Yikes! I totally forgot today was Friday and I didn't do a special "Friday Foto Friends" Post, so I guess this will have to be it. Most of you have already seen it since last night. Sorry I totally forgot today was Friday!!
Now, let's try to remember how to get over to Deb's place at Breathing in Grace and see what our other Friday Foto Friends have been up to!!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Do you remember where you were and how you celebrated Valentine's Day fifty years ago?
I sure do...
Fifty years ago I was a newly engaged young lady (engaged on January 25, 1969), and here I am with my sweetheart, celebrating his 21st birthday, which was on February 16th...so we celebrated our engagement, Valentine's Day, and his birthday all at once.
It was a very exciting time!!
Today it hit me that this was all fifty years ago, because this year will be our 50th wedding anniversary on August 16, 2019! We met and had our first date in October of 1968, and by January 25th, 1969, we were engaged! It was a whirlwind courtship and engagement...but it must have been ordained by God, because we are still here together fifty years later!!
So I was looking through our scrapbook of our first year together, and reminiscing about our first Valentine's Day. If you can read the newspaper clipping above, I saw this recipe for a heart shaped cake and baked it for my sweetie on Valentine's Day. Then we had the other big cake on his birthday two days later, at a family party at his Aunt Nellie's house. That was the first time both sides of the family were together...my parents met his parents for the first time...and it was an exciting time for all.
Not long after we put our engagement announcement in the local newspapers:
And then the fun began.
But I won't share all the details of showers and parties and plans now. Maybe I will do that as a series over the next few months leading up to our anniversary. After all, we only have a 50th Wedding Anniversary once in a lifetime! So we might as well spend a little time celebrating and remembering. We are not planning to have any big party to celebrate. I would like to take a trip somewhere. But these are things we are still talking and "dreaming about".
Here is the birthday card I gave to my sweetheart on his 21st birthday, as we were "looking to this day"...
Some pretty poignant thoughts as we were envisioning what our life would be together:
Little did we know at that time just where the Lord would take us on this journey of the next fifty years.
I like what the card said:
"But today, well lived, makes every yesterday
A dream of happiness,
and every tomorrow a vision of hope."
Here we were on Easter Sunday of that year, at my family home, after attending church together, looking forward to our dream of happiness and a vision of hope.
I thank the Lord that we started our life together seeking God's plan for our lives.
It hasn't always been an easy road...actually quite the opposite many times...
But He has never failed us.
So very thankful for my sweetheart, and for the years God has blessed us with.
We truly have been blessed.
Awwwww, Pam, this post is so touching! A whirlwind romance, celebrations and you are a very sentimental type to save all these things. I am so very happy for you and your husband. Definitely, you should spread these memories out over the next few months so your readers can take it all in. I love that quote and your scrapbook!
ReplyDeleteI remember where I was back in January, 1969 and wearing some clothes very similar to what you are wearing in your pictures. Happy Valentine’s Day to you both and happy birthday to your hubby!
Thank you, Nonnie. Yes, those were the days of short skirts and bold new styles. I can't wear such short skirts nowadays. Yes, I am rather sentimental. This old scrapbook is falling apart, however. I may have to somehow restore it before the old paper pages disintegrate. Fifty years is pretty old... Happy Valentine's Day to you too. I loved your homemade cards. So sweet.
DeletePam, I loved seeing these photos and hearing about your early years with John! We are attending a 50 Anniversary party on Saturday for our neighbors, Sharon & Bob. Definitely worthy of celebration!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Terri. Congratulations to your neighbors! It just doesn't seem possible that it could be 50 years already. We still think we are those young people in the photos in our heads...but our bodies tell us otherwise!
DeletePam: We celebrated our 50th Anniversary last November. On November 9, 1968, I ran around without a coat. Couldn't do it this past November. We had postponed getting married because of one reason or another for six months.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you and your hubby a few months late! And, even though you put off your wedding for a few months, the time was just right for it to last at least 50 years. God bless you both for many more.
DeleteLife, well-lived.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of anything to say here, just a big smile!
Thank you for your big smile! Yes, our life together has been well-lived...but it has definitely had its challenges. So thankful for God holding us together.
DeleteWhat a lovely couple! Congratulations on 50 years/
ReplyDeleteThank you! We still can't believe it's been that long!!
DeleteAwww...Pam, I enjoyed this so much! I hope you will do that series leading up to your 50th year anniversary! It would be so enjoyable to read. I love it that you kept a scrapbook of your first year of marriage.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dianna. I may just have to do that. It will be a way to help us remember the awe and joy of that first year together! Can't believe it was so many years ago. Where did those kids go?
DeleteLovely post. I am so glad you found happiness with the love of your life :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann. We were very blessed and know it was totally a "God-thing". We could have never found each other without His intervention in our lives!!
DeleteBeautiful post, Pam!!! I love all the pictures! I would enjoy seeing more posts like this over this next year as you get closer to your 50th wedding anniversary!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barbara. I will try to do just that. It will help us remember 'when'...and be a good way to celebrate the occasion!
DeleteOh, such a sweet and touching post, Pamela! God has definitely blessed your 50 years together, and I pray He will continue to do so. And yes, it would be wonderful if you shared more memories in the weeks leading up to your actual anniversary. We can all use more love stories in our lives.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Your photos transported me back in time to the 1960's. My sister celebrated her 50th anniversary last August. Wonderful post - God bless!
ReplyDeleteOh, I absolutely love this post Such special memories of a young couple just starting out. You were such a beauty.... still are. Thank you sweet Friend, for being faithful to link up your fotos each Friday. Maybe someone else can take it over. That would be a great idea. Hope you have a great weekend! 💜
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post and you were just adorable! Our wedding anniversary is also Aug 16-but a few years behind you. Love that you shared this- xo Diana
ReplyDeleteOh Pam, what a sweet post. Thank you for sharing more about your life together with John. Godly couples are such a blessing!
ReplyDeleteLove and blessings!