Tag Archives: anniversary

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IT WOULD HAVE BEEN #53

Remembering My Kathy

Today, May 8th, would have been our 53rd wedding anniversary. 

On this occasion, I am spending some quiet time. But I thought it might be a blessing for you to hear a teaching my Kathy did a number of years ago at a Women’s Advance in 2007.

 


I Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

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Number 44

hilton

Last Sunday, Kathy and I were on the Gulf Coast, in Pensacola Florida; it brought back a lot of memories. Recently married we moved near to Pensacola in late 1971. It was our first time back since moving away in 1973.

I was there to perform a wedding. Being in the area we lived as a newlyweds years ago brought up lots of

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Happy 43rd!

Kathy 1971

Today’s post is personal.

This picture has been in my wallet for 43 years.

It was in the local news paper announcing Kathy’s engagement to me, back in 1971.

Today we celebrate 43 years of marriage.

I am very grateful to God for blessing my life with such an amazing woman.

Happy 43rd, Kathy; I love you!

(And, if you like personal stuff,

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I Was Unplugged

Have you ever been unplugged?

I just returned last night from spending a wonderful week with Kathy, celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary.  I was unplugged the entire week. (some photos below)

As we began our cruise from Long Beach, California down to Mexico, I turned off my cell phone for the entire week.  It is available, for a modest price, to send and receive text messages aboard cruise ships, but I wanted to be unplugged.

Email?

I also opted to not check my email, which is also available on board, although, it’s a little pricey.  Of course, last night, I had close to 200 emails I need to sort through, but going an entire week without reading or sending a single email was bliss.

Computer?

I didn’t even bring a lap top; instead, I wrote out the draft of this week’s Pep Letter long hand, with pen and paper – I was unplugged.

The Latest News?

I did hear about the “big news story” last week, but, this was my week to be unplugged.  I left it all behind for a week of rest and relaxation and spending time with Kathy.

I did get plenty of rest, sleeping in one morning ’till 7:30, which for me is really late!

I read some books – actually four short books – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  Reading all four of those, one right after another, was very inspiring.

They Were Already Unplugged!

We met some wonderful people including David and Linda from Alabama.  We shared dinner with them every night.  They had been literally unplugged for days before they arrived, due to the power outages from the tornadoes in Alabama.

Kathy and I danced to some of our favorite songs.  We had some great Mexican food in Cabo and Puerto Vallarta.  It was a fun week for the both of us being unplugged.

And yesterday morning as we left the ship and headed back to Arizona, it wasn’t long before we were “plugged in:”  voice mails and text messages wishing us a Happy Anniversary, and, Kathy, a Happy Mother’s Day.  All of those were indeed a blessing to receive.  But I couldn’t help to think of what a blessing it is to get unplugged once in awhile.

Maybe you can’t unplug for a week.  But you ought to try it for just a day.  Shut it all off and do something else.  Trust me, it will all be there when you get back.

Have you ever been unplugged?

Mike Verdicchio
2011

Sunset in Cabo

Hanging out with the band

Waiter Jose demanding an anniversary kiss!

Docked at Cabo

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It’s Our Day

heartThe wedding took place in a very small Justice of the Peace office in El Paso, Texas.  It was a Saturday afternoon.  The official performing the ceremony was wearing black slacks and a T-shirt.   We were in our jeans.

I’ve often told young people who are planning their wedding that it doesn’t matter where you get married, who attends the ceremony, or who does the service.

Don’t get me wrong.  Weddings, big and small, with all the things that go with them, and there can be many, are wonderful.  They can be expensive, even smaller ones, but, if that’s what the couple wants, and they can afford it, more power to them.

I have officiated at many, many weddings, in sizes from less than 10 to over 500.  I’ve performed weddings in living rooms, hotel ballrooms, and even on the beach.  All of them, in their own way, have been very special.

Here’s The Point

heartThe point I want to make is that regardless of who performs the wedding ceremony, where the location is, and how many attend, none of that is any guarantee that the marriage will last.  For a marriage to last it is going to take the love and commitment of both the bride and the groom.

On that Saturday afternoon in El Paso, Texas, Kathy and I made a commitment; it was a lifetime commitment.  Four years after we got married, we began to study the Bible.  We have tried to base our marriage on biblical principles ever since.

Love is a choice; you choose to love.  Thankfulness is a choice; you choose to be grateful.  Forgiveness is a choice; you choose to forgive.  I think those three are all very important keys in a successful marriage.

heartToday Is Our Day

Today, our wedding anniversary again falls on a Saturday.  I am filled with memories of the drive in our VW van from Carlsbad, New Mexico (where we lived) to El Paso, Texas. We had supper that night at McDonald’s, and spent the night in a Motel 6. We drove back to Carlsbad the next day as happy newlyweds.

I’m thankful to God for the most wonderful woman I know, a woman full of love, thankfulness and forgiveness.  She is still the girl of my dreams and the love of my life.

And while we don’t have a wedding album of pictures to look at, or a piece of frozen wedding cake in the freezer, or a wedding dress packed away in a box, we have each other!   So, on this, our 39th anniversary, I just wanted to say, “Happy Anniversary, Kathy, I love you!”

Mike

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She Was Only Seventeen

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She Was Only Seventeen…

radioPerhaps you remember the song by Sam Cooke called, “Only 16.”  It was a big hit in 1959.  Maybe you are too young to remember it.  I played it on the radio many times, but that was years after it was a big hit.  The main line in the song goes, “She was only sixteen, only sixteen…”

Funny how song lyrics pop in your head sometimes isn’t it?  That lyric popped in my head this morning while I was thinking about my wife.  Today is her birthday, and I was thinking that when we first met, she was only seventeen.  As soon as I had that thought, Sam’s song popped in my mind for a couple of moments.

birthday-bannerBut today is Kathy’s birthday.  I got her a little gift, and some roses, and a card.  I also have plans for us to go out and have a meal together.  It will be fun to celebrate her special day.

I’m certainly glad that she was born!  And, that she decided to hang out with me all these years.  I’m also glad that she is the mother of our two children.

You know, sometimes it’s easy for some people to take for granted the people who are the closest to them. I don’t think it’s because they don’t love them.  But, some people do special little things for everyone else except for those who mean the most to them.

rose-singleA big key in a marriage is to not take advantage or take for granted.  I know back when Kathy was 17 I did special little things for her.  And she did special things for me too.  And today we still do.

Okay, so maybe I should have saved this discussion for our anniversary?  Perhaps I will pick up where I left off when that day comes.  In the meantime, I thought I would say, “Happy Birthday, Kathy!”

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