thirty-five

*love is-

this weekend my husband & i
will celebrate our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary!

sometimes it doesn't even seem possible
that we have been together that long.
i mean, that is a LONG time.
but, then i think about all the
memories; the good and the bad
that we have experienced together

-in sickness & in health.

he is really just a part of me.
the two make a whole.
i can't imagine my life without him!

no need to hit the rewind button.

no do-overs needed.

but, let me tell you this:
marriage is work!

*love is not proud.

i have been around far too many people who are just
trying to convince themselves and
all their friends on social media,
going on and on about their sweetie...gushing and oozing...
just how wonderfully perfect their marriage and their lives are!

okay...who are you trying to convince? me or you?

*love does not boast. is not self-seeking.

our marriage is good &
i am happy & content
but, i don't feel the need to convince myself or others
how happily married we are.

*love never fails.

marriage is a commitment and it does take work.

but, it IS worth it!

*love always trusts. is not easily angered.

i do not want my daughters (all married now)
to ever think it is a cake walk!
that we haven't had to work at it
because we have.
it isn't always
sunshine  & roses!

our faith in our marriage
and faith in God
have been the key to making it work!

we couldn't have done it without God.
or without our faith in Him and in our marriage.

*love protects. hopes. perseveres.

we love each other
and we both think our marriage is worth the effort!

*love is patient. love is kind.

i am more than happy to say that i still LOVE the man
that i said, "YES" to thirty five years ago.


we are blessed.
thank you, Jesus.

*it never fails.

1 Cor. 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.8 Love never fails

february & the month of love

oh yes, it is already february- FEBRUARY  the month of love of course if you are single, divorced or widowed this can be a pretty sad month; with all the lovers everywhere you go, the candy and the cards and all of that too i am sure makes it  a bit lonely  for some people. i am trying to think of this when i post on facebook and my other social media because  i have a lot of  single/divorced/widowed friends and sometimes i feel like it is a bit unkind... it must be hard for them. i also have a few friends who try a  little  TOO hard...  (insert: over compensate)  to prove to everyone they come in  contact with on ALL their social media... just how  'very happy and in love they are'... sometimes i feel a bit like, "oh, let's get real!" i mean, yes i am happily married and yes, i am happy that you are happy too but, we also know it is not always  sunshine and lollypops every stinkin' day, so why are you trying so hard to prove to me and to everyone you come  in contact with... how happy and in love you are? i mean, really? ~~~~~ now with that being said, i will say this... i love my guy. my husband and i plan to go to dinner and a movie on v-day with our small group. it will be a small intimate group of couples/ friends. we are going to a very romantic place for dinner and i am so looking forward to it. the following week after v-day, we will celebrate THIRTY FOUR years of marriage! so yes, i am happy. we are happy. he is my best friend and always will be. i love him! ~~~~ but, this year i am going to try very hard  to be  sensitive, kind, & more aware  of all of my friends/family members who get sad and melancholy during the month of february~ i do wish you a happy love month... and for the record, i am hoping for some  yummy chocolate for v-day... i cannot tell a lie. HA hugs... melody-mae

love is always present

the other day

farmer boy & i

ran a few errands.

 it seems we always wind up 

ending these kinds of days

over a cup of coffee

at our favorite coffee spot. 

we were 

 sitting side by side

 on their comfy couch;

he on his i-pad 

me on my kindle.

words

were not spoken.

silent.

peaceful.

 quiet.

both of us 

content,

not needing to

hear our own voices

or to fill an awkward void.

just comfortable...

in each other's presence.

~~~~

he reaches over

lays his hand 

in my lap.

 my hand finds his.

our fingers

brush each other,

touching

for

 a few moments...

 an acknowledgement

of each other's presence.

~~~~

next month

 will be

 thirty four years 

for 

farmer boy & i

through

all the 

good & bad.

through

all the

sickness & health.

love. is. always. present.

life

we had a wonderful anniversary.

the day was filled with time together.

we went to:
a coffee shop and sat for awhile.
went to see a matinee just the two of us.
he had some errands to do afterwards
so he dropped me off at the mall and
then picked me up an hour later
and we went to our all time favorite mexican restaurant
and then on our way home we stopped and brought home
my favorite flavor of ice cream. (choc. cherry!)

when we got home
he went to popped the trunk
and presented me with a bouquet of flowers!

yeah, he is a keeper. ;)

i am going to share a few pictures from my phone

which represents life here lately-

our anniversary consisted of 

coffee. ice cream. flowers. dinner & a movie.

olive chillin' in the sun

a day at home

my farmer boy's socks and one of his old wrestling tshirts

(a perfect way to spend a day)

a date with the hubbie

coffee & harry potter. :)

my group of high school friends...

we have named ourselves:

the YA-YAs :)

are all doing a four mile walk/run

this coming weekend together.

the quote on the bottom of the shirt

which didn't show up in the photo reads:

"i have no doubt we will not run out of things to say in 4 miles; not even in 400 miles"

i am SO looking forward to this weekend

when we will all be together.

there is always much laughter and fun.

i cannot wait!

i wish you blessings as you go 

about the rest of your week.

shiny. beautiful. blessed. indeed.

us-part four

if you missed my series on 'us'
you can find them here:
part one. part two. part three.


today;
the twenty second of february
we have been married
thirty three years.

thirty three years!!??

in that thirty three years
a lot has happened,
there have been many blessings:

three daughters.
two son in laws.
and of course two precious grandsons!

i am content.
it is easy.
like a warm cozy blanket
just being around my farmer boy.
it is comfortable. happy.
and i love just being with him.

now, i am not saying
we have had nothing but,
happiness, sunshine,
rainbows and lollipops...haha
because that just would NOT be
the truth!

we have had our share of
ups, downs and detours along
the way.

there has been joy & sorrow.

but, i also know this

in sickness & in health...
he is my very BEST friend.

the one who loves me
with all the good & the bad.
the pretty & the ugly.

he is the calm in our
relationship.
& i add the spunk. ;)

we have learned and grown
from each other's strengths and weaknesses.

we are a team.
we love each other.
we love our family and
our life that we have built together,
and we love Jesus.

i am blessed.

i am thankful.

i am happy.



happy anniversary
to my farmer boy.

i love you.
to the moon & back;
& to infinity & beyond.

thirty-two

via pinterest

i walked into a darkened room,

lit only by candlelight...

 down 

an aisle 

towards a nervous but,

 loving & warm face...

thirty-two years ago today

and it is still

 the best decision

i have ever made!

happy 32nd anniversary 

to my husband

mark...

i love growing old 

with you!

*oh, hello friday*

yes it is friday once again
the sun is shining today!
it is crisp & cold here but, it is amazing
what the sun shining through the windows
can do for you!

photo by melody

it is a long weekend.
a three day weekend for most people
i have been sitting here on my laptop
googling places for a quick little overnight getaway
for the hubs & i...
tues is our anniversary and i was hoping to find
a little get away for us
it is a bit hard right now since he is still
recovering from his hip surgery and walking a lot, can be and is taxing...
so thinking i might have to do a movie/dinner date for our anniversary
and then do a getaway 'raincheck' for later, when the hubs can actually get out and walk and really enjoy himself.

what do you have planned for the wonderful three.day.weekend. anything? whatever you do, no matter how small...make it lovely!

oh, how i love you friday...and you my three day weekend...sigh...swoon...i so love you!

enjoy each and every day. make it joyous. make it beautiful. make it lovely.

photo by: melody