Ten Years

Dale and I were married ten years ago today.

It was a perfect New England June day, warm, but not humid, with the bluest sky I’ve ever seen. We had a simple ceremony in what was, back then, only my church but is now the church we go to together. Our children (3 of his and 1 of mine) were our attendants. My dear friend Diane read Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Dale’s sister Lisa read from both the Old Testament and New Testament, and the guys in Dale’s band sang “Let It Be Me” with their fabulous blend of voices and folk guitars. The minister said one of the most beautiful prayers I have ever heard and the sunlight streaming into the sanctuary while we said our vows was breathtakingly beautiful. After the ceremony we headed to our favorite restaurant with 48 of our closest family and friends. We feasted on chicken and beef, drank our fair share of wine, fed each other delicious wedding cake, and danced our first dances as husband and wife. We laughed and cried and loved every minute of that day.

A lot has changed since then. My mother died before our first anniversary. Dale’s mother died a few years later and then my father died last year. At the same time, though, our family has grown with the addition of a daughter-in-law and two wonderful grandchildren. We have observed divorces with sadness and we have rejoiced when others have married. We have gained weight and lost hair. We have changed jobs and lost jobs and experienced financial difficulties that we never would have predicted. And through it all we have been together. We have built a life and a family and, just like our wedding day, we have laughed and cried and loved every minute of it. It hasn’t always been easy but it’s always been joyful because we’ve done it all together.

So let them say your hair’s too long
‘Cause I don’t care, with you I can’t go wrong
Then put your little hand in mine
There ain’t no hill or mountain we can’t climb

Happy Anniversary, Dale. I’m so glad I’ve got you, babe.

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This Post Has 94 Comments

  4. Oh, Carole, congratulations! Ten years is a special milestone. 🙂

    And I love the flowers in your hair. You were a beautiful bride! 🙂

  9. Carole, you have such the way with words. Such a beautiful story. Congratulations and happy anniversary to you and Dale! It was great to see you again in NH and to meet Dale.

  11. Congrats! It iw wonderful to hear about blended families that work. Mine will be a year this weekend and I know that we will be as happy as you both sound 9 years from now. Congrats again.

  12. Such a beautiful tribute Carole. You inspire me each time you write like this. Someday I hope I’m half as lucky. I hope the next 10 years brings you mostly immeasureable happiness.

  15. Carole and Dale, Wishing you many many more years of happiness! Lovely post and great photo of both of you.

  26. Happy Anniversary and Congratulations! (I may post about the green thing, but I’m being harrassed to get off the computer!).

  27. Congratulations on your 10th year as husband & wife. Thank you for sharing a beautiful glimpse into your wedding day & the photos of you are absolutely beautiful! I wish you both many many years of happiness together.

  36. happy anniversary you two! and your smiles haven’t changed a BIT!
    i hope you win the sock hop yarn carole; it’s the colorway “i got you babe”

  37. Happy Anniversary – you two seem so perfect together!
    May there be a zillion more years of shared joy between the two of you. hugs and kisses to you both!

  38. Happy Anniversary Carole and Dale! Your relationship is just so solid and together; sometimes I think that facing the bad times together makes a great marriage that much stronger. You two have it and it is easy to see…..I wish you many more years of happiness and love!

  41. Happy (belated) anniversary, Carole & Dale!
    (If I remember correctly, you honeymooned in my favorite town, Belfast, ME.)

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