On this date 25 years ago my husband and I said “I do”. We stood before family and friends at East Brent Baptist Church on August 4, 1984 and launched ourselves into the journey of marriage. We were young, in love, and had only a smidgeon of a clue about life. There was so much to learn, so much I did not know.
Before I said,”I Do”….
I did not know how to cook much more than multiple variations of macaroni and cheese. I did not know that my first grocery purchase, totaling $50, was not a month’s worth of groceries. I did not know the first furniture we purchased would last for nearly 15 years before we finally took the last remaining chair to the dump.(I would have picked prettier colors had I known) I did not know how important a pilot light was to a gas heated home.(linoleum floors get very cold). I did not know using Bisquick is not considered baking “from scratch.”
I did not know how hard it was to pay bills or keep a car running. I did not know how exhausting being a wife and mother would be. I did not know how infuriating my husband could be, or how much his sense of logic would frustrate my emotional arguments. I did not know how often I would cause him to hurt. I did not know how often I would cry. I did not know how much we would laugh. I did not know how many mistakes we would make. I did not know how much I would depend on my husband for encouragement and strength. I did not know how full my heart could become. I did not know how patient he would need to be with me. I did not know the partnership we would need to form. I did not know I could love him more than on that day. I did not know I could love him differently. I did not know my love for him would grow in admiration, respect, honor, delight, passion and dependence. I did not know how much I would enjoy each new stage of our lives.
After I said “I Do”….
Understood more clearly the love of my Heavenly Father. I understood the gift of grace…I have needed to both grant and receive it. I understood God’s unconditional love…my love for my husband is not determined by circumstances which may change or challenge us.
Happy Anniversary!
Tuesday With Teri 
I am so thankful for the wonderful marriage that you and Scott share. Coming from a divorced family I truly appreciate the value of your marriage. Thank you so much! It is great to know that yes a marriage can last! 🙂
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Happy Anniversary to both you and Scott. We love you so.
I was so struck by the part when you said that when you get married you think you love your mate as much as you can. It is only until years down the road you stop and realize you had no real clue as to how deeply you really could love that person.
This is such a true statement for both Donald and I, we have talked about it before and we both laugh at how we thought we jsut knew it all 20 years ago and how frightening it is how little we did know.
God is good!
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Congratulations on your 25th. Teri, I hope you know how much I love you. God knew you were the right one for my son. I really don’t think he would be where he is now if it were not for your constant encouragement and your love. He is so blessed to have you. I think you knew a lot more than you thought you did when you said “I DO’. Looking forward to seeing you and Scott in a couple of weeks. Love Ya! Grammie
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Happy Anniversary! You married well and you are both blessed to have each other. Scott has been a good husband and father. His love and provision for his bride and his children are a growing reflection of God’s love and provision for His children and Christ’s bride. And you continue to model what it means to be a Biblically Christian wife – the beauty of respectful submission in a safe and loving relationship. May the next 25 years be even better than the last!
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Beautiful and well said!
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