Today marks an extraordinary milestone: the 30th anniversary of our marriage. It is a day of reflection, gratitude, and awe for the divine grace that has sustained us through three decades of love, trial, challenge, and commitment.
Thirty years ago, we stood before God, family, and friends on a hot summer day in west Nashville, pledging to love and cherish each other for better or worse, in sickness and in health. Little did we know the incredible journey that lay ahead, a journey illuminated by laughter, love, sweat, tears, and the blessing of our 14 children.
In those early days, we faced open resistance and hostility from family members who doubted our union, questioned our choices, and did everything possible to prevent our happiness and marriage. These challenges tested our resolve and faith, teaching us the powerful lesson of the importance of companionship, fortitude, and forgiveness. Forgiving those who never apologized required immense strength and grace, but it freed us to build a life based on love, not resentment.
We spent our honeymoon in a Uhaul, driving from Nashville to Davis-Monthan AFB to establish our home in a dark one-bedroom apartment. I went to school at night, worked a second job and deployed around the world while you nurtured #1 and #2.
That was just the beginning of a marathon of unwavering dedication, boundless love, and enduring patience.
Our marriage is a song of fire and ice, joy and sorrow, strength and vulnerability, hope and forgiveness. We’ve faced trials that tested our faith and resilience, yet with each challenge, our bond grew stronger. Your love of God, frugality, humility, and perseverance have served as a lighthouse, calling to us through the darkest nights and celebrating with us in the brightest days.
Through choices both wise and imprudent, our trust in God has led us to unimaginable blessings and a peace that endures through sunrises and sunsets alike.
In our family, we’ve experienced the profound joy of welcoming new life, the bittersweet moments of letting go as our children grow, and the challenges that come with parenting toddlers, teenagers, and newlyweds simultaneously. Each child, a unique gift from God, has brought his and her own blessings and challenges, shaping us into the parents and partners we are today.
One of the most defining moments of our marriage came during a family crisis. Faced with unexpected adversity, we had to come together, setting aside our differences and choosing to work together despite deep disagreements. It was in these moments that we truly understood the meaning of unity and the power of God’s grace. Through prayer, mutual support, and a shared commitment to our family’s well-being, we emerged stronger and more united.
Through the years, our love has matured and deepened, transforming from the passionate flames of youth to the steady, enduring power of an unquenchable commitment to a lifelong partnership in service to others. We’ve learned that true love is not just about grand gestures, but about the everyday acts of kindness, patience, selflessness, and endless sacrifice.
As we celebrate this 30th anniversary, I reflect with gratitude for you, Sarah, our children, and the countless blessings we have received. Paul wrote: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
No man could speak of these truths without the unwavering belief that love and forgiveness conquer all.
Sarah, thank you for being my wife, my partner, and my fellow soldier and traveler in this hostile world.
To our children, thank you for the joy and pride you bring to our lives. Thank you for the challenge you have provided us to grow and rise to the occasion. Thank you for wanting to be better than us and for aiming higher, proving in your lives that a seed can bear great fruit.
And to our friends and family, thank you for your support and love throughout our journey. Some of you were there 30 years ago. Others suffered alongside us as loyal friends in the dark times that threatened to overshadow young, promising lives of love.
May God bless you all, may His light shine upon you, and may He grant you peace. May His love guide you in all your ways, and may His grace be with you now and forever.
With all my love,
Jeff