My husband and I just celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary- WOW, we are making it! The past couple of weeks in my blogs I have shared some stories that happened during the weeks leading up to our wedding. Let me share one more which makes the fact that we have been married 24 years just that more amazing.
It was the night before our wedding. Lots of hustle and bustle (like squirrels trying to get enough nuts to make it through the winter) at the church where the reception was going to take place and also at my home.
Before I head into the story there is some information leading up to the story.
I didn’t meet any of my husband’s immediate family until we were already engaged. And we were engaged only 3 months before we were married. My point being that I didn’t really know his family and hadn’t spent that much time with them up to this moment in time.
When my husband asked me to marry him, I created many, many pro and con lists. Standing in a grocery line- I would create a list. Driving in the car- created a list. Everywhere, anywhere I had a few moments—I created a list. This was ongoing for about a week. After much thinking and talking it over with myself, a sister, and a couple of friends, I decided to pray about it. I got an answer and it was very clear. MARRY HIM!
Fast forward a couple of weeks. My mom arrived from Spain. [While she was in town, we would share my bedroom (actually it was hers).] Right before I would go to bed, I would say, “What am I doing?” (talking about getting married 🤦). My mom would always say, “You don’t have to marry him”. I would respond to that with, “Mom, God didn’t change His mind overnight”. This went on every night right up to the day before the wedding.
Now my story.
So, at home, it was my fiancé, his dad, his brother, my dad, and me. We were all in the kitchen and dining room. My now husband was fooling around and talking with his family in a way I had never seen before. Plus, I was feeling ignored and was getting irritated.
I remember this next part like it happened yesterday. My dad and I were standing at the sink with our backs to the others. I looked sideways at my dad and said, “Am I making the biggest mistake of my life?”
He said (which at the time I felt was a lie, but have since seen the truth of the statement), “You aren’t marrying his family.” As I look back at this, I realize that I was scared and hoping someone could ease my fears or reassure me that it would be ok. Neither really happened.
The wedding day arrived. I was very tired. I had slept maybe 3 hours the night before. I was still irritated from the experience the night before and way worried about the upcoming, life changing event.
My fiancé and I drove to and sat together in the temple (marriage ceremony location) without talking. This went on for about 90 mins. Minimal conversation.
It wasn’t until the person who married us said, “Amen”, ending the ceremony, that I felt great relief and joy. I also knew without question that this was not “the biggest mistake of my life” instead it was way far away from being my worst mistake. In fact, it has been one of my best decisions ever.
That year, and every year since, my husband, Nephi Rew, has been a wonderful (and stretching) gift to me.
There have been times during our marriage when I have wondered if it was going to last- meaning our marriage.
One time, in particular, that I recall happened when we were living in New York. I had been struggling in many areas of my life including my relationship with my husband. I was trying to find answers to make things better. I heard a talk by L. Tom Perry. In his talk he said, among other things, “the best is yet to come”. I know other people have said that, but when he said it, it stuck with me. (Plus, I wasn’t really sure that was possible given my current situation.)
I have thought about that quote many times since that day. It is so TRUE! The best is yet to come. I was reminded of the truth of this quote just this last weekend. My husband and children (including the two kids that weren’t even alive when we lived in New York and our son-in-law that we welcomed into our family this year) were with me laughing and having a great time. “The best is yet to come” ALWAYS!
As we end this unusual, even crazy year, I hope you have a very wonderful and Merry Christmas and fabulous New Year—-“The best is yet to come” in your life and in your marriage.
What things or experiences are you looking forward to in the new year? Let’s talk about them….