Mushy Post Warning!! Celebrating 23 Years of Marital Bliss!

On July 17, 1987 I married my best friend and the love of my life, Mike Brown! I am so honored and proud to be his wife of 23 years! We were very young when we married, (I was 20 and he was 2 weeks away from turning 21), but I can honestly say that we are more in love now than on the day we married! Here are a few tips for what we believe makes a marriage successful, (they've worked for us, anyway!)...

• God must be an integral part of a marriage! We've always taken to heart the verse from Ecclesiastes 4:12..."A cord of three strands is not quickly broken".
• Always think of the other person first...before speaking or acting ask yourself, "How would I feel if he/she said or did that"? When you know that you've said or done something that may have hurt or upset the other, be quick to say you're sorry and to ask for forgiveness. (Be quick, as well, to grant forgiveness!)
• Never try to change or control the other person...that is a losing battle! No one likes to be under someones thumb. Love and respect your spouse for the individual that they are.
• Speak kindly to each other...as the old adage goes, "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar". Yelling is disrespectful and only creates walls between you...and no problem has ever been solved with a wall in the middle.
• Find opportunities to spend time quality time together, but don't be glued to each others hip. It's important to remember that each of you are an individual and you don't have to be together 24/7. You appreciate the other person more if you've had time for yourself.
• Be true and honest with each other - ALWAYS!
• Laugh...ALOT!!! Enjoy and celebrate the simple, crazy, everyday joys that come your way!

Here are some fun photos of Mike and me through the years...

While we were dating...circa 1986

Our engagement picture...March 1987

Taking our vows....July 17, 1987

Cutting our wedding cake...

A little smooch...

Officially Mr. and Mrs. Brown...

Summer 2010...

Twenty-three years has sure gone by quickly! We have been so blessed during our life together with a wonderful son, good jobs, a beautiful home, terrific friends and family, good health, and just the simple, uneventful gifts that happen while spending each day together.

In closing, I'd like to share a link with you to a blog honoring a couple that has been married for an INCREDIBLE 72 years!! Go to http://the-ogs.com/ and check it out! Their video clips are a HOOT!

Blessings,