Tag: celebrating love
Many things in this world tug at my heart strings… babies laughing, a friend crying, a person eating alone, my parent’s house at Christmas, hearing my two year old nephew say, “I love you, Aunt Mary,” watching The Notebook, reading The Notebook, puppies, wedding vows, etc. I mean this list could go on and on, but nothing – and I mean NOTHING! – could possibly tug at my heart strings harder than two old people in love. (Siiighhhh)
There’s just something about an elderly couple, late-in-their-years-but-young-in-their-love, holding hands while walking down a street or through a mall or leaving church after Sunday service that makes my heart melt into pieces. Seriously, is there anything cuter than this…
photo courtesy of debidrecksler.blogspot.com
OR this…
photo courtesy of eternallymine.wordpress.com
OR this…
photo courtesy of thedatingpapers.com
I rest my case :)
Partly because of all the history their hands have together; partly because of the old school rules they use to love each other, and partly because I will never forget how my Grandpa Kennedy’s voice cracks every time he calls Grandma the “love of my life,” but regardless of what the overlying reason is… one thing is for certain, couples married 50+ years sure could teach all us soon-to-be/newly-weds a thing or two about love.
Because isn’t that the end goal we all want for ourselves when planning our wedding day? To grow old with the person we say “I do” to, rocking on a porch swing, drinking chocolate milk? At least that’s what I like to think every couple wants, which is exactly why when I came across this story on Tbo.com, I knew I had to share it.
Married for 62 years, Tampa residents, Cesario and Lucy Corrales knew what it took to make a marriage work. After years of living and working in the same town, getting married, settling down, having children and growing older and wiser together, Cesario and Lucy never lost the love they had for one another.
“They were married 62 years, and they could not be without each other,” said daughter Lisa San Martin. “He was her right hand. She was his right hand.” (Tbo.com)
And while lots of people use the sentiment “can’t live without you” as a means to personify their love for another, the Corrales lived it. Shortly after celebrating her anniversary to her husband on September 5, Lucy Corrales, 82, suffered a heart attack and died three days later at Tampa General Hospital.
Upon hearing the news, San Martin recounts her father’s reaction:
At first he just shook his head, almost in disbelief. Then, he broke down. ‘I should have gone first,’ he told her. (San Martin, Tbo.com)
<Gulp, swallowing back the tears>
And while Cesario didn’t go first, he certainly didn’t wait long to find his love again. Because 43 hours after she passed, Cesario Corrales, 87, suffering from a broken heart, died at the same hospital just a couple floors away from where he last held his sweetheart’s hand.
The funeral home that handled the arrangements collected Lucy and Cesario Corrales from the hospital. “They arrived together,” San Martin said. “And they left together.” (Tbo.com)
… Seriously, cutest :) Rest in peace, love birds, and cheers to all the years of happiness!
Lucy and Cesario on their wedding day, September 5, 1948 (photo courtesy of Tbo.com)
September 15, 2010
photo courtesy of washingtonpost.com
I used to not watch the news because it always seemed to be filled with bad people doing bad things. Hence why I decided to major in journalism, in order to change the world of news from the inside out.
It wasn’t until a journalism professor from college explained to us that the media reports on the unusual or out of the ordinary events that I began to see the world’s glass half full again… You see, the reason there is so much bad on the news is because it’s the “unusual” part of our lives.
So many people – each and every, single day – are doing great things; so, it’s more likely for the news to report on something less shiny because they happen less often. Thus, my love the world grew even more.
I’m a firm believer that there’s a lot of good in this world. There’s a lot of good people doing great things. We’re blessed to have so many wonderful things happening all around us, all the time; so much – in fact – that the wonderful in the world becomes less significant, less newsworthy.
But every once in awhile, the good becomes so great that even the media turns its head, tips its hat and acknowledges it as extraordinary.
One such event took place yesterday in our nation’s capital, when nearly 600 couples gathered under the roof of America’s largest Catholic hurch in order to renew their vows and state their claim of love once again.
According to the Washington Post, nearly 1200 men and women all stood up together, held hands and said “I do” all over again to their spouse of 25, 30 and even 60+ years. While their reasons for lasting so long all varied from couple to couple, there was one thing they all insisted to have in common… their love.
The presiding officiant, Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, reflected this thought beautifully when he stated,
Because of the power of love, it is possible for a couple to move from ‘me’ to ‘we.’ Love never fails. We may. But love never fails. (Wuerl, washingtonpost.com)
Not only do I see the beauty in couples who withstand the test of time, but I see the beauty in these words. Love is a beautiful thing, make no mistake about it. But that doesn’t mean that people in love won’t be faced with hard times and bad days.
Often times, the couples stated the power and strength of their love held up not in spite of but because of the harder, less ”shiny” times in their lives. Chris Warner, married to his wife, Judy, for forty years said, “This is a commitment you make for life. And therefore, you work through any issues that you have.” To which Judy responded with, “I don’t think there’s any magic potion. You just have to go to bed every night thinking tomorrow’s a new day.”
And with all “new” things in our lives, there’s potential for greater opportunity. I think all couples – young, old or otherwise – could benefit from realizing it’s all about attitude… waking up every morning and choosing to smile instead of frown, choosing to love instead of hate, choosing to stay instead of leave and choosing each other, over and over again instead of anything else.
Congrats to all the couples who celebrated in this wonderful event and cheers to many (more) years of happiness!
June 7, 2010
With less than a month to go before the big day arrives (yay to being a Mrs.!), it’s easy to see why so many brides start to freak. It seems like every deadline hits all at once. Every bill must be paid in full. Every vendor must have their final orders, and whether a bride likes it or not, decisions have to be finalized, packaged, sealed with a kiss and sent to the printers. (Phew!) It seems that no matter how many months a girl’s had to plan, everything and everyone comes out of the wood work all at once.
For me, however, the jokes on these final, supposed “chaotic” days… Little do they know, I do my finest work under pressure :)
Anyhoot, I thought it would be an appropriate time to share with all of you, something my future mother-in-law shared with me. While going through an old church hymnal, she found a short poem, appropriately titled “Marriage,” and I encourage all you brides-to-be out there – especially the ones really starting to lose it – to read it and really remember the reason why you’re making all these ”under pressure” decisions in the first place.
Because, at the end of the day, you won’t remember the pearl covered doilies you picked or whether or not you had your reception carrots soaked in butter or margarine, but you will remember the man who stood next to you and made it all worthwhile. So, without further ado…
Marriage, a Poem by William Jenkins
O God of love, to thee we bow,
and pray for those before us now,
that, closely knit in holy vow,
that they in thee be one.
Whatever comes to be their share
of quickening joy or burdening care,
in power to do and grace to bear,
may they in thee be one.
Eternal love, with them abide;
through change and chance be thou their guide,
let nothing in this life divide
those whom thou makest one.
Good luck to all of you out there! I wish you and yours all the best and years and years happiness!
November 4, 2009
I – don’t get many things right the first time. / In fact, I am told that a lot. / Now, I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls… brought me here. / And where was I before the day, / that I first saw your lovely face? / Now, I see it everyday. / And I know…
That I am… I am… I am… the Luckiest.
If you’re not a fan of Ben Folds, I suggest you listen to this song, and I bet you’ll change your mind. Somehow, he knew just the right words to help me open this tribute for my mister, Tanner Douglas. Tanner is my favorite dude, and someday, if I’m lucky enough to make it to heaven and they ask me what my favorite thing is in all the world (so, they can fill my room with it, of course!)… I would kindly ask them to fill it with mine and Tanner’s ”imperfect” love.
Sometimes, I think brides (or girls in general) get caught up in the fairy tale fantasy of love. I, however, am not one of those girls… I’m simply too spastic for such things, which is why I’m beyond confident in saying that our life is not the fairy tale fantasy most wish for. Tanner is by no means Prince Charming, and I am by no means Princess Cinderella. And after nearly four years together, I can honestly say, I wouldn’t want it any other way. We may not be the fairy tale dream come true, but we are the best, five star, “two thumbs up” romantic comedy this side of the Mississippi.
We know it’s not just about magical pumpkins and fairy godmothers; nor is it about just loving each other in “good times… for richer… and in health.” It’s about loving each other after the curtains close and you find yourself in “bad times… poor times… and in sickness.” Real love can be difficult. It is gritty and raw and unrehearsed, but if you’re lucky enough to find it, hold on… because it’s far more rewarding than any cartoon fantasy could ever be. Cinderella needn’t worry about me. She can keep her glass slippers, because I have my super tall Harry Burns, and he has his non-smoking Bridget Jones.
We may not be perfect, but we’re perfect for each other. Every day isn’t filled with candy and flowers and rainbows, nor are they always the easiest. In fact, some days can be really hard. But, if you think for even one second that I have ever questioned the effort, you’d be mistaken. Because every day is absolutely worth it. Because he is absolutely worth it, and this is why:
Tanner is my favorite part of the day. He is funny and kind and hands down, the wittiest person I know. He is sweet in the simplest, most unexpected ways, and he makes me feel beautiful, even on my ugliest, frumpiest days. He is nothing more than a big kid, equipped with an even bigger heart. His best friend is my 1 1/2 year old nephew, and hearing them laugh together is quite possibly cuter than a wagon full of puppies. He is incredibly handsome, which makes it even easier for him to be annoyingly charming – one might even say, a little too easy, haha. He always lets me go first, but he will never ever just let me win… That, I have to work for, which I like. I like to be challenged, because it makes me better. HE makes me better.
Tanner loves me the best way he knows how – recklessly and unapologetically, and will proudly announce it to anyone – whether they’re listening or not. His hand is the perfect fit for mine and holding it in the car makes me look forward to even the longest drives or busiest, traffic jams. He once told me that I was his angel, but truly, he’s mine. He saved the girl who questioned herself and made her feel invincible. He’s the one person who doesn’t mind when I fall, because he gets to be the one, waiting at the bottom, to catch me. He has the kindest, most accepting eyes, and there is no one in this entire world I’d rather grow old with than him.
With him – as imperfect as we both may be – I know that I am… I am… I am… the Luckiest. Happy birthday, buddy! Two more months until we make it official!!
I invite you all to share why your man makes you feel like “the Luckiest.” If anything, you’ll make this big sap’s day :) Or simply enjoy the cutest video ever…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYU6lbGSbxc]
September 25, 2009
Still Young + In Love after 60 Years!
Love is a temporary madness. It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides. And when it subsides, you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have become so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because THIS is what LOVE IS. Love is not breathlessness; it is not excitement; it is not the promulgation of eternal passion. That is just being ”in love” which any of us can convince ourselves we are.
Love itself is what is left over when being “in love” has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Your mother and I had it. We had roots that grew towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms had fallen from our branches… we found that we were ONE tree, not two. – Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
When people ask what excites me the most about my upcoming nuptials, my answer is simply this… “Sunday morning.” After hearing my response, it’s always fun to watch all their different reactions. The most frequent and obvious one is confusion. Some people simply don’t get it. Some will inevitably make inappropriate jokes or references; while others require immediate clarification.
Cutting their "Wedding Cake"
And yet, there are still a select few who get it right away. They know that what I’m looking forward to isn’t necessarily all the glam and magic that surrounds a wedding day. While it will also be incredibly fabulous, they know I’m most excited about all the days that will follow. They understand the excitement of being married, not just getting married. They share in the joy or being a wife (or husband) and signing “Mrs.” on birthday cards and grocery store receipts. They know that toasting to the “happiest day of your life” is silly… because every day after has potential to be even better.
Two of these people – who get it more than most – are my beautiful grandparents, Tom and Dottie Kennedy. This month, they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. That’s right, people, SIXTY years of loving, laughing, living and crying. Sixty years of sweet victories, bitter defeats and beautiful moments. They’ve shared more together than some people will ever get the chance to see on their own, and even when things got hard, they recognized how much harder it’d be if they weren’t holding hands through it.
Many years ago, I asked my grandpa how he and my grandma have been able to set such an example. To which he so easily replied, “Keep your love young, no matter how old you get. She (my grandma) will always be my sweetheart.” That has always stayed with me.
So, we decided to help keep their love young, and threw a party modeled after their wedding reception. It had it all: a buffet styled feast, cake cutting ceremony – fit with their very own monogram cake topper, flowers, boutonnieres and presents galore! It was amazing, and even though the celebration was for them, I couldn’t help but cheer a little for myself, rooting that my Mister and I could be so lucky! Thanks, Gramma and Pop for setting such an amazing example and cheers to the next 60 years!
And to all my readers out there, please share any anniversary stories, advice or funny memories below. I would love love love nothing more than learning from you! Also, feel free to check out our full line of Wedding Anniversary Accessories and make every year together an even more startling celebration!
July 31, 2009
