Thirty years ago today, I was preparing to walk
down the aisle to be married to the man who had
become my best friend. We were total opposites and
crazy in love. Young and broke and not sure
where life would take us, and all we wanted was to
spend every moment together.
"hottie" and I was completely smitten!
Indulge me as I take a little walk down memory
lane to April 25, 1981. We were twenty years old.
Can you believe it? So young!
We were married at the First Baptist Church in Jonesville, NC.
My mom helping me get ready. Oh, how I miss my mom!
Mark and his dad.
My attendants looked so pretty.
My sister ,Sherri, was my maid of honor.
I was scared to death. Happy, but scared.
The newly weds!
with my family
as all of our grandparents have passed on since that time.
My mother made my cake. She was so talented.
I should have learned how to decorate cakes from
her when I had the opportunity. It's a skill that
would have come in handy for years to come.
No time. I was too caught up in other things -
hence the wedding pictures. :)
We had a very simple and lovely reception.
Here we go. And our life together begins.
On April 25, 1985, we took our first son
Travis (who was six months old), to
the Washington, DC temple and there
we were sealed for time and all eternity.
An amazing day.
The last thirty years have been filled with joy
and happiness, along with struggles and sorrow.
That's what life is all about and I wouldn't have
wanted to take this journey with anyone else.
We were young and naive when we stepped out
of that church so many years ago, but we've grown
up together, raised an amazing family and now
we enter another phase of life, the empty nest.
It's taking some getting used to, but I think we are
going to like it. I enjoy having time to spend together and
getting to know this man even better. After thirty years, I'm
discovering that I've just scratched the surface.
But that's okay. Eternity is a long time.
Congratulations to the both of you! I hope you are enjoying this special day. XOXO
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, and Happy, Happy Anniversary! I love the pictures. You are so very beautiful... just as much today as you were then. And, oh, how I see so much of your boys in the pictures of Mark young!
ReplyDeleteThirty years of marriage for you today, and thirty years of... well, of anything for me on Wednesday! 1981 was a good year. :)
Wonderful post :) I love it!!!
ReplyDeleteI seriously thought it was Jantzen in a retro tux. I called Craig over to see the pictures -- they were that good. Thank you so much for sharing these!
ReplyDelete(And I must say -- you have hardly changed. Fifty looks great on you!)
Melissa, you are such an inspiration to everyone who knows you, especially me. This is a wonderful entry in your fantastic blog. Emily said it all, your boys look so much like Mark but I can see a lot of you in them as well and Kenzie is the best of both. And you really haven't changed at all! Just as beautiful as ever. Yes, Fifty does look good on you!!!! Congratulations to both of you! And wishes for many more years together here on earth, then there is eternity!!!!
ReplyDeleteWow! Great pictures! I am impressed you have them all scanned in! I agree with the others, I see so much of Jantzen and Travis in Mark. You have hardly aged...still so pretty! I did have to laugh at your car...whoa that is retro! I love you and your family!! Congrats on 30 years!!!
ReplyDeleteOk, still crying. Happy Anniversary. I loved seeing the pictures and walking down memory lane with you. Love you bunches!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how much Mark and Jantzen look alike! And I echo the previous comments: you look exactly the same! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteWow Melissa! That was fun to look at! Andy and I celebrate 30 in May so I recognized the styles and colors and hair and skinniness!! Love it all, no one can do style like we did!! This was wonderful to read.
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