Happy anniversary, Mom & Dad
Today marks the 35th anniversary of my parents’ marriage. I don’t usually feel called to celebrate other people’s anniversaries, but it’s a milestone that holds new meaning for me now that I am married and expecting a son. Reflecting on the depth of their commitment, I am moved by the vision and love it has taken to build such a life together, a life that ignited the spark of my own existence. It is a similar love that connects me with my wife and allowed us to want to start a family. It’s a love worth celebrating, and maybe in 30 years, our son will write a tribute to us.
I’ve been fortunate enough to witness remarkable relationships that have stood the test of time. My Great-Grandparents Walter and Rosie, were married 72 years, my Grandparents Paul and Robin are celebrating over 60 years together. However, it is the day-to-day resilience of my parents’ love that has profoundly shaped my understanding of what makes a relationship truly enduring.
A fundamental lesson I’ve learned from my parents is the importance of teamwork in a successful marriage. My father often uses the phrase, “We are on the same team!” It’s a philosophy that sets the tone for their relationship. It steers their shared vision, fosters accountability, upholds high standards, and nurtures patience.
As I reflect on them as a couple, I marvel at how they have remained deeply in love over the years. They are committed to keeping each other happy and it is this spirit of unity that has been a cornerstone of their lives.
Some of my warmest childhood memories involve the comfort of their presence— the way they supported my sister and me, through sports, music or their highly orchestrated Christmas festivities. My mother, a dedicated public school teacher for 26 years, always lit up when my dad visited her classroom, bringing joy not just to her but to her students as well.
Their home in SeaPines was the heart of many family gatherings over 17 years, a testament to their role as community makers. Both became pillars in my schools, our church, mentoring youth groups, leading mission trips, and extending their parental warmth to many of my and my sister’s friends over the years, who my mother affectionately refers to as her ‘bear cubs’. It has been a treat to see them lead and love!
Our team has been the tightest it’s ever been over the last few years of my dad’s battle with cancer. Humor has been a beacon of lightness. They lift each other up with banter and playful teasing. At the heart of it all are the vows they made to one another long ago: ‘in sickness and in health,’ they promised to stand together through every up and down.
My wife Olivia and I live in Old Town Bluffton now, a bike ride away from mom and dads. We walk down Calhoun St every day to the river. We typically stop in front of the Church of the Cross, an 1857 antebellum relic, that overlooks the May River and where my parents made their vows 35 years ago. An old photo of their wedding party on its brick steps is etched in my mind, a constant reminder of where it all began…
Happy anniversary Mom & Dad!