Hello dear friends. It's been a while since we've visited. I hope you are enjoying a lovely Autumn where you live. Grayden and I have been celebrating our 50th anniversary. It's hard to believe we have been married that long, but we have been blessed with many years together. I've shared before that I married on my eighteenth birthday! The odds of an eighteen year old staying married for 50 years is slim. So I feel extra blessed to have married a wonderful man to share my life with. Marriage is a two way street that takes love and respect for one another to work. No marriage is a bed of roses all the time, but with God's help we have grown to overcome the obstacles that life handed us.
We decided to celebrate in a big way for this special anniversary. You know how much we love England. Our last visit there was magical and we wanted to return. So we started planning our adventure again. Part of the fun was spent planning many months ahead for our daily schedule. After discussing where we wanted to visit, Grayden spent hours on spreadsheets detailing each of the four weeks we would be in England.
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| On the train to NYC |
On September 7th, Samuel took us to the train station so we could begin our journey back to England. The train took us to Penn Station in New York city. We then took a taxi to Brooklyn where we boarded the Queen Mary 2 for our voyage to Southampton.
I always get a big lump in my throat when I view the Statue of Liberty. There she stood proudly greeting us from our stateroom!
It was a beautiful day to sail away from the New York Harbor.
It was a beautiful day to sail away from the New York Harbor.
Over the next few weeks/ or years I'll be sharing the four weeks we spent in England and Scotland.
I'm sorry I was unable to share about our trip before now. I do appreciate the concerns many of you have shared with me about where we were. I really should have a least said I was taking a break so you wouldn't worry. It's quite amazing how close I feel to my friends here. Thank you all for reading my little blog about my life.
Oh this is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love the photograph of the two of you, fifty years together is so special.
Looking forward to seeing all of your photographs, bet you took loads!
Take your time and enjoy sorting them through.
My good wishes
All the best Jan
Jan, would you believe we took 4554 photographs? Thank goodness for a digital camera. In the old days we would have spent a fortune on film. Thank you for your kind wishes! ♥
DeleteWow! 4554 is a lot of pictures ...
DeleteHappy sorting.
All the best Jan
I knew where you were! (you mentioned it in a comment on my blog) I didn't know, though, when you exactly leaving so I was concerned for your crossing with all the hurricanes spinning out to sea after hitting the Caribbean. I take it that it was "uneventful." Did you have a balcony on your last crossing? If not, did it make a difference in your enjoyment of the trip? Inquiring minds need lots of details.
ReplyDeleteCathy, we were on the outer bands of the hurricane that hit Ireland on the return crossing. The Queen Mary 2 is the only ocean liner (as Captain Wells continued to remind everyone). She handled the rough seas well, though I did use Motion Eaze during that time. We had a balcony in both directions and enjoyed it very much although I can't say we enjoyed ourselves more because of it. They asked us if we wanted a free upgrade in both directions and we said YES! We're not sure how we qualified for this, but we've sailed with them before and they knew we were celebrating our 50th. ♥
DeleteI like how you take a ship over! That gets you all rested by the time you arrive! I remember as a child more than once taking my grandparents into NY to board probably Queen Mary 1 for their voyage over. We even got a peek of their room, etc. Happy 50th! That's a great milestone and one for much thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dotsie. Once you've taken the QM2 you never want to fly to Europe again. It was a great way to relax over and back. That's so neat you were able to board with your grandparents on the Queen Mary. We visited her in Long Beach where she is now docked. What a grand ship! ♥
DeleteWhat a special celebration - Happy Anniversary, Martha Ellen! And you got to go to England for the big occasion, how wonderful. How exciting that you went on the Queen Mary. You know, years ago, me and the girls went on the Queen Mary ship when we lived in So Cal. We each have three tea cups to remember the day. So many interesting sites you discovered along the way. And a bottle of champagne to celebrate the day, with a very special picture of the two of you. : ) Welcome back to blog land, Martha Ellen.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Thank you, dear Sheri. The Queen Mary has such a wonderful legacy. Many of her memorablia still sails on the Queen Mary 2. How nice that you and the girls have visited her. We did as well when she first docked in Long Beach.
DeleteLet us know as soon as the baby is born, I know you all are excited. ♥
Such a beautiful way to celebrate...
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary to both of you..
Thank you, Krishna. ♥
DeleteWelcome back! Happy Anniversary! What a special anniversary 50 years :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pilar. ♥
DeleteGorgeous photos! I would really like to visit New York City someday, but until then I'll enjoy the pictures of those who have been able to visit.
ReplyDeleteBlessings~
Thank you for visiting today. New York is like none other. I hope to visit with you soon. ♥
DeleteWow! What a special trip!! My sincere congratulations on 50 years! Yes, you were very young! We were 29 when we married, and haven't reached the 50-year point yet. It would be wonderful if we could take a similar trip to celebrate! It's so good to have you back! You were definitely missed!! - xo Nellie
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Nellie. We love England so much! There was no question where to celebrate our 50th! I hope you and your sweetheart will make plans to take this trip. You would love it! So nice to hear from you, dear one! xo ♥
DeleteHappy 50th Anniversary Martha Ellen and what a joy to celebrate this with a trip to England by Queen Mary II. The other way round I should like to visit New York once. I'm looking forward to your England experiences.
ReplyDeleteA trip to New York city would be wonderful for you by way of the Queen Mary 2, Janneke! Thank you for your wishes. I hope you are well and enjoying Autumn. ♥
DeleteBelated anniversary wishes, congratulations on 50 years together and having such a wonderful trip. Looking forward to hearing more.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. We can hardly believe it's been 50 years. It seems like yesterday. Happy Autumn! ♥
DeleteHappy 50th Anniversary! What a dream vacation. You are the 2nd blogger I know that has done this. By the way how many days does it take to get there? Your pictures are wonderful- that picture of the Statue of Liberty is stunning!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Liz. The crossing takes seven days. It's full of wonderful things to do if you wish. The Statue of Liberty is a stunning site to see! She means so much to me--to think of all the immigrants that have passed through this harbor following a dream, it's astonding...♥
DeleteCongratulations, sweet friend!! I thought of you and Grayden so often during your Golden Adventure. So much to celebrate in your very favorite place! Can't wait to hear your stories and see more photos! For now, just enjoy the lovely, golden memories as you begin another happy year of marriage...
ReplyDeleteWelcome 'home sweet home!' ♡
Dawn, you are such a thoughtful friend. I hope I don't bore you with all the photos I hope to share. Our golden memories will forever be with us as we continue our journey. Happy Autumn, sweet friend. ♥
DeleteHappy 50th Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHow very wonderful for you and I am anxiously awaiting the posts sharing your amazing adventure.
So happy to see you back here! : )
Billie Jo it's nice to be back home. It's so much fun to relive this adventure with my blogging friends. ♥
DeleteHappy 50th wedding anniversary, dear Martha Ellen! What a wonderful way to celebrate your golden anniversary. You are indeed blessed. Sending much love and good wishes your way. XoXO
ReplyDeleteRosinda, I have so much to be thankful for. Thank you as always for your sweet thoughts, my friend. XOXO ♥
DeleteHappy 50th Anniversary, what a wonderful way to celebrate such a wonderful milestone.
ReplyDeleteI so agree wth your thoughts about marriage.
Blessings,
Sue
Thank you so much, Sue. Blessings to you as well. ♥
DeleteI am so excited to see you back!!
ReplyDeleteWarm congratulations to you both on this milestone anniversary! Naturally you would want to celebrate this in a meaningful and wonderful way . . . and I can't think of anything that seems more "you" than a lovely trip to England! I look forward to hearing about your travels and seeing all of the places you visited.
Love the picture of you two lovebirds!!
It will be so much fun to share our trip all over again, Cheryl. Being gone for so long, it's taking us a while to get back to "normal". I've missed visiting with my friends here. Thank you so much for your kind wishes, my friend. ♥
DeleteCongratulations. Looking forward to the coming weeks as you share your trip of a lifetime with us. ~~~Deb xo
ReplyDeleteThank you, Deb! I still have to pinch myself that we were able to make this trip again. xoxo ♥
DeleteWarm congratulations on your Jubilee Anniversary! I am so glad that you have been celebrating in such a special way and look forward to reading more about your time in England and Scotland.
ReplyDeleteVee, we are still looking at each other and wondering how this could be. Thank you so much for sharing our joy! ♥
DeleteI do love your header picture, how nice. The background to your blog I really like too.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your Anniversary. Did you put it in the paper? How many people can say
they have been married for 50 years? A trip to England and Scotland - oh what a good time you will have. My family on Mom and Dad's side is Scottish and English, with some German and some French from the Voiers side of the family. I need to go. My husband said this looks like a good way to go and we must try to take a trip. Look so forward to seeing and hearing about your adventures. .
Again, Happy 50th Wedding Aniversary and Golden it is.
Betsy
Betsy, we are now home after having been gone for six weeks. It was a wonderful trip to take for our 50th! You and your sweetie would love it particularly since you have ancestors from Great Britain. I do as well and I'll be writing about it.
DeleteThank you for your wishes, I appreciate it. ♥
P.S. We did not put it in the paper.
Oh wow, I so look forward to your future posts!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by! ♥
DeleteI am so happy that you were able to take that wonderful Anniversary trip to England! I too love all the planning that goes into making an itinerary. Planning truly is so much of the fun. But being there is thrilling. We were gone from September 26 through October 9, enough time to fall in love with the country all over again and wish there were some way to live there for half a year or so! I'm looking forward to some of those photos. This time I did have my favorites printed out, just in case all the digital copies disappear! Have a wonderful weekend, Martha Ellen.
ReplyDeleteJudy, we both share a love affair with England. It's amazing the pull it has on me! You are so right that being there is the thrilling part and reliving it all over again as we write about it and look at our photos. Enjoy your memories, my friend. ♥
DeleteIf you're going to take a trip, there's nothing like doing it in style! And you certainly had something to celebrate - congratulations! (with apologies for barging in).
ReplyDeleteThank you Mike. You're welcome here anytime. ♥
DeleteWhat a beautiful couple you are, and congratulations on a life together. A fabulous way to celebrate with the long and, I am sure, eventful adventure in the beloved British Isles. You must be a real travel guide by now, I look forward to reading of your time in the land of our British cousins.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Jeri. We feel so blessed to have taken this trip! ♥
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