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This Is Us, 40  (Make that 45!) years and Counting!

12/28/2024

10 Comments

 
     Today is my husband and my 45th wedding anniversary!  I looked back on this post from 5 years ago and decided that I couldn't put my feelings much better, so I just made a few updates and I'm sharing it with you again. 
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(Photo by Aww Snaps Photography)
    Sorry we have been absent since Christmas.  But, I couldn't be silent today.  Today is my 40th wedding anniversary! Wow!  It is weird to say those words because in some ways it feels like yesterday that my husband Glen and I met each other in college and began on this grand adventure of life together.  
45 years of marriage
We look just the same, don't we? LOL
    I've thought about how I could pay tribute to the most wonderful husband in the world.  I've seen ideas like giving successful marriage tips or writing 40 reasons why I love him.  I won't be so presumptuous to think that I know the secrets to a successful marriage because of course we have had our ups and downs throughout these 40 years and we certainly aren't perfect.  And, making a list of 40 things would be boring for you and limiting for me.  So, I'm just going to tell you a few things about us and you can glean what you may! It is going to be really nice for me to reminisce a bit. 
45 years of marriage
   I met my husband at Brigham Young University in 1978.  I had walked into my apartment on a Sunday after having been at a church meeting and he was sitting on my couch.  He says he fell in love with me at first sight. I don't know what he saw in me.  I was taller than him, I was young and silly.  He had served in Viet Nam as an Air Born Combat Engineer and had been a missionary for 2 years in Tahiti and was now in school.  I had been raised in California and the only places I'd really been were Disneyland and Utah. But, we soon became good friends.  He spent a lot of time at my apartment.  I thought he had a crush on my roommate!  We never went on a date until the end of that school year and I though it was just a fun date, nothing more.  We went and saw Monty Python and the Holy Grail at a cinema that played old movies.  He wanted to see if I would laugh at it!  (I did!)
    I went home for the summer.  A couple of my roommates, Glen and another guy who I had dated a bit and had  crush on came to CA and we all went to Disneyland and to the beach together.  I knew that I only had one more semester before I finished school and I hated leaving behind the wonderful friends I had made.  It was a fun yet kind of sad time.  
   Over that summer, a few young men were writing me letters.  I would share them with my mom and she kept telling me that Glen really liked me.  I told her that we were just friends and besides, he was too short for me. HA! 
    When I went back to school in the Fall, Glen and I started dating and it quickly became serious.  By October we were engaged and 10 days after I graduated in December, we were married! Our wedding took place in the Los Angeles Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  We took upon ourselves eternal promises to make our love and marriage last forever. We have stayed committed to those promises ever since that day.
    So, that was the start!  Here are a few other interesting things: 
  • We were so broke when were first married that Glen decided to re-enlist in the army. He was a linguist in army intelligence .  His language was Russian.  We lived in Montery, CA for a year while he learned the language.  We met life long friends there.
  • We lived in Texas and learned to sail!  (But, we haven't sailed since we left Texas!)
  • We lived in West Germany for 2 years.  Our oldest son was born there! 
  • We lived in Kansas until Glen's time in the service was over.  
  • We moved to Phoenix, AZ.  We had 5 more children! We have 3 boys and 3 girls.
  • I started substitute teaching in elementary school after my first 4 children were born.  We never had to have daycare because Glen worked the graveyard shift and took care of them during the days that I worked.  
  • ​Thanks to my sister and brother-in-law, we were able to go with them and visit Tahiti, where Glen had served his mission.  It was amazing! 
  • We've owned 3 dogs, a cat, some fish, 6 chickens and my son had a rabbit for awhile throughout our marriage. 
  • We now have 15 grandchildren. 
  • We both ended up with Covid during the Pandemic.  Glen was hospitalized for 4 months!  He had just finished cancer treatments previous to that, so he was already in a weakened state when he caught the disease.  We saw miracles in our lives as friends and family across the country prayed for him.  He was able to recover and come home to me!
45 years of marriage
These 2 babies are 2 years old now! The one Glen is holding just turned 2 today!
    Now, just look at my cute husband!  I am so blessed!  He loves me!  I love being with him more than anyone else.  He makes me laugh.  He is a great Dad and Grandpa.  He loves the Lord and serves diligently.  He is strong and hard working.  He is smart and wise and keeps me calm when I am worried.  He is warm and good and I am safe with him.  He tells me he loves me daily.  He does things for me that he doesn't want to do but because I want them done he does them anyway.   Okay, I wasn't going to make a list but I had to tell you a few things about him.  And while I am at it I will tell you one marriage tip to success (or 2).  Keep your eyes on the eternal goal of loving each other forever and giving 100% of yourself to your spouse and him to you.  Trust each other and be trustworthy.  Be unselfish! Communicate about everything.  Pray together, forgive each other and keep God in your marriage.  Don't forget to have fun, too!  I am so excited for the next 40 years!  (Make that 45!)
10 Comments
Ruth E Maki
12/28/2019 06:56:48 pm

Such a beautiful summary of 40 faithful and loving years! 💖you two!

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Joanne
1/1/2020 03:12:17 pm

Aw, what a wonderful tribute. Happy Anniversary!!

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Joanne
1/1/2020 03:15:50 pm

Aw, what a wonderful tribute. Happy anniversary!

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Dee | Grammy's Grid link
1/3/2020 12:12:02 pm

Happy 40th!! Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 8. Pinned.

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Kimberly link
1/8/2020 06:15:13 pm

Happy Anniversary, Helen! It's a wonderful milestone. Thank you for sharing this on Traffic Jam Weekend. It has been chosen as a fave feature for this week's party going live on Thursday at 5:00 pm CST.

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Lisa | Handmade in Israel link
1/4/2025 10:19:55 am

Thank you for sharing your story. What wonderful memories and great photos. Happy anniversary! Visiting from the Crazy Little Love Birds link party.

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Joanne
1/6/2025 10:56:53 am

Happy anniversary! I loved reading this and am so glad that your husband recovered from his bought of Covid in 2020 to still be by your side celebrating today.

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Nancy Andres, Freelance Writer link
1/8/2025 02:23:20 pm

What a beautiful love story, Saw it at The Hearth and Soul Link Party – January 2025 Edition. My posts are there too.

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Steph@CrazyLittleLovebirds link
1/8/2025 10:32:29 pm

I hope that you two had a beautiful time celebrating your anniversary. Such an amazing story of your love. Thank you for sharing with us at the Crazy Little Lovebirds Link Party #70.

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April J Harris link
1/23/2025 11:31:14 am

I'm so glad you are both in good health now, Helen! What a beautiful family you have built and what an amazing life you have both had together so far. Wishing you many more years of health and happiness!

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    Helen Reynolds: Mother of six children , grandmother to fifteen!  I love to cook, craft and create things and I especially love doing that with my family, So, when my lawyer daughter, Lindsey, my artist daughter, Madalynn, and I came up with the idea of Hot Cocoa Bombs, this blog was born.  Then, one more daughter, with her technical and science skills, plus creativity has joined in to round us out!  Read more about us here!
        

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