HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! 18 YEARS TODAY!

Photo Credit: CharlieBarker on 2/11/12

Today I celebrate 18 years of marriage with my husband, Kurt.  As we celebrate this wonderful day, I am reminded of the gift of marriage.  It is such a beautiful and sacred covenant that can only be summed up in one word, Love.  It is a true test to the endless boundaries of love because it encompasses all things.  Being able to love someone on their best days but also on their worst days.  Loving each other when you agree and disagree on things.  I have learned so many valuable lessons about love and am so thankful to be able to share my life with Kurt.  The road has not always been easy but because of our commitment to each other, we are celebrating 18 years of marriage.  I am so blessed to have him and our beautiful family.
So on this special day, I want to take a moment and share this "Blessing for a Marriage".  This is to all of you who are married and for all of you who will be getting married!

BLESSING FOR A MARRIAGE  by James Dillet Freeman 

May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding.

May you always need one another - not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness. A mountain needs a valley to be complete; the valley does not make the mountain less, but more; and the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it. So let it be with you and you.

May you need one another, but not out of weakness.

May you want one another, but not out of lack.
May you entice one another, but not compel one another.
May you embrace one another, but not out encircle one another.
May you succeed in all important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces.
May you look for things to praise, often say, "I love you!" and take no notice of small faults.

If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back.

May you enter into the mystery which is the awareness of one another's presence - no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities. 

May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy. 
May you have love, and may you find it loving one another.

Here's to another 18 + years!

Much Love,

Cindy Stonehouse

Reflecting on 17 years of Marriage

Then - January 7, 1995

This day 17 years ago exactly Saturday, January 7, 1995, I was a lucky bride walking down the aisle to marry the man of my dreams!  I remember all of the excitement and overwhelming feelings of love I had that day!  Now as I reflect back, here are some of the things that I am most thankful for!


Family and friends: We are so thankful to all of our family and friends who attended our wedding.  I still have vivid memories of everyone there to witness one of the best days in our lives!


Video:  My brother in law offered to video our ceremony and reception.  Although he was not a professional videographer, I LOVE having my wedding video.  My husband and I have watched it every year on our Anniversary (we no longer have VHS so we haven't been able to watch it in a while).  Watching our wedding video makes me smile every time! 


Photos:  Although photography is so different now (I would love to get married again for all of the gorgeous photos!), I am still so thankful that we had a professional photographer, who understood the importance of our day and wanted to make sure they captured all of our precious moments!  Having a true professional capture those moments makes all of the difference in the end.

 Now - January 7, 2012 (not a professional photo)

Happy Anniversary!  Here's to 17 more years!

Hugs XOXO,

Cindy Stonehouse