At 2:00 pm...30 years ago today, I walked down the aisle. I remember the day as if it was yesterday. My husband-to-be was standing at the front of the church with tears in his eyes. He was the only person I saw, despite the church being full. I was wearing a long white wedding gown with a long train. I had the veil over my eyes as I walked down the aisle to the traditional wedding march. The entire wedding was very simple and very traditional.
We did have a few snags that day before and during the ceremony. First of all, I lost my husband's wedding ring. I spent most of the morning in a frantic search until I finally found it. Also, that morning, I had so much on my mind that I almost got hit by a car as I was crossing the street. At the church, our flower girl was late and so I didn't get to have the rose petals thrown down in front of me before I walked down the aisle. My dad was drunk, so I pretty much held him up as he walked me down the aisle. When it came time to put the ring on my husband's finger, I had a hard time getting it to go on. I was frantically whispering to him, "I can't get it on." He finally had to slip it on himself. (To this day he teases me and says we are not really married because he had to put on his own wedding ring).
Despite the flaws, it was an otherwise perfect wedding. I was so young and idealistic. I had no clue what the next 30 years would hold for us...which was actually a blessing. Had I known, I may very well have been too scared to have said that final "I do".
I've never been one to run from my problems...so when I vowed to love, honor and cherish this man until death we do part, I took those vows very seriously. Have I ever wanted to leave? Yes. We have been through just about everything a couple can go through....sickness,numerous job losses, depression, infidelity, mental illness, a stillbirth, the death of both of our parents, the rape of a daughter.
Still, there have been many good times as well. We have 3 beautiful children. The positive things are what I try and focus on. We still love each other after all of these years. But marriage is not an easy road...and those who start off thinking it is are in for a shock at some point along the way. Marriage is the most difficult thing I have ever done...and at times, the most rewarding.
We have always tried to keep God at the center of our marriage and I have absolutely no doubt that He is the reason we are here today, celebrating 30 years of marriage.
Wow...30 YEARS. Quite a milestone, isn't it?
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Comments: 74
That's wonderful, Cheryl. Happy Anniversary!!!!!
Congratulations Cheryl! This is a real mile stone for anyone. Now go out and have 30 more!
Congrats, Cheryl!
I just celebrated 10 years and thought that was a lot! CONGRATS on 30 years and here's to 30 more!
By the way you tell him I said he is married to a beautiful and talented lady, that he should make sure he looks out after you.........and then you tell him he must be a pretty amazing and special man for you to love him so much!
First let me say Congratulations to and your husband. This article moved me and brought me closer to the Cheryl I thought I knew via your writing and videos and so. May God continue to watch over you both and grant you His grace to continue onward with the same love.
Congratulations, dear Cheryl! :-)
Hugs and blessings - S.
It is quite a milestone that not many get to see. A great BIG CONGRATULATIONS to you and your hubby.
Congratulations on 30 years and sticking with your vows!
Congratulations!!! That is quite a milestone.
Happy Anniversary, and congratulations. I'm proof raped kids survive. We don't forget, but we can go on.
Marraige seems to be lots of trial and error looking at it from an outsiders eyes.
May you and your husaband have many more happy years.
Wow Cheryl, CONGRATULATIONS! You are so right that marriage is not always easy, but it sure must be amazing to wake up 30 years later and still look at the one you married with love.
Congratulations! this is such a wonderful occasion
Congratulations to both of you. :)
Congratulations! Snags and flaws make for great stories, later on down the road. My parents have been together for thirty-three years (thirty-four in November!). Mom still teases me that I was illegitimate, since the friend who performed the ceremony for her and my dad wasn't properly licensed to do so. She didn't find out until years later.
Congratulations on your 30th anniversary! I have to agree with you, sometimes it's not easy but it's definitely worth the hard work to make it work.....my next one will be #39.
congradulations on your 30 years of marriage
CONGRATS, YES IT IS SOMETHING TO BE TOGETHER THIS LONG MOST PEOPLE TO DAY DONT TRY TO STAY TOGETHER
IN AUGUST WE WILL HAVE OUR ANNIVERSARY 29 YEARS
Happy Anniversary and congratulations, Cheryl and Hubby!
30th years that's a blessing I pray my marriage last that long.
Congrats!!!!!!!!!
Congrats on 30 years!
Congratulations, Cheryl!
A milestone I am excited you made too ! Yes, marriage is definitely one of the greatest challenges two people can encounter, but with your story sounds like anything can be 'gotten through' when you have someone you can truly count on. Congratulations dear lady and here is to 30 more . . .
hugs, e
congratulations.
((( Here's to 30 years more....30 hugs and kisses xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo! )))
Congratulations on your 30th wedding anniversary!!! My hubby and I will be celebrating our 35th, next Friday!
Happy Anniversary! 30 years is quite a milestone!
Congratulations! I'm only about 1/2 way there! Good luck to you both.
Congratulations! That's a HUGE milestone!
happy ann.
Congrats, a marriage will work if both wants it to work. Hard to believe Eric and I just celebrated our 2nd anniversary in March.
"But marriage is not an easy road...and those who start off thinking it is are in for a shock at some point along the way. Marriage is the most difficult thing I have ever done...and at times, the most rewarding."
So true! I often say that men and women are so very different that I'm amazed we can share the same planet amicably, let alone the same house :) A huge Congrats on your anniversary, that is a real marker on the path you have walked together!
:) wishing you both laughter
Happy Anniversary. Wishing you a safe and happy year ahead.
way to go,, I just wish we could make it 30 year yet hubby sitting here adding the years,, we be 70 and 74 years old,,
Happy Anniversary
Cheryl, please don't be insulted, the description of your wedding faux pas brought to my mind the marriage of Rhoda and I smiled. Life is such a journey and in the end it is a blessing if you are with one who loves. Congratulations from the bottom of my heart.
That is fabulous !!! That is a marvelous accomplishment & achievement in life !!!
Congrats on 30 years of marriage and Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!
I just "celebrated" 15 years with my hubby, so I hope we get to 30. I say celebrated in quotes because we don't do anything big for our anniversary
Cgts! on 30 years together... Reading your essay says so much, if only kids planning to get married knew what was in store, would they better prepare?
Congradulations and Happy anniversary to you both. and many more
Congratulations, Cheryl! Wishing you all the best on your anniversary!!
Wow. You and your husband have gone through a lot. I'm so glad you held on to your faith and each other for 30 years. My parents celebrated their 30th yesterday. They also had a lot of ups and downs. She has struggled with bipolar, depression, and physical illness while my dad watched his own father get divorced and then die a few years later. Through it all God has been faithful. I pray that I will be able to endure like they--and you--have. God bless.
"Wow...30 YEARS. Quite a milestone, isn't it?"
Absolutely.
Congratulations, and I wish you 30 more (at least)! Â
Happy Anniversary! :)
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary to you both!
well - Happy Anniversary -
Hope you have a good day and evening
Happy Anniversary to you both. Congrats.
Congratulations! 30 years is wonderful!
You dont look old enough! You must not of had a husband like mine! LOL
Congratulations you cannot see me but I am bowing*(sp)
Congratulations are definitely in order. I also have to say you look young to have been married so long. I never would have guessed. I wish you many more.
Congratulations on 30 years. It is wonderful being with someone you love for such a long time. My hubby and I celebrated 39 in April. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sweetcomments.net" target="_blank" title="Visit SweetComments.net"><img src="http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd1/cmts/images/congrats/19-1.gif" border="0" alt="Glitter Graphics"></a> <br><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sweetcomments.net" title="Glitter Graphics">Glitter Graphics</a> - <a rel="nofollow" href="http://register.photobucket.com/?pbaffsite=465">Host Images</a><br>
Congrats!
Congrats on your 30 years. May you have 30 more!!
That's Great!! pHapy Anniversary!
Congratulations, Cheryl. You and your husband have made your marriage work. Too often, we hear people say "The marriage isn't working" or "It didn't take" as if a marriage had batteries or an on-off switch. Long term marriages are a result of sticking together for better and worse, even when the worst is worse than expected.
Have a beautiful anniversary!!
Congratulations Cheryl, 30 years is a wonderful milestone, This would have been our 60th in August, but we made 57 and they were all wonderful , yep , ups and downs, but we were together, and I think that is what you are saying here, Many Happy Returns of the Day ,
Congratulations! My dh and I will be married 30 years, too, as of June 16th.
Happy belated anniversary! 30 years is quite a feat these days, I wish you both many happy returns. 8)
Yes it is quite a milestone most do not reach. I lift my hat off to you and yours for struggling to keep it together. Hugs
Many congrads!
congrats on reaching 30 heres to another 30
30 years is quite an accomplishment these days! Congratulations.
Congratulations Cheryl. Here's wishing you 30 more years. I had to laugh at your description of your wedding day. Nothing goes as smooth as one hopes does it? I can remember we had a few mishaps as well. My wonderful husband, the love of my life, and I will be celebrating our 58th on the 16th of June. We've had our ups and downs through the years, however, with our four beautiful children and our talented granddaughter it only served to strengthened our love for one another.
Again, congratulations Cheryl enjoy the day!!! And many more years to come. Hugs and Blessings.
Happy Anniversary
Congrats!
Congratulations. My Blessing From God and I just celebrated our 28th in April .
He brought us together, and has kept us together.
You know weddings are way over emphasized. But the marriage---ah, it's the mariage that hold the value.
There are a lot of expensive and beautiful , even lavish, weddings that have joined together two people that no more belonged to gether than water and gasoline.
It's the marriage that follows the wedding and honeymoon wherein lies the glory. And I'm glad yours has been glorious.
What you guys gonna do the next 30??? Hope they're even more beautiful.
All our best---Lonnie and Loraine Fowler /// still on our honeymoon--after 28 yrs.!!!!
Pardon me-- In my comment, I meant to say people who belonged togther no more than FIRE AND GASOLINE--- you know, like me and my first wife ( though we created 3 wonderful children--- before she left me for her supervisor.) Lonnie Ray Fowler
Congratulations. Reaching 30 years is really something when more than half the marriages during that same period end in divorce. It shows a lot of strength and wisdom. May you have 30 more, all happy years.
Congradulations Cheryl. I would have celebrated my 30th wedding aniversary with my late husband on May 26th of this year. He past away in January 1994. I've never had the big wedding that all girls dream about but I did have the marriage that all girls dream about. We got married in a judge's chamber on a Saturday then went into the mountains. A beautiful start to a beautiful marriage. We always talked about having the big wedding just never got around to it. He always said he wanted to see me in a real wedding dress. I got married in jeans and a tee shirt. Just remember it's not the wedding that makes it. It's standing by each other thru all the ups and downs, talking things out calmly and always include God. Congradulations again and I look forward to reading about your 50th wedding anniversary. Vickie
Wish you another wonderful blessed years to come.
congratulations on accomplishing something not many ever do. I am sure that is something I won't make. I will be happy to find somebody who is free to love me as i am to love them. maybe I am just too picky, but I always thought my 2 divorces were proof I wasn't picky enough...
thanks!