0tis

My husband and I have been married for 24 yrs this year. My mom and Dad celebrated 52 yrs. My grandma's on both sides 50+ years. My family has had little divorces - although my siblings have all been divorced. We had bets against us in the beginning but we have endured - and yes its not always peaches and cream - but we have gotten through all that and now we are empty nesters and enjoy our lives. My hubby was married for a very short time before me and had two children = my stepchildren - we are very close and I wouldn't change a thing. It takes work and commitment to endure the road but its worth it in the end.

MadQuilter

Our dear friends have a big party on Labor Day put on by their children. Their anniversary is actually tomorrow: 60 years. Makes me feel so underaccomplished - we will be celebrating 34 years (only) in December. lol

The last 18 months, my honey worked the evening shift and we didn't see each other much. Now he is back on days and I love cooking for him and spending time. We are even taking dance lessons again and having a blast getting our 4 left feet sorted out every Wednesday night. I cannot (and do not want to) imagine life without Pat.

cattailsquilts

I swore I would never become a number, one of the married young, divorced soon couples. But I did. We were married 9 years, have a beautiful daughter, but the emotional pain was not worth it. Let me tell you, feeling useless, unloved & unwanted in your own home is not a good headspace to be in. We went through 3 different rounds of marriage counseling, with 3 different counselors. Not 3 sessions, 3 series of sessions. All they achieved was to show how blind to my situation my ex was.

Then after it was all said & done, my now hubby helped me realize how strong I really am (thanks to the bs I went through). And I'm determined to not ever go down that road again.

So yes, thank you and congrats to everyone who has stuck through and made it work, and are growing old together. I'm going to grow old with this man, but sometimes you stumble on the path to finding the right road.

katiebear1

Same with me. We were married in our teen and everyone said it would not last. It will be 40years come January.

OdessaQuilts

On Oct. 1, 2010, my husband and I will celebrate our 27th anniversary. We've known each other since we were 5; first met in Kindergarten. I come from a long line of "divorce-free" marriages: both sets of grandparents were married over 55 years when my grandfathers passed away. Neither grandmother remarried.

My mom & dad have been married 59 years this past May.

And when we got married, I said that I didn't believe in divorce -- I'd kill him first, but I'd never divorce him! Sounds kinda funny, but it goes to the mentality of marriage: if you make that committment, then you should stand by it. Now, I've worked for 18+ years for Attorneys, and I've seen the ravages of divorce, so I know that in some cases it is warranted. But it's not for me.

We were 22 when we married, and I have said it ever since: I knew my mind then, and what I wanted. I figured if I was intending to spend the rest of my life with someone, I had better love him, and there should be laughter. To this day, he can make me laugh until I can't breathe. Yup, sometimes we're just plain goofy, but it's what works for us. I couldn't ask for a more caring, loving, or concerned partner to walk through life with me. He's the best father to our 3 daughters, and incredibly selfless to the 2 grandsons.

And like so many others, "they" said it wouldn't last. His brother has been married, has 4 kids + one his wife had after an affair, and they're divorced. His other brother has been married, divorced, and is married to someone else now. His sister is still married, but hers is a marriage that suits her, so that's all there is. My brother and sister have both only been married the one time, and are still married.

If you've got the desire and admiration to take note of a longstanding marriage, and it's what you want in life, too, then you should do all in your power to make it work. Jobs come and go, housing changes, kids grow up and move away. What's left at the end of the day is your relationship with your spouse. And if you can sit together in a room and enjoy each other's company, whether or not you even have to say a word to each other, you've been blessed.

To all us "old married people", a big pat on the back. To the "less experienced" married people, keep working on it! It's a very worthy project.

Odessa

purplefiend

I met my husband when I was just 19, in 1977 we got married a year later and we've been married 32 years now. They all said it we wouldn't last a year.(we showed them! lol)
It wasn't all wonderful, we had to work hard to make it a good, lasting relationship. We love each other more each day.
Sharon

BRenea

My husband and I have been together for 22 years and married 16. We met when I was 17, he was going to college about 200 miles away but he came to take me out every Saturday for almost a year! Then he came back home (still about 75 miles away from me) and we started seeing each other more. The first few years of our marriage were happy but hard, I was working days and he was working nights, money was tight, and the in-laws were driving me crazy! We have made it through good times and bad, but as long as we have each other we are so blessed!

reach for the stars 2

My hubby and me will be married 40 years this Nov. We split twice but made it work. Glad we stuck it out and have 4 wonderful children and 2 beautiful grandbabies. People need to stick together. If there is abuse going on I do say get out don't look back. No one should be subject to that not you kids or anyone.

nativetexan

I was divored at about 28 yrs old. one of those $350.00 ones actually. i paid.
then at 35 i met my husband of 31 yrs!

Gramma B

We have been married for 31 years this October 27th. We have stressful times, like any marriage; but we've always worked thru them together. We've always told our kids, "Marriage can be one of the toughest jobs you ever have; work on it everyday, compromise when needed, talk your problems out bewtween the two of you, and share the strength you build." We are now both retired, and enjoying life together in our retirement years.