Because Every Day Should Be Valentine’s Day #3

This is our last edition of Because Every Day Should be Valentine’s Day.  In this series of posts, I reached out to 3 of my friends that I know to have pretty happy marriages. I sent them a list of questions to answer without either spouse seeing each other’s answers. I have featured a couple for the last 2 Sundays in a row. I keep being amazed  after reading their answers at  how every couple is different but they all seem to have a couple of things in common; respect and admiration for one another. These marriages have stood the test of time. The longer they are married, the more they fall in love.

I am going to miss this little love and marriage series and I think a lot of my readers will too!

Our first week you met Charlie and Sherry and then there was Jay and Johannah.

And in our final week, we have Mike and Marcy.

I first met Marcy when I worked in the mortgage department where she was a loan officer. We instantly bonded over our love of bargain shopping. Not only was I taken by her outward beauty but the longer I got to know her, the more I discovered that she has an incredible inner beauty that shines even brighter. And when I saw these two together, it was obvious how much they loved one other.

Please allow me to introduce you to my friend Marcy and her handsome husband Mike.

Marcy is answering her questions first:

How long have you been married?    It will be 15 years on May 2nd!

How did you meet?   A friend of mine told me they were hiring at his office and encouraged me to apply. Mike happened to be the branch manager at that office and hired me to be their insurance clerk.

Do you remember your first kiss?    I do, Mike had moved away by this time and was in town for work. A few of us from his old office took him out for a night of dancing. That night I learned he was a great dancer and an even better kisser!

What would you tell a couple right before they are getting ready to walk down the aisle?   I would tell them to cherish their time together, the good and the bad. That inevitably there will be great sadness where there has been great happiness, but really just knowing up front that he’s got your hand and you have his that together you come out on the other end.   A new couple would probably think I’m crazy at that moment if I said all of that so perhaps a “take care of one other and be a great keeper and protector of each others heart” would suffice.

How do you keep the spark alive with work, kids and all the other stresses of life?   The simple things like getting in some really great time together and doing the things we enjoy the most like listening to live music or just simply sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn catching up on our favorite shows.

What do you admire most about your spouse?     I admire most his commitment to be that amazing person our 6 year old daughter sees through her eyes.

What is the most romantic thing you have ever done for one another?   I think romance evolves so romantic has meant to me the beautiful notes and cards he’s written to the random bouquet of fresh flowers to even the sound of him blow drying our daughters hair at bedtime. And one of my favorites is waking up to an emptied dishwasher! I might like that last one a little too much.

What one piece of advice can you share with our Livin’ Sassy readers that has helped your marriage stay pretty happy after all these years?  What has worked for us is that we’ve always worked at putting our commitment to each other first and keeping it our center.

And now we hear from Mike.

How long have you been married?   14 and half fun filled years

How did you meet?  We met at work in 1996 but it wasn’t until I moved away to Florida and then to Phoenix that I realized what a special person Marcy was.

Do you remember your first kiss?  Do I remember our first kiss?!!! Oh yeah I do! Dancing and kissing. I was never the same.

What would you tell a couple right before they are getting ready to walk down the aisle?  Don’t trip…Actually, I am passionate about this issue. I would tell them to relax and not worry or stress. This is just the first day of the rest of your life together. You will have plenty of time to get it right.

How do you keep the spark alive with work, kids and all the other stresses of life?  Marcy is full of life so keeping the spark is easy. The secret is to allow life and its ups and downs to simply be part of the fun.

What do you admire most about your spouse?  Marcy has a tremendous heart. She has such a capacity for loving and caring, it is amazing! She truly cares and thinks about others first.

What is the most romantic thing you have ever done for one another?  We have done lots of romantic things for each other, trips, surprises, and gifts. Some of the best are very simple; a kind word, a touch, a smile.  My favorite is the day I asked Marcy to marry me and seeing the smile in her eyes when she said yes.

What one piece of advice can you share with our Livin’ Sassy readers that has helped your marriage stay pretty happy after all these years?  Marriage is such a gift. The magic is to embrace it and to remember that it is the daily smiles, kisses, hugs, the “I love you”, the gestures of service  and simply listening to your spouse that keeps it special.

Oh my, I love romance! I think there will be a lot of dishwashers getting unloaded for no reason at all pretty soon!

I would like to thank my very special friends for sharing their secrets of their happy marriages with my Livin’ Sassy readers.

And remember that every day should be Valentine’s Day.

Stay Sassy Y’all.