Before a couch or a chair, but with enough to smile.
As it was on this day last year, it’s our anniversary. And so it has been now for 48. The above photo is one of only two we have from those early days. By the date and the look of the place, I believe we were still in Georgia, just about to move back to California. We were still without furniture to speak of, but with love, what else did we need?
Not that every moment’s been perfect. I’ve been the source of a few challenges. I remember a friend commenting in our early years how Anne must be very long suffering. What did he mean by that?
But we’ve survived, and raised our five children. Anne just sent Valentines to our 16 grands. (And we’ve long since had a lot more furniture!)
Speaking of Valentine cards, I don’t think Anne will mind my sharing the one she just gave me. Note the “mostly.”
Too small? Click card.
If you want another look at the other remaining photo from that era, and the story of how we met and married, see last anniversary’s blog, here.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
5:38 am
Great card and wonderful addition by Anne! You both have a well-honed ability with words. Thank you for sharing your souls with your distant admirers.
6:29 am
Thanks for sharing Hyatt. Happy Anniversary to you and Anne.
6:33 am
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
6:50 am
I love the (mostly) :-)
So vulnerable, so true.
Happy, Happy Anniversary!
6:51 am
Lovely Anne! I love that your heart is so entrenched into the man the Lord gave you to marry and spend your whole life with!! I feel this same love for my husband of 39 years. It is amazing to look back over the pictures of your life (no matter how few or how many) and see how you were together. I, like you, am so grateful for His grace over our lives because without it, well, we never would have been blessed with that long lasting, long suffering “love”…………. that love that forgives, is patient, always growing in understanding, accepts, is unconditional, works on us from the inside out, strengthens over time, gives the Lord all we don’t understand that happens, and shows us how to live and be with another, even though they aren’t as together as we think we are sometimes.. I loved that you said “love love” because that is how I always end most all my communications that I write to others and to my sweetie! Love love Lisa :)
7:09 am
Happy Anniversary, you two!! We are celebrating 38 years this weekend, but as in many things, you are ahead of us. :)
8:15 am
Happy Anniversary to wonderful friends, Hyatt and Anne!!!
Love,
Sara and Frank
8:21 am
We had our 40th last year and looks like we will cross the finish line together. Congratulations on your union and fruit it has produced.
I appreciate the honesty that things aren’t always rosey (mostly), but I know as you look back, the focus is on good times together.
Thanks for setting a good example for those that are just a few years behind you.
8:39 am
Beautiful story – Beautiful and hip couple then and now. Thank you for sharing and putting tears in my eyes.
9:13 am
Anne has a beautiful way with words. I have several birthday cards I can’t let go of because she has written such lovely things.
Happy anniversary and wishing you many more.
9:57 am
I’ve saved most of my Valentines cards from my Alison. They’re like moments frozen in time, like photographs, capturing that “in the moment” for which we all long. Thanks for sharing your card. Love it!
10:58 am
WOW…..you have not changed one iota.
Larry
10:58 am
What a refreshing look at how truthful we can become in our “later” years. I find that as love changes with the years we often still love, but can always learn to love “better.” As long as there are some smiles and laughter I find that most men are oblivious to deeper things going on with their women, so maybe this should be a “shout-out” to Anne for her words of encouragement … always hope! Happy Anniversary to you both.
1:19 pm
Wow! Even more special now knowing your story :-) Thank you for sharing that with us while you were here. We, too, have kept the card Anne wrote us. Her words are stunning, humbling, and heartfelt. What a blessing it is to be a part of your lives. May the Lord bless you and yours abundantly (even more so than He already has!).
2:02 pm
Y’all are adorable. I too, kept the card you wrote to Hal and me, Anne! Wishing you two the very best!
2:58 pm
Who ever knew then what life would hold. You two were such an attractive couple and remain so today!
4:43 pm
I LOVED the photo! What a rich and exciting journey the Lord has taken you both on. It is inspiring to read of a couple totally committed and in love –a testament not only to long suffering:) but also to the faithfulness of our God.
7:09 pm
Thank you for sharing your lives with us. What a gift!
4:08 am
Warms my heart! Congratulations. I am so thankful that the good Lord helps us to stick it out through the tough times so that we can enjoy and appreciate all the “mostly” ti
mes. I would have hated to miss this richer, deeper love.
12:47 pm
That is just too precious! The details in between are just as precious…..too bad there’s not enough time to include them. However, the crafting of your words and the brevity with which you present them keep people reading…..and that’s really what God has done in your unusual communicating of His grace.
Loved Anne’s card! (Maybe I should save it and copy the beautiful message for Ed on our 59th in June!
Hugs to both you special, sweet friends, & HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
Mabel for us both
P.S. I can just picture your mom….unbelievable! (Got Steve’s account of being with your dad last week…It reminded me of a word in JESUS CALLING: “Don’t try to force-fit today into yesterday’s mold,” because I have fleeting moments now and then of wanting things to be as they were when we did so much enjoy your family’s robust & influential personalities, and watch God at work in such miraculous ways. I am committed to remembering the fruit of those years and rejoicing when I see all you “kids” enriching the world.)
7:37 am
Thank you for those good words about mom and dad. Those days were mostly rich and good. So glad you were a part of them. Mom loved you so. Sue
3:31 am
The word Transparency comes to mind as I read your finely crafted and yet humble declaration of Love. it strikes a cord in me and like ever increasing ripples caused by a stone dropped into a still lake it reaches me, 20,000 miles away.
I’m anticipating my visit with you both as two commonalities bring us together; The joy of Art and the beauty of Jesus.
John
10:52 am
Thanks for sharing your love story with us. For a private person like me, this would take a lot of guts to display your intimacy in the public place (even for the building up of others). Love the playful photo, and love reading Anne’s heart. What a good example for me – she inspires me to love my husband more and better. Oh, and, happy anniversary! (and many more…) Look forward to hearing your next anniversary story!