse.
I may not look like the girl on the front of this card any more,
This I know for sure …
I love you just as much and even more.

After thirty four years of marriage
there is only one thing to say…
Thank you for an amazing life and I look forward to more starting today!

Happy Anniversary …34 and counting!