29 Years

I find myself sitting here reflecting on our marriage. This coming Sunday, March 4th, is our 29th wedding anniversary and I’m feeling very sentimental. As has become our custom the last several years, we always take a trip for our anniversary, and this year is no different! On Saturday we leave for Mammoth, somewhere neither of us has ever been, for a snowy, wintery get away for 4 dreamy nights!!! We are both so excited and can’t wait for the trip! We have ordered snow boots, thermal underwear, warm socks, winter coats and snow chains for the Jeep just in case! We are ready!!!

That isn’t what I’m thinking about though! All I can think about is how eternally grateful I am for my husband and how in love with him I am. He is my absolute best friend. He cherishes me and loves me so completely. He spoils me and treats me like a queen. He constantly shows me his adoration and the depth of his affection. We just love to be together, it doesn’t even matter what we are doing. Our life and marriage are so full and so abundant and so wonderful. I never dreamed it could be this good. And it just keeps getting better and better!

My reflections are also on how far we’ve come, because it wasn’t always rainbows and butterflies! We’ve lived a lot of years together and been through some of the toughest of times. We’ve experienced heartbreaks and trauma and disappointments and devastations beyond what others have had to go through. Then again, not nearly as bad as what some may experience. We do still have each other. We are grateful for every valley that grew and stretched us in ways we never expected and gave us the strength and the perseverance to climb to the mountaintops where the view is so much better and richer than the mountaintop before it. Ultimately, we give all credit and glory to God for taking these “two kids in love” (without a clue), and bringing us through each moment of each day that led us to where we are. Still together after all these years. Still in love and so much wiser and stronger and full of faith as we go.

I feel so incredibly blessed and undeservedly so for having so many of my dreams come true. Being able to retire early and enjoy my life and family so much more, has been the cherry on top of it all. I am so very thankful.

There is a song by Travis Tritt that my husband put on a custom CD for me so many years ago called Best of Intentions. I used to listen to the song and understand how much he saw himself in those lyrics, knowing how badly he wanted to give me the whole world. I was so proud of his heart toward me and knew he would give it all to me if he could.

The Lord has been very good to us and life has worked out so many kinks. He has worked so hard to “build me my castle.” Now I sit and ponder as we are about to embark on our 30th year of marriage and I think about those lyrics knowing he so proudly is giving me all those things his heart desired to give me and fulfill all those promises that were his best intentions. I know I could never “find devotion more true,” than his!

I love you Daniel Padilla. I loved you then, love you still, I always have and always will. Happy 29th wedding anniversary, babe. I love you to the moon and back. You are my most favorite. Thank you for loving me so well. To God be the glory.

Best Of Intentions by Travis Tritt:

I had big plans for our future

Said I’d give you the whole world somehow

I tried makin’ good on that promise

Thought I’d be so much further by now

Never could build you a castle

Even though you’re the queen of my heart

But I’ve had the best of intentions from the start

Now some people think I’m a loser

‘Cause I seldom get things right

But you make me feel like a winner

When you wrap me in your arms so tight

Please tell me you will remember

No matter how much I do wrong

That I had the best of intentions all along

I gave you a ring

And I promised you things

I always thought we’d do

But my best-laid plans

Slipped right through my hands

To show my love for you

And if you could read my heart

Then you’d know without exception

It was all with the best of intentions

So here I am asking forgiveness

And praying that you’ll understand

Don’t think I take you for granted

Girl, I know just how lucky I am

Though you deserve so much better

You won’t find devotion more true

‘Cause I’ve had the best of intentions

Girl, I’ve had the best of intentions

Yes, I’ve had the best of intentions loving you