Happy Anniversary!

3 decades

 360 months

10,950 days

262,800 hours

15,768,000 minutes
 =
30 years 

To begin, I will refer to the time I explained to a stranger how my parents met.

The conversation went something like this: "My parents met on a blind date. They were engaged one month later and married three months after that."

Stranger: "Wow! That was fast! When did they get divorced?"

Me: "They aren't divorced. They've been married almost thirty years."

Stranger: Silence and shocked expression.

Marriages end in divorce all the time. I can count on one hand the marriages of my friends' parents that have lasted. The majority ended up getting divorced.

Even in the best of circumstances, it doesn't take much to crash and burn.

The statistics say their marriage shouldn't have lasted five years.

Thirty years later, they are still proving the statistics wrong.

My parents are an unlikely couple--The hyperactive, talkative, mountain man and the quiet, calm, southern woman.

They didn't really know each other at all when they walked down the aisle, as evidenced by the fact that Mom had Dad wear a white suit and white shoes. If they had another ceremony today, thirty years later, someone who shall remain nameless would march down the aisle in jeans, a camo shirt, and cowboy boots.

They are the exception to the commonly taught rule that compatibility is necessary to make a marriage last. Two very different personalities came together, committing to the relationship, no matter what. Incompatibility, differences of opinion, vastly different hobbies--none of those things have ever been used as an excuse to walk out on the vows they made before God.

It has not always been smooth sailing. They battled stormy seas that made Deadliest Catch look like a summer afternoon spent in a rowboat on a pond.

But through it all, I learned the meaning of commitment and that some things in life are worth fighting for; no excuses. Giving up and walking away are not options.

Thirty years is a milestone that many marriages never reach. To say I'm proud of my mom and dad would be the understatement of the century.


The following is a list of love songs in honor of their marriage.

The #1 musical selection is their theme song-- the main title to Quigley Down Under. :)
  
 2. Livin' On Love by Alan Jackson

Two young people without a thing
Say some vows and spread their wings
Settle down with just what they need
Livin' on love
She don't care 'bout what's in style
She just likes the way he smiles
It takes more than marble and tile
Livin' on love
Two old people without a thing
Children gone but still they sing
Side by side in that front porch swing
Livin' on love
He can't see anymore
She can barely sweep the floor
Hand in hand they'll walk through that door
Just livin' on love
Livin' on love, buyin' on time
Without somebody nothing ain't worth a dime
Just like an old fashion story book rhyme
Livin' on love

It sounds simple, that's what you're thinkin'
But love can walk through fire without blinkin'
It doesn't take much when you get enough
Livin' on love 

3.  One Day Less by John Michael Montgomery

Happy anniversary baby
The years are rushing by us
You're more beautiful today
Then we walked down the aisle
And I know I'm no good at this
But what I'm trying to say is
Having you stand beside me
Has made my life worth while

There were times when we scraped by
A year or two when it was rough
I love you more for what we went through
  'Cause you never stopped believing in us
And I know I'm one of the lucky ones
I couldn't ask for anything more
Cause you can have all the money you'll ever need
And spend your life looking for

One true friend is what you've always been to me
One true friend is what I always wanted to be
To have someone love you
That's true happiness
May you live to be a 100
May I live one day less

I couldn't live without you
If I had to be alone
I'll be waiting on the other side
When you find your way home

One true friend is what you've always been to me
One true friend is what I always want to be
To have someone to love you
That's true happiness
May you live to be a 100
May I live one day less
 
4. You're My Best Friend by Don Williams

You placed gold on my finger
You brought love like I've never known
You gave life to our children
And to me, a reason to go on.

You're my bread when I'm hungry
You're my shelter from troubled winds
You're my anchor in life's ocean
But most of all, you're my best friend

When I need hope and inspiration
You're always strong when I'm tired and weak
I could search this whole world over
You'd still be everything that I need.

5. When You Say Nothing At All by Keith Whitley

It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don't say a thing

All day long I can hear people talking out loud
But when you hold me near, you drown out the crowd
Old Mr. Webster could never define
What's being said between your heart and mine

The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes sayin' you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
You say it best when you say nothing at all

 6. True by George Strait

True in this modern world when two lovers get together
Chances of ‘em ever makin’ it to forever
Couldn’t be better than two in a million hearts.
Girl this ain’t just another run of the mill emotion
What I’m feelin’ is the definition of devotion,
My love for you is true.

True, like the sun comin’ up each mornin’
Bright as the light in a baby’s smile,
Sure as a mountain river windin’,
Right as the rain fallin’ from the sky,
Girl my love for you, is true.

True, not another minute on this Earth can be borrowed,
So there’s no way to know when I’ll live my last tomorrow
But every day I get, I’ll share with you.
This feelin’ just keeps gettin’ stronger as the time goes by
It’s written on my face, you can see it in my eyes,
My love for you is true.

7. Annie's Song by John Denver

You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again

Come let me love you
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you
Come love me again

8. That's All by Michael Buble

I can only give you love that lasts forever,
And a promise to be near each time you call.
And the only heart I own
For you and you alone
That's all,
That's all
I can only give you country walks in springtime
And a hand to hold when leaves begin to fall;
And a love whose burning light
Will warm the winter's night
That's all,
That's all
There are those I am sure who have told you,
They would give you the world for a toy.
All I have are these arms to enfold you,
And a love time can never destroy
If you're wondering what I'm asking in return, dear,
You'll be glad to know that my demands are small.
Say it's me that you'll adore,
For now and evermore
That's all,
That's all

9. L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole

L is for the way you look at me
O is for the only one I see
V is very, very extraordinary
E is even more than anyone that you adore
Love is all that I can give to you
Love is more than just a game for two
Two in love can make it
Take my heart and please don't break it
Love was made for me and you

10. It Just Comes Natural by George Strait

Sun shines, Clouds rain
Train whistles blow and guitars play
Preachers preach, farmers plow
Wishes go up and the world goes round

And I love you, It just comes Natural
It just comes Natural
Seasons change, rivers wind
Tumbleweeds roll and the stars shine
Wind howls, dawn breaks
Cowboys ride, time slips away

And I love you, It just comes Natural
It's what I was born to do
Don't have to think it through
Baby, it's so easy loving you
It just comes Natural

Fire burns, waves crash
Seeds grow and good things last
Ships sail, dreams fly
Night falls and full moons rise

And I love you, It just comes Natural


11. You're Still the One by Shania Twain

Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come my baby
We mighta took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday

They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together, still going strong

Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin'

They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together, still going strong

You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
 You're still the one I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

12. At the Beginning by Richard Marx and Donna Lewis

We were strangers
Starting out on a journey
Never dreaming
What we'd have to go through
Now here we are
And I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you

No one told me
I was going to find you
Unexpected
What you did to my heart
When I lost hope
You were there to remind me
This is the start

We were strangers
On a crazy adventure
Never dreaming
How our dreams would come true
Now here we stand
Unafraid of the future
At the beginning with you


Life is a road
And I want to keep going
Love is a river
I wanna keep flowing
Life is a road
Now and forever
Wonderful journey

I'll be there
When the world stops turning
I'll be there
When the storm is through

In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you

13. When You Love Someone by Bryan Adams

When you love someone
You'll do anything
You'll do all the crazy things that you can't explain

You'll shoot the moon
Put out the sun
When you love someone

You'll deny the truth
Believe a lie
There'll be times that you'll believe you can really fly
But your lonely nights have just begun
When you love someone

When you love someone
You feel it deep inside
And nothin' else could ever change your mind

When you want someone
When you need someone
When you love someone

When you love someone
You'll sacrifice
 You'd give it everything you got
And you won't think twice
You'd risk it all
No matter what may come
When you love someone

14. A Thing Called Love by Johnny Cash

Six foot six he stood on the ground
He weighed two hundred and thirty-five pounds
But I saw that giant of a man brought down
To his knees by love

He was the kind of man that would gamble on luck
Look you in the eye and never back up
But I saw him crying like a little whipped pup
Because of love

Most men are like me, they struggle and doubt
They trouble their minds day in and day out
Too busy with livin' to worry about
A little word like love

But when I see a mother's tenderness
As she holds her young close to her breast
Then I thank God that the world's been blessed
With a thing called love

You can't see it with your eyes, hold it in your hands
But like the wind, it covers our land
Strong enough to rule the heart of any man
This thing called love
It can lift you up, never let you down
Take your world and turn it all around
Ever since time nothing's ever been found
That's stronger than love
 
15. Remember When by Alan Jackson

Remember when we vowed the vows
and walked the walk
Gave our hearts, made the start, it was hard
We lived and learned, life threw curves
There was joy, there was hurt
Remember when

Remember when old ones died and new were born
And life was changed, disassembled, rearranged
We came together, fell apart
And broke each other's hearts
Remember when

Remember when the sound of little feet
was the music
We danced to week to week
Brought back the love, we found trust
Vowed we'd never give it up
Remember when

Remember when thirty seemed so old
Now lookn' back it's just a steppin' stone
To where we are,
Where we've been
Said we'd do it all again
Remember when

Remember when we said when we turned gray
When the children grow up and move away
We won't be sad, we'll be glad
For all the life we've had
And we'll remember when

I love y'all! Here's to 30 more years on the marriage trail!