Our 39th Anniversary!
I love Greg!
Hope you enjoy reading this…
Dear Greg,
This year marks the 39th year I have been your friend, wife, lover, co-laborer in ministry, walking partner…etc. etc.!
39! Who knew the funny, joyful, exciting, at times terrifying ride life would take us on when I said I’d marry you. But then our idea of an exotic honeymoon (to which we both agreed) was the Tiki room and riding the Matterhorn at Disneyland.
I don’t recall you ever formally proposed, I just remember two pivotal conversations. One driving home from Idyllwild Camp in your broken down Corvair. I must have been 15 and you 18? You said something like, “Well…I guess we are boyfriend and girlfriend now. But there’s one thing I want you to know, if you EVER get between me and my relationship with the Lord, it will be over, okay?” Haha, you ever the romantic!
Believe it or not, I was so happy to hear you say that. I was sick of guys who were wishy-washy.
Then of course there was the official “marriage proposal” you made. After breaking up and getting back together again 3 times, I recall it went sorta like this: “So, I guess we ought to makes plans to tell your mom and dad we want to get married, right?” Oh sure, they were thrilled. They always wanted me to marry a guy with out a steady paycheck who looked like Redbeard the pirate.
Anyway, you knew I wasn’t the type be impressed by a plane’s sky writing “Will you marry me?” or sending me on some crazy a treasure hunt to find a buried ring in a box… What in the world are the kids today thinking? Leave some excitement for the marriage already.
What made this and makes our marriage so fun is we really are pretty opposite. You are the Yin to my Yang, the only child to my middle child, the Hawaii Five-o to my Antiques Road Show, the Tigger to my Eeyore, you’re “the glass is half full” to my “it’s half empty”. Like I said to you yesterday, I wish I had 10 percent of your optimism!
I love you for a hundred reasons and more.
I never wondered if you loved me.
You make me laugh (and when you couldn’t…you still kept trying.)
You’re generous…I’ve often thought when balancing the checkbook, too generous!
I NEVER doubted you were faithful.
I always knew you would put God first before the kids and me.
You are kind and forgiving even when you’ve been hurt, you’re never petty or vindictive.
Okay, okay enough praise for one day. I think you get the gist of
it….I love you with all my heart…more today than ever,
Cathe
You said it best in a card you gave me 40 years ago. Remember the dark
ages when we used to write things on paper?
“Nothing is better for me than thee.”
12 comments
Tiffany Jonker | February 8, 2013
This is awesome guys! Love this and love you both!
Tiffany
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Karen | February 11, 2013
It would be so wonderful...to find a person I could share my life with again...My husband went to be with the Lord over 25 years ago, but I have the Lord in my heart and two daughters and a grand daughter to fill my life. You are a wonderful couple. I love to listen to you tell about the Lord. It holds my attention to listen to you speak..not like others, they put me to sleep..they bore me..Have a wonderful life together..
Karen
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Linda | February 11, 2013
Blessing to you both, Dear Pastor Greg & Cathe.
We are so blessed to have you both as examples of how a Godly Marriage should be.
I too have been married for 35 years in March. It is a wonderful thing to be together for so long & in Love, &
looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together.
Praise the Lord as we know it is not always easy, but with the Lord at the center his Love & strength carries
us through.
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Deborah | February 14, 2013
What an inspiration you both are. True, honest, refreshing. I want to thank you Cathe for sharing the love you have for your husband. You give me hope that one day I will be blessed as you have been with Pastor Greg. May the Lord continue to look over you both and bless this truly special love you have.
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Maria Garcia | February 15, 2013
I'm not one to make comments, but as I know the Lord more and the reality of life, I am blessed to have the Lord show me what a blessing it is to have role models in my Christian walk, especially when so many marriages are not truly committed to each other. It's clear that the God whom we serve is the bond(glue) to our relationships. God bless you for allowing Him to use you both for His glory. Love you in the Lord.
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Tammy | February 18, 2013
God is wonderful, isn't he?!! Thanks for reflecting that :-) Happy happy Anniversary!!!
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Jessica Duong | February 18, 2013
Love is God's Masterpiece in His Son Jesus,
and in our lives with our Mate...
Your love inspires us all...to achieve the ultimate relationship with our spouse...
Blessed are you among many marriages...that seek the Lord foremost!
Congratulations!
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Sandy Smith | March 4, 2013
I guess there are a few of us left....going on 30 years this May. Congrats on being a God fearing-fun loving faithful couple.
Following you from Central Ca
Sandy Smith
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Lori | April 8, 2013
You are such a wonderful couple. God bless you!
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Aileen | May 29, 2013
Congratulations! I love your story. Your love letter to Greg is funny, real, and uplifting.
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Charlotte | June 3, 2013
Beautiful Cathe, absolutely beautiful! I admire so much the love you have for each other and the godly lives and relationship you have and display to the world. On another note, just wanted to let you know I am so much enjoying your new book. I just love your nuggets of wisdom and truth that can be so applied to our daily lives. I especially enjoyed the story abot Oscar the fish!
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Connie Garcia | June 25, 2013
Hello Cathe,
I just finished reading your letter to Greg on your 39th wedding anniversary with tear filled eyes. And you think you don't have talent to write a book. I know this because I listen to the Christian radio program every morning while I get ready to go to work with my husband (we have our own business). I will be purchasing your book because I know it will be excellent and to think it is your very first book you wrote. What an accomplishment for you. Greg does a good job of promoting your book doesn't he? You and Greg are in my prayers quite often because I know that you both are very special people busy doing the Lord's work. We used to attend Harvest but we moved too far to attend so we are now attending Calvary Chapel in San Jacinto. I did attend the Women of Virtue Conference at Harvest with 2 of my neighbor friends with you and Ann Graham and we all enjoyed it and felt right at home with you both.
God bless you and Greg
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