By Dixie Happy birthday my Husband! January 12, 2024
What a crazy, wild ride this past couple of years has been! You and I have talked about how it seems like we have we have lived many years together. So many good times and a few challenging ones but I can’t imagine not having you by my side to share it all.
I was used to being alone. A lot of folks questioned if I was the marrying kind (justified) after never being married, but I am so thankful God allowed us to find each other. Marriage is nothing like I thought it would be—it is so much better. I don’t know if it is the inevitable maturity of being in my 60’s (maybe a tiny bit) or a gift from God (definitely) but marriage to you has been so comforting, exciting and genuine. I’ve never been able share my inmost thoughts like I have with you.
You have and are helping me grow. So many walls I have had up are down and I am free for the first time in my life to be myself. I don’t have to pretend to be someone I am not because you have my back. I feel protected and safe because of you.
You are such a gift to me…My life has changed and is so beautiful since God chose to bring us together. Whenever I feel my faith weakening, I remember what God has done by bringing us together. I am grateful God has allowed me to know what love is. You are my partner and my best friend.
I want to share the vows I made with you on our wedding day…in case you need a reminder of how blessed we both are and how much you are loved…
September 23, 2022
One year ago, would you ever have believed we would be standing here today?
It was a hard couple of years, wasn’t it? You and I both lost loved ones and had failed relationships. But God heard our prayers and blessed us. There is nothing impossible with God.
We are also blessed by this group of friends and family who have come to celebrate two 60 year old people finding each other. They are witnesses to God’s blessing.
The Bible says we have a “cloud of witnesses” in Heaven watching us. I believe I know who is in the front row cheering us on…My Mom and Dad, your Mother, Kay, Melinda’s Dad and your son Markie. They are as close and real as this group of witnesses we see sitting here today.
Even though I can’t see my Mama and Daddy physically here today, I can see this engagement ring and wedding band that I saw on my mother’s hand all my life. I wear it on my own hand. I see it and it reminds me of what great parents I was blessed with, and what a wonderful marriage they had. My brother wears our Father’s wedding band as well. I get great comfort in seeing this ring and knowing my Mama and Daddy are in Heaven and I will see them again.
One of my vows to you is to honor their example every day in our marriage. This ring will remind me of that.
I also want you to have a reminder of someone in Heaven. I have a very odd-looking ring for you, and let me say this is one of two rings I will give you today. This one is very special because it shows your love of music. It is made of a vinyl record, plus wood commonly used in guitars and something else that is very special. You can feel the ridge in the middle. It is a guitar string, but not just any string. This string is from the guitar Markie is playing in the picture here. I want you to be reminded every day that although you can’t see Markie, he is always nearby. I’m looking forward to meeting him someday.
My second vow is to remind you that you are so deeply loved. By your son, and the others in the great cloud of witnesses, by these friends and family here and in Heaven and by me. And definitely by God. We are blessed. I will try and remind you and me of that every day.
I am giving you another ring too. It matches the one you are giving me, and it is a reminder that we are making a covenant with God today to become one.
My third vow is to remember that covenant above all, because I do believe the other vows will naturally come from this one.
Happiest birthday—and many more, together! I love you…
Mrs. Mark Martin
