This year John and I celebrate twenty-one years of married life! What an accomplishment!

And, yes, we still mark the milestone years. We began doing this the first day of our marriage – counting up until we broke records.

Let me explain:

We were each married previously, John for eighteen years, and me for eleven. While I wouldn’t wish divorce on anyone, John and I found a way to make beauty out of the ashes of those early marriages. When we had been married 11 years and one day, it was a celebration of accomplishment! I had been married longer than ever before. We did the same on the day we had been married 18 years and one day. John broke his marriage record, too!

Last year, on our 20th anniversary, we marveled at the fact that TWENTY YEARS had gone by since the day we said “I do.” TWENTY YEARS. And today, we celebrate 21 years! Amazing! Those years have flown by. Which, by the way, is better than the alternative! If we celebrated this anniversary by saying “It’s been twenty-one LONG years…” we would be in bad shape.

How have we done it? How have we managed such longevity? Only by the grace of God! We are so thankful that He sustains us! Oh, and a dose or two or twenty-one of laughter through the years helps also.

For instance, there was the anniversary that we spent at a bed and breakfast tucked away in the woods north of St. Francisville, LA. Looking at their website, it seemed like a popular BNB for weddings. Should be perfect for an anniversary celebration. I booked a room.

It took us a while to find the home – it was WAY out in the boonies. Actually, it was not very far from Angola prison. We happened to be the only guests for the night. Romantic, huh?

Maybe. Almost. Except for a few things…

There was a nice swing out in the shade of a huge oak tree. We sat there relaxing after our drive, just a swingin’. And then, BAM! The swing broke, and we were rolling on the ground! Shaken and bruised, but we roll with the punches, right?

Late that night, John woke me with the bright lamp light. He felt something on him, and he was itching. It was a TICK! On my husband…in our bed! After taking care of that, we tossed and turned and couldn’t get back to sleep. You know, creepy crawly things and all. Not to mention, the prison only a few miles away. And did I tell you we were the only ones in the house? And had nothing to defend ourselves with, when the criminals – who were most assuredly outside – would break in on us?? Sheesh! We were so very ready to leave and head to Natchez the next morning. It would surely be a more genteel, southern bed and breakfast – no bugs or insects of any type, right? WRONG!

The Natchez BnB was a small one, but seemed very nice. Until I got in the shower. Caterpillars! Green, creepy, crawly caterpillars were everywhere in the bathroom. Ok, maybe not everywhere. But there were a few. We decided to suffer through, and not complain, since we were only there one night. The next morning, John woke before me. Gazing at his lovely wife sleeping, he noticed a green, slimy caterpillar crawling on her pillow. Toward her open mouth (I sleep with my mouth open, don’t you?). Superman, my hero, my hubby, knocked the critter off my pillow and let me sleep.

Then our mouths were filled with laughter; our tongues sang for joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord had done great things for them.” Psalms 126:2

Yes indeed, the Lord has done great things for us through the years…

Happy anniversary, John Chauvin!