October is a very busy month celebration wise! Grayden and I both have birthdays and it is also our anniversary month. We are so blessed with a happy and long marriage. We usually go away for our birthdays and anniversary and this year was no different. Usually you would find us going to Williamsburg or the mountains and some years even to a beach for our celebration. This year we decided to go somewhere completely different and quite unusual for us. We went to Scottsdale, Arizona last week to celebrate 48 years together!
This photo was taken when we were dating and right before we were married. Grayden was a senior and I was a freshman in college. We were so young, but very much in love. We knew what we wanted in life and very much wanted to get married. My parents were quite concerned that we were too young to get married. They said we should wait, but we had other ideas. I was not a rebellious teen, but I wanted to get married! Grayden and I had plans to marry no matter what. So we decided to elope! Now you must know I was the child that always did what my parents wanted, but I felt they were being unreasonable and I knew what was right for me! How confident I was that I was doing the right thing!
Grayden picked me up from school on a Friday afternoon and we traveled to South Carolina to get married. You could not marry in Virginia without your parent's permission! How bold we were. We had rented a small apartment to move into after we married. We were poor college students that were certain of what we were doing!
My parents were so hurt by what I had done, but accepted me and Grayden with open arms when we returned back home on that Sunday evening.
Looking back on this experience I find I can hardly believe I did this. I am so blessed to be married to a fine man who loves me and I love him.
As I grew older and had children of my own, I realized how bold I was to have taken such a step as a young woman. I don't recommend it to others. Marrying so young is not advisable! I was very lucky that it worked for us! That alone is a miracle that is a gift that I thank God for every day! ♥
So much to celebrate in October, Martha Ellen! It's so nice to hear your wonderful love story. You and Grayden both knew that you were meant to be together forever! Congratulations on 48 happy years! So happy that you planned an extra-special celebration in Arizona this year. Sending Happiest Birthday wishes, too! ♡Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes
ReplyDeleteDawn, when I think back on these years I am filled with gratitude that we have each other. It was meant to be. We had a lovely time in Arizona celebrating our special times together, even though it certainly didn't feel like autumn there! Record heat for the week. Back at home we had a frost! Thank you for your wishes, dear Dawn. ♥
DeleteHappy Happy Joyous Anniversary to a wonderful couple!!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed hearing about your sweet memory!!
sending love and warmth,xx oo Linnie
Thank you, dearest Linnie! It's hard to believe we have been married that long! We are filled with joy that we have been so blessed with a long happy marriage. xoxo ♥
DeleteHappy Birthday and Anniversary, Martha Ellen! I am quite surprised, along with you, that you eloped! Such a daring thing back then. But we all know now how impetuous the young can be and how fortunate you are it worked out!
ReplyDeleteYes, Cathy, we are so fortunate that it worked for us. If you knew me as at that age you would have been even more surprised! Thank you for your kind wishes! ♥
DeleteOh, Martha! I have tears in my eyes. What a sweet story. That was a bold step you two took but you knew it was the right thing to do and it was! Happy Anniversary. What a very sweet snap of the little young yous! :) I have friends who met on a blind date and fell in love immediately and eloped that night and got married! They've been married over 50 years! Be blessed.
ReplyDeleteShelia ;)
Wow, Shelia, your friends have us beat! I can't imagine meeting someone and then immediately marrying him! I'm glad it worked for them. I really don't know how I knew at that age it was the right thing to marry my sweetheart, but it was! We are blessed beyond measure. Thank you for your kind words. ♥
DeleteLlongyfarchiadau a Penblwydd Hapus i Ti! {that's Congratulations and a Happy Birthday to You!}
ReplyDeleteSuch an exciting and brave, rebellious thing to do, eloping! I'm surprised you eloped, Martha Ellen, but it seems it was very much the right thing to do.
Hope you have a wonderful month of celebrations with lots of surprises and joy ~~~
~~~Deb xoxo
p.s. my b'day month too! so we are in very good company with each other.
Deb, thank you for your kind Welsh wishes--I would have never guessed what it meant or even how to pronounce it!
DeleteI was not a rebellious teen up until then. Grayden and I planned every detail in advance and it was not a spur of the moment decision. Even so, anyone with good sense would not have married at that young age! God certainly has looked out for us.
Happy Birthday to you this month, Deb! October babies are special! xoxo ♥
Yes we are special! Happy Birthday to you and Deb too!
DeleteThank you, Margot! Happy Birthday to you as well! ♥
DeleteHappy birthday and happy anniversary to you and Grayden!! So much to celebrate!!
ReplyDeleteI, too, married very young, but with the blessing of both sets of parents. I have never regretted it, not a single day. Of course, it's all by God's grace! We certainly did some foolish things, but we did them together. :)
Hope to hear more about your trip to Arizona! You are a great travel writer!
Thank you, Cheryl. It's nice to meet other folks who married young and are still happily married. I have never regretted marrying my sweetheart, either. I had to chuckle at your comment on doing foolish things together--that's the best way!
DeleteI will share our Arizona trip, but I guess we need to leave England first! ♥
Well I love this story! (Perhaps you have heard that married college students do better than their counterparts? True.)
ReplyDeleteI also upset my parents by eloping. They really were unreasonable as that was a mere seven years ago! =D In fact, my father has not forgiven me yet and is unlikely ever to. I am so glad that your parents welcomed you home with open arms.
Did you decide on an October anniversary so you'd never forget it? Happy birthday to you both and a very Happy Anniversary! Did you enjoy Arizona?
Vee, I was married on my 18th birthday. Yes indeed a mere baby! I was crazy in love.
DeleteI think my parents figured I was married, so there was little they could do to change that--so they accepted it. They were not happy about it, though. I'm sorry your father hasn't come to terms about you eloping. You were a grown woman, not a baby like I was when we eloped!
Arizona was very hot and not exactly autumnal! We did see some amazing sites that I hope to share if we ever leave England. ♥
Oh Martha Ellen, what a wonderful story, and I could relate to it so much, as I was married very young too, only 20. Wow, 48 years, that is special and so very incredible. Today, I honor you and your husband. What a beautiful story about love that lasted through so many years. I love this picture of you both then........and now.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Thank you, Sheri. A lot has changed for us through the years, but our love for each other remains. We are two very different people as all couples are. We try to honor that fact about each other. ♥
DeleteI like the juxtaposition of these pictures. Daddy has the same look in his eyes when he's with you in both of them and it's really touching.
ReplyDeleteI remember being shocked when you told we kids that you'd eloped. But in thinking about it, I think that it wasn't really as nuts or outrageous or rebellious as all that.
Or rather, I think seeing you as strictly conventional and rules abiding might be a limited way of seeing you. The real point is that you have an excellent instinct for the right thing to do, and will do it, even if it seems crazy. It's just that for the most part, what is right in your life doesn't look crazy to many people's eyes.
Noel, I like that look in your Daddy's eyes as well.
DeleteI think, Noel, I've always felt a responsibility to do what was right in all that I do. Marrying your Daddy was definitely the right thing for me to do! Even at that young age I knew it was right. You know I don't like to hurt anyone and particularly my Mama and Daddy. I knew it would hurt them to go against their wishes. But for me it was the right path to take and I'm so glad I did! I love you! ♥
Happy Anniversary!! You are blessed to have such a long marriage!! I'm very happy for you both
ReplyDeleteGod bless
Kelly
Thank you, Kelly. We are so blessed, indeed! ♥
DeleteHappy anniversary! That is quite a story! You both knew what you wanted. I'm glad you got away and hope you enjoyed the time!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dotsie, I guess we all have our own stories. We had a wonderful anniversary. ♥
DeleteHappy Wedding Anniversary dear Martha Ellen! Wow...48 years of marriage...that is very special indeed! What a wonderful story about how you and your husband met and came to marry. I'm glad everything worked out for the best. Wishing you both many, many more happy years together. XOXO P.S. When is your birthday? I hope I haven't missed it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rosinda! We are more in love after all these years. I really have never had any doubts about marrying my sweetheart--he is the love of my life and I thank God for him everyday! My anniversary and birthday are on the 14th. It's our lucky day! Have a wonderful autumn day, dear one! xoxo ♥
DeleteOh! I'm sorry to have missed your birthday. Happy belated birthday wishes!! I hope this year is filled to the brim with much love, health, and happiness! Take care! xoxo
DeleteThank you, Rosinda. No worries, we celebrate the whole month! Have a great day! xoxo ♥
DeleteI messed this up when I posted it yesterday. I am a dino.
ReplyDeleteOne never knows when one will find their TRUE LOVE. I think it is ok, even today, to marry young. I used to not recommend it either, but in the long run it can truly be better in many aspects if one is with the right person. I know at least two couples who were married in college. One couple was my 8th grade math and 9th grade biology teachers. The other couple I worked with in a restaurant 5 years ago and they are doing well. Did your parents have a reception for you after the fact?
Happy Anniversary and many more!!!
I have been to Scottsdale too, while visiting my sons. I usually visit them in January. They live in Mesa. The older son has been in AZ for 12 years thanks to the Army. He is now moving to Jacksonville this Autumn. AZ is very pretty, but I need more water and trees. :-)
Have a great day!
Margot
Margot, I think you are right in many respects about marriage. I think what I was trying to say when we are young we don't always have the maturity to make the right decisions. Our brains are not fully developed until around 25. My aunts gave us a lovely shower after we were married.
DeleteI agree with you about Arizona. Give me water and green! It is the desert--but still lovely in it's own way. Enjoy your afternoon. ♥
I love your story and how you knew it was right.
ReplyDeleteMyself and Andy were just 19 when we got married, we had been at school together and held hands on a school trip to the Lake District at 14!! Both parents were not best pleased but they all came to the wedding and here we are 8 children and 25 years on.
Happy birthday and Happy Anniversary.
Andys cousin lives in Scottsdale.
Fondly Michelle
Michelle, it's nice to hear about you and your husband marrying young and still going strong! I didn't realize you had eight children. Grayden is four years older than me and I met him when I was 14. I just love happy stories about marriage. Thank you for coming by. ♥
DeleteSo lovely and romantic. Big sigh. And there is so much love in both photos.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thank you, Amalia. Love does grow stronger after all these years. Have a great weekend! xo ♥
DeleteSuch a lovely photo! And they said it would never last! LOL (At least that's what we were told when we married so young, and this December we will celebrate 46 years!) Truly, the grace of God. Blessings on you.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure my parents thought it would never last, but they never said so---I love hearing about long marriages--especially those who married young--I guess we beat the odds. How wonderful for you and Mr. C--46 years in December--that's great! Blessing to you as well. ♥
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