Our Wedding Anniversary Celebration

This weekend, my wife Abby and I celebrate our 56^th wedding anniversary.  We have exchanged our love for each other in words and actions throughout this past week.  But whatever good and lovely that has been a part of our marriage could not have originated in us alone.

When we exchanged our wedding vows in 1969, little did we know two major facts about marriage.  First, we underestimated the vast range of experiences we would encounter.  On the one hand, we’ve enjoyed the mountaintop experiences of enjoying each other’s company in so many blessed occasions.  We were blessed with two children, Bradley and Melinda, and privileged to enjoy their development and accomplishments along with many more blessings that clearly are gifts from the hand of our God.

On the other hand, we have experienced the valleys of trial that have challenged our faith and the stability and integrity of our marriage.  We are two imperfect people who have often forgotten, and still forget, that among faith, hope, and love, the greatest of these is love.  Agape love finds its only source in God as demonstrated by His Son, Jesus Christ, who died on a Roman cross in our place.  “Not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice to take away our sins” (1 John 4: 10).

Through all of our mountaintops of triumph and joy, and our valleys of trial and grief, our cause for celebration of our 56^th anniversary lies in our Heavenly Father, our Redeemer and Sustainer.  And, although we cannot see Him, we have experienced His enabling love extended through the love and support of our family, the fellowship we have experienced within the church, the Body of Christ; and through the many friends we have relied upon over the years. 

As we thank God for our marriage and celebrate your part in our lives, we have been enjoying time to look over photos that remind us of our many blessings over the years.  We wanted to share a few of the pics that represent some of our wedding anniversary highlights.  Thank you for your love and encouragement, and remember, you are a part of our celebration.

15^th  Wedding
Anniversary,  

1984

25^th  Wedding
Anniversary,  

1994

34th Wedding
Anniversary,  

2003 

40th Wedding
Anniversary,  

2009

46^th  Wedding
Anniversary,  

2015

       50^th  Wedding Anniversary,  Grand Tetons and Yellowstone Nat. Parks, 2019

           Celebrating the marriage
           of our grandson Caleb and
           granddaughter by marriage, Soni.

           August, 2019

55th Wedding 

Anniversary,

2024

When Is Your Anniversary:
Thank you for your interest in our story.  If you are married, we invite you to share your anniversary and thoughts regarding your  journey.  We would be just as glad to hear from you who are singles.  Please use the "Comment" link below or write us at silviusj@gmail.com

Related Blog Article:
As we have reflected on the blessings and trials of marriage and life in general, we've been using the metaphor of "the foothold."  It is important that we gain a good foothold in order to secure "firm footing" in our lives.   For more on this subject and its spiritual implications, click HERE.