No, we’re not working for the CIA, or any other organization of that sort. Intelligence happens to be Monday’s Word A Day at Nancy’s blog.
Thirty-six years ago today, my husband showed his mental acuity by marrying his lovely bride. (Yes, it was me, silly!)
Poor fella, blinded by love, didn’t know what he was agreeing to:
- for better or for worse,
- for richer, for poorer,
- in sickness and in health,
- to love and to cherish;
- from this day forward until death do us part.
In all fairness, I don’t know that any of us really know what we’re getting into when we respond in the affirmative with, “I do” or “I will,” to those age-old vows. Apparently, many people don’t take them seriously, or they never imagined how bad things could get. It’s pretty easy to glide along, living day-to-day when things are better, richer, everyone is healthy; but there are no guarantees that these will last. We’ve certainly been poorer for a season of un- and under-employment, and dealt with chronic pain a good many years.

A dear friend offered sage advice to a couple of newlyweds. He told us of a three-fold cord that is not easily broken. He also used this example: Picture an equilateral triangle, and at the top angle, place God. Put the husband and wife at each of the remaining angles. As the husband and wife get nearer to God, they get nearer to each other.
Today, I plan to write the rest of the words to finish NaNoWriMo, upload for verification on the website, and get busy making an anniversary card!
Enjoy your day!
Far too many people seem to have that “mutual appreciation” you seem to have in the relationship. Such is rare nowadays and you are very lucky. My parents married 67 years in Sept. Sheesh. Most of mine did not last 67 days.
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I’m sorry to hear that of yours, Carl. Congrats to your parents, wow, 67 years. That’s amazing.
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Awww this is sweet Ms Patti!
It’s so rare to see a relationship as long as yours with all the separations of couples these days. I hope when I get married, my marriage will last just like yours. 🙂
Happy anniversary to you and your husband. 🙂
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Thank you, Jess. I hope your marriage will go the distance, as well. Both partners need to decide up front that, no matter what comes, the storms will be weathered together; and as Maxi commented, “No one leaves.”
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Congratulations on your Anniversary and finishing NaNo. Two great accomplishments for the month of November. 🙂
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Thanks, Laura.
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Happy Anniversary!
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Thanks, Susan.
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The greatest lesson my beloved David and I learned in 35yrs. of marriage … no one leaves.
Happy Anniversary!
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That is a great lesson, Maxi. Thanks for sharing.
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congratulations on 36 years!!! awesome!!! so wonderful! and, yes, intelligent man you have there! 🙂
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Thanks, Theresa. He is so smart! 🙂
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Congratulations on this day your anniversary. Thank you for the little bit about the triangle. Love the image and my husband will too when I tell him about it.
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Thanks, Georgette.
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Congratulations, dear Patti! (And Congrats on meeting your NaNo writing goal!) Treat yourself to something special this week!
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Thanks, Cynthia. The last week of writing, all I could think about was the art supply store! lol I borrowed a video to learn something new, so that’s my special something this week.
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Happy Anniversary!!! Wow 36! That is great! No, new couples don’t realize what those vows really entail. The struggles of life are much harder than they realize. We get stressed out and tend to blame others for our troubles which only adds to the stress. But once we get through the struggles how lovely and better the relationships becomes. May the Lord bless you with another 36! It’s possible. My husbands grandparents have been married for 74 years!!!!
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Thank you, Jayne. 74 years! Now that is longevity. Blessings to them!
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Congratulations, Patti! 36 years is great. A comfortable well-worn shoe is worth so much more than a stiff new one.
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Thank you, Char. That’s likely a true statement.
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Congrats. What a beautiful thing to celebrate.
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Thank you!
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Congratulations! 36 years is awesome! I hope your next 36 are filled with happiness and joy. 🙂
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Thanks, E.C.
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Happy anniversary, Patti…36 years is definitely something to celebrate…and I’m sure both you and your husband have exhibited intelligence over the years…being married for 36 years requires a true partnership…congrats!
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Thanks, Patti.
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Happy annivesary Patti! You know, we say those vows when we marry, having no idea what they actually mean until we have to live them out. It’s worth it, but I feel bad for so many who jettison their marriages when the going gets tough.
Great post for the word today!
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Thanks, Nancy. You’re right, many of us don’t have a clue what we’re getting ourselves into with our vows.
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I love how you credit your husband for having intelligence to marry you 🙂
Nice use of the word. Great way to tie today’s word in with your anniversary too. Big congratulations on 36 years. Sticking with those vows is something to be very proud of, even if none of know where they will take us when we utter them.
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Poor guy, he’s at a disadvantage since he doesn’t have a blog or read mine; I didn’t want to brag on how smart I was to say yes. 🙂
Thank you, Kitty.
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Dear heart – Happy Anniversary!! May you and Linn be blessed with many more years to grow and serve together!! Congrats on NaNoWriMo!!
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Thanks, Sweetie!
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You’ve got much to celebrate today! Congrats on meeting the NaNoWriMo goal – 50,000 words is impressive. Bigger congrats to 36 years…that’s an even bigger deal 🙂
Your marriage is an encouragement. I’m at fourteen years (and counting), but I hope in 22 years, that I am as happy and blessed as you are right now!
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Thanks, Janna. I hope you are, too.
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Congratulations wishing you many happy years ahead !
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Thank you, Nicola.
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Yeah one never knows how bad things can get when making a commitment. But then again, you’ll never know unless you actually do it.
And I believe most of the times things do turn out well as is evident from your case.
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Facing the trials of life together, as one, strengthens the bond, and the two come out on the other side still claiming to be best friends.
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Happy, albeit belated, Anniversary, Patti. We celebrated our 9th anniversary in October. Only 9yrs in – still long enough to face trials. Thankfully, with God’s help, we remain together. As I look back at our relationship and the relationships of others, years 4 – 7 seem to be the most challenging. Make it through those years, and you have the foundation to get through anything. Well, God helps, too. 🙂
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