How It All Began

Recently my husband and I spent an evening with friends we had just met. Soon after we began eating, the conversation turned to how we met. My husband and I are one of the pioneers of online dating. At first I was embarassed to admit it, but as more and more people find love online, I don't mind telling people that we met through a Christian dating service.

Just over 8 years ago, at the age of 38, I began looking online for a husband. I lived in a small town all of my life, and there were few eligible men that I hadn't known my entire life. Online dating opened up a whole new world to me. Instead of being scared about the possibilites of "who might be out there," I was anxious to have a door to the world. Little did I know, my sister was worried enough for the both of us.

After meeting a few men online and meeting 2 or 3 of them in person, my husband came on the scene. We emailed a few times then met at church one Sunday morning as he was passing through from a trip out of state. Since that first meeting, my husband drove 100 miles each way every weekend to spend time with me and attend church together.

After a few months, God revealed to me that He had brought me the man I had been praying for. He is kind, gentle, and loving, and He loves God, me, and his family.

On my birthday 7 years ago, we went out for dinner and crossed the street to a gazebo in the park after dessert. Soon my husband handed a card to me. As I read it, I was oblivious to everything else going on around me. When I opened the card, he had written "This is good for one proposal." When I looked up and asked, "Are you asking me to marry you?," he was down on one knee in front of me with an open ring box in his hand.

As the saying goes, "The rest is history." This Saturday we will have been married 6 years. A lot has happened in those 6 years. Single for 40 years, I am now a grandmother of two of the most wonderful kids in the whole wide world. My husband and I recently retired from our full-time jobs and are living a moderate life in a warmer climate. We stay up late, sleep in when we want, and eat most of our meals at home (an amazing feat given that we previously ate out more than we ate in). He has started a second career part time and I am working at getting an online store set up to sell, you guessed it, anniversary gifts.

Why anniversary gifts? Because marriage is to be celebrated and marked with a special gift that will be remembered for years to come. Traditional and modern gift lists are available for suggestions on gift giving, but even more important than sticking to a list is finding a gift that fits your spouse or that special couple. It is great if it falls into the traditional or modern theme, but it is more important to be creative and celebrate with a gift that is unique and will be treasured.

At The Anniversary Shop, you will find gifts for most years (remember, I just retired and am still working on the site) and some that are appropriate for any year.

Send your story of how you met. Even though we often get cynical about marriage, it is still the most coveted relationship in the world.

Remember, celebrate your annivesary! It will do wonders for your marriage.