Fifty years ago, on a warm Friday evening, these two youngsters committed their lives and their love to each other. My brother-in-law, Fitz, gave us a ‘charge –
Gary & Stephanie, tonight is the beginning of a new way of life for both of you. Long awaited. No longer two separate individuals, but one family in Christ.
At 19 and 21 respectively, we thought we knew what marriage was all about. Ah, sweet innocent youth! Little did we know what we were in for! I’m not going to kid you – not every moment of the last 50 years was easy. Or fun. Some of it was downright hard. We raised three children, renovated a 100 year old house and owned a small service business (part American dream and part American nightmare.) But through all the years, through the good and the bad, the joy and the hard, the beauty and the ashes, God kept us together. He never gave up on us, and we never gave up on each other. Grace. His amazing grace is what has held us together these many years. And our prayer continues to be that His Grace will hold us fast in the years ahead!
Happy 50th to my beloved!
This might be our theme song –
And we went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storms
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
Dancing in the Minefields (by Andrew Peterson)
Well, I was nineteen, you were twenty-one
The year we got engaged
And everyone said we were much too young
But we did it anyway
We got the rings for forty each
From a pawn shop down the road
We said our vows and took the leap
Now fifteen years ago
And we went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storms
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
Well “I do” are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another, I’ve heard
Is a good place to begin
‘Cause the only way to find your life
Is to lay your own life down
And I believe it’s an easy price
For the life that we have found
And we’re dancing in the minefields
We’re sailing in the storms
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for
So when I lose my way, find me
When I lose love’s chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith, till the end of all my days
When I forget my name, remind me
‘Cause we bear the light of the Son of Man
So there’s nothing left to fear
So I’ll walk with you in the shadowlands
Till the shadows disappear
‘Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos
Baby, I can dance with you
So let’s go dancing in the minefields
Let’s go sailing in the storms
Oh, let’s go dancing in the minefields
And kicking down the doors
Oh, let’s go dancing in the minefields
And sailing in the storms
Oh, this is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for
Happy anniversary and may God give you good health and many more years to sere Him together🎉🎉
Congratulations!!!! To you both. You are both looking very good, happy Anniversary ðŸ‘🥰
Congrats! Happy 50th. We’re right behind you.
Happy Anniversary!💠What a milestone. May God’s grace continue to sustain you and bless you.
Happy 50th Anniversary! You two looked so young and were young! God’s continual blessings on you.
Congratulations! You have no way to know the full impact of your 50 married years! An inspiration!
Keep on trucking!
Great pictures, lovely song, grace filled life. Congratulations
You are a shining example for us to follow. God Bless.
Wonderfully said! Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. Congratulations! I say, “Let’s just dance!” And he does dance with me when no one else is around! Love is not always easy, but it’s worth it.
Praise the Lord, we are three months ahead of you, God is so good!! Dave & Donna
A very HAPPY 50th Anniversary! May his GRACE CONTINUE TO SHINE UPON YOU!
Happy 50th!! Great song.. God bless.
Congratulations on your 50th wedding anniversary! We loved seeing your wedding picture and reading your posts.
It looks like you have had many great celebrations this year.
The LORD sooooo good to give you these memories to treasure in your heart!