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Happy 20th Wedding Anniversary!

August 26, 2011

 

a magical small wedding 20 years ago


The night before our 20th wedding anniversary in Barcelona, our 10 year old woke us up at four o'clock in the morning. We heard some odd rustling noise and she was adamant about closing our curtains that blocks off our bed from the rest of our small motorhome.

This is a kid who had gone to bed at midnight ( our usual bed time this summer in Spain)  and NEVER wakes or gets up in the middle of the night.We guessed something was up, but were just too tired to think about it, so we quickly all went back to sleep.

What a sweet surprise to wake up to...this lovely large drawing and card to celebrate our 20th anniversary! Our 10 year old loves surprises and she had been working on this one for two weeks. She had made the drawing and card at the kids club here and kept it there until she just recently snuck it into a hidden spot in her cubby/bunk bed area. Even though I can not drink it now, I love it that she put a bottle of cava in the picture and made it a romantic candle light dinner.

perfect anniversary surprise



After watching the outdoor movie here at our beach  resort, she had gotten the scissors and tape at the ready for her planned late night mischeif. No it was not the planned glamorous celebration that we had intended at the Four Seasons in Budapest followed by a few days at the budget gem Downtown Oasis. We will have to do that another time.

I am just not well enough, so we had to cancel our trip and flight to Romania and Budapest. I didn't even feel up to going into Barcelona for a dinner and cava and most things are impossible for me to eat these days. Yet, it did turn out to be a very lovely and relaxing anniversary.


 "Love never gives up, never loses fath, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance" I Corinthians 13:17


I took my daily hours- long swim, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room routine that makes me feel so good and later our dear friends who live near by,  joined us and brought some home made sushi ( a dish we taught them) and tortilla patatas ( a traditional Spanish dish that they are teaching us) and both things I can eat without trouble.

My Spanish is horrible, but I so enjoy our relaxing time together laughing and conversing totally in Spanish under the trees and stars with these lovely people as our tweens dash in and out enjoying their freedom at the pools and nearby kids disco and entertainment or just giggling and walking about between bites. Being enveloped in Spanish and Spain is music to my ears and balm for my soul.

favorite dream wedding photo taken by my brother that died only months later



My odd digestion problems seem to be getting better again, primarily due to acupuncture and herbs here as well as my daily spa routine and being mostly unplugged,  but it is a slow process. Looks like I will be totally ready to travel soon back to the US, but we will cut short some of our planned USA road trip as getting me 100%  healthy is our primary goal.

Despite it being much different than planned, funny how it was just perfect! Perhaps that is the best key for a long marriage, good travel  and happy life...seeing perfection always before you and trusting it.

"In marriage, each partner is to be an encourager rather than a critic, a forgiver rather than a collector of hurts, an enabler rather than a reformer" Oliver and Wright

"Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry" Mullen

"I didn't marry you because you were perfect.
I didn't even marry you because I loved you.
I married you because you gave me a promise.
That promise made up for your faults.
And the promise I gave you made up for mine.
Two imperfect people got married and it was the promise that made the marriage.
And when our children were growing up, it wasn't a house that protected them; and it wasn't our love that protected them - it was that promise.
Thorton Wilder

"I think a man and a woman should choose each other for life, for the simple reason that a long life with all its accidents is barely enough time for a man and a woman to understand each other...To understand - is to love." Yeats








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Anne

Wonderful post. I'm sorry you are doing well and had to cancel your plans but health is more important!! Happy anniversary. :)

Anne

Sorry I meant "aren't" doing well..Too early to be typing... :_

Marlana

Good poem at the end, and sweet daughter. Happy Anniversary.

Melissa Read (readontheroad

Glad that health is returning, sounds like you are on an upswing (like the moment you are pronounced husband and wife is supposed to be as the clock hand is ascending). Loved, loved the wedding pics, it's always lovely to see the past, and then to reflect how far you've come together! You can tell you've raised your daughter right when she can create such sweetness on her own!

Al SJ-CA

Another year to create precious memories together.
Another year to discover new things together.
Another year to strengthen a marriage that defines forever.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Al
SJ-CA

SS

Wish you many years of good health, happiness and joy! Thanks for sharing your memories with us. Wish you a speedy recovery!

Jennifer

Happy Anniversary!

Harley

A very happy anniversary to you! It's clear you've been on some wonderful adventures. :-) I hope you are well soon!

Mikayla B

I love this post! It made me cry to read it. So beautiful to see you guys so young and happy. Love it!

Jeanne @soultravelers3

Thanks so much Anne! Yes, it was a bummer to lose 1000 dollars..hopefully we can get them to validate it next time.

But as you say, health and safety comes first.

It's all perfect!

Jeanne @soultravelers3

Mahalo Marlana! That poem really spoke to me. I feel like one of the lucky ones to have a good and long marriage to a soul mate.

Jeanne @soultravelers3

Gracias Melissa! Oh, I didn't know about that ascending clock thing. ;) Not sure if we did that or not as we actually got married twice because the location of our wedding had to be changed late the night before. Talk about being flexible..lol...I called it the "wing it wedding" and above all else I wanted it to be fun and Spirit filled for everyone at it was.

I love these old wedding photos too...we look so young! We still feel that young..but alas we no look it.

It's all good and I am very grateful to be feeling better.

I too was touched by kidlet's sweetness. ;) She is a good kid and I love how she does things like this and is so kind to her friends, babies and animals.

I hope some of it is our raising, but I wonder if she didn't come in with some of this as her personality.

Jeanne @soultravelers3

Very sweet, Al! Thanks so much!! I bet you two have got us beat in years! ;)

Jeanne @soultravelers3

Thanks so much SS! I was just a little bit shy to share these photos, but thought why not? They give me joy and thought you might all like them.

It's all part of our story and everybody has a unique story.

So appreciate your good wishes!

Jeanne @soultravelers3

Thanks Jennifer!

Jeanne @soultravelers3

So appreciate that Harley! As I look back, I see we have had quite the adventurous life. Hubs had no idea what he was getting into by marrying me...or maybe he did. LOL We are a good team for adventure! ;)

Jeanne @soultravelers3

Aw, that is so sweet Mikayla! I am happy it touched your beautiful heart.

Glad you enjoyed the old photos too..our younger selves always seem to reflect how we see ourselves inside..despite the outside getting older ( and fatter or grayer). LOL

Gigi

I'm delighted that you posted these great photos. For those of us who are just getting to know you (albeit remotely), it helps complete the story. What a wide-eyed sweet beauty you were and I can see the Spanish blood in that dark haired groom! You are still a lovely couple - and nicely completed by your wonderful daughter! Here's a toast to more madcap adventure! And best wishes for a speedy return to "on-the-road" readiness. Mazel tov! (Which means "your fortune has been good.")

Jeanne

Thanks, so happy to hear that Gigi!What sweet thoughts and words! Gracias!

Meredith

Ms. Mozart is such a sweetie! Sounds like it turned out to be a wonderful anniversary even though it didn't go as planned.
I hope your digestion returns back to normal very soon!

Also, I'll be spending my summer in Spain next summer and will be in Barcelona for a week and I'd love to stay at the beach resort your staying at, it sounds lovely.

Could you please e-mail me the name?

Billy

Can't wait to make it to 20 years with my soul mate!! Congrads to you both!!

Elizabeth

STUNNING photos!!! You will have many more happy years on the road to come!

Jeanne soultravelers3

Thanks so much Meredith, it did turn out perfect and slowly I heal! I accidentally deleted your address ( late here) so can you send me an email about the campground via our contact page? Then I can send you the info! It's a great spot!

Jeanne soultravelers3

Thanks Billy...enjoy the ride...20 comes faster than you can imagine! ;)

Jeanne soultravelers3

Aw, thanks so much Elizabeth! So happy you enjoyed the photos! Fun memories for us..seems like yesterday.

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