Everyday Living

Celebrating 46 Years

~ Anniversary, Everyday Living, Faith, Family, Music, Outdoors

 “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:2

  Vail, Colorado 2012

How quickly time seems to pass is a common topic of conversation, and it’s more common among those of us who have celebrated a number of birthdays. Do you find yourself reflecting back and asking; how did I get here so fast? Time is a possession we cannot keep, control, speed up, or slow down. It is constantly moving and once it passes by, will not allow us to reclaim it. I wrote a song a number of years ago (that no one has ever heard) titled, “If I Could Stop The Time”. We would all, at times, love to have a pause button on life, but it is not to be had.

Pam and I are celebrating our 46th Wedding Anniversary tomorrow. Every day living as husband and wife has been a blessed and awesome journey that is truly beyond description. It is only natural to celebrate the milestones as measured in years but I must say that precious moments, and our memories of those moments, need to be celebrated daily. Thank God that today we have minds that still remember and cherish our time together. That might not always be so. Only God knows.

A few photos will definitely reveal that some years have passed! And styles have changed, which might not be a bad thing!

~Butch

  February 23, 1973

  Honeymoon Bound! (wish we still had the Mustang Mach I)

 

The Summer Of ’70 – how it all began…

It was the summer before my 17th birthday… the age of hippies, mini-skirts, bell bottoms, and so-called peace and love. An unimaginable war was being fought half a world away, while America was in political and social turmoil. But growing up in the Deep South, I felt far removed from the world’s problems. 

Days were filled with the sounds of music!

I spent hours on end playing piano and singing hymns, show tunes, and whatever music was found in the piano bench. My Daddy’s stereo could be heard spinning favorite records and the old dial radio in my bedroom was always tuned to the top 40’s stations. 

On a hot July afternoon, as I sat outside drinking a glass of sweet tea with the radio playing, he drove up in his baby blue mustang. A 19 year old college student with sun bleached hair, dreamy brown eyes, and a certain mystery that I found intriguing. I only had distant ideas of him until now. But I quickly discovered we had something in common. Jumping out of his car wearing the latest bell-bottom jeans, button down shirt and the most perfect smile, I felt my face turn red over my appearance… hair pulled up in a pony tail, scrubbed face without makeup, and purple stained hands from shelling peas!!! After a few nervous words he said, “I brought you a little something.” Why would he be bringing me something? It was just a plain brown paper bag, but in his hands he held what would be a life changing gift. Seeing the contents stirred up some questions.

How did he know how much I love music? 
How did he know my favorite song?
Was it possibly his favorite song?

Little did this girl and this guy know that God would use such a small gift to bring about His perfect plan for a lifetime as He would join their hearts. This guy’s God given musical talent and his ability to communicate the greatest love story of all time have been used to bless countless lives. Our love for music is a gift spanning generations. This wonderful legacy of music continues strong in the life of our son. Almost 49 years have passed and my eyes still tear and my hear flutters when he plays his guitar and sings love songs.

We still call that 1970 song, “our song”.

Occasionally, it plays as we drive the country roads of our youth, but there is one place it is always playing… our hearts !

~Pam 

  We don’t currently have a way to play this, but this is the 45 RPM vinyl single that we call “our song”!

  2013 – the year of our 40th Anniversary

 A few days ago… an attempt at a selfie!

None of us know what a day may bring forth. We have thankful hearts for our many days. May we all realize the value of precious moments! Thanks for allowing us to share our special time with you. May God bless you with many special times!

 

Comments

  5. What a love story❤️ I still enjoy listening to the link you sent me of Butch singing and have forwarded it to my niece so she could share it with my sister. God bless you and Butch with a long, long marriage and the ability to recall those precious memories.

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  10. Always love your anniversary stories. We celebrated 51 years last December. Thanks for the reminder to be thankful that we still have memory to remember the memories.

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  13. Happy 46th anniversary Pam & Butch! A wonderful testimony that love endures throughout your lives, increases over the years, and is so precious! Wishing you many more happy, healthy years together. You’re a cute couple! Clara ❤️

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  15. Happy anniversary! Thanks for sharing your story, your hearts, your lives and Jesus with us! God continue to bless your marriage to bring God glory!

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  16. Congratulations! May God bless you with many more years to enjoy together. I met my husband at a southern gospel concert. He was the baritone singer for the Dixie Melody Boys. We married a year later and that was 43 years ago! He left the DMB because they were going on the road full time. They are still performing! Time has made a change but we are so blessed. God is good.

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  18. My beloved Pam and Butch, many congratulations for having come so far in your marriage and not only that, it is also very important that you follow us with love. That is a blessing from God!
    Beautiful the trip they tell us and you really have the wedding photos … You were like children! … I’m excited …
    After so many years already and continue with the illusion of the first day is something very beautiful and without doubt a blessing from God.
    Enjoy life and never leave the illusion of the first years. That’s my wish.
    With love
    Dolores

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    • Querida Dolores, gracias por tus dulces y alentadoras palabras. Dios ha sido muy bueno con nosotros y estamos agradecidos por los años que hemos compartido juntos. Nunca queremos dar a ninguno de ellos por sentado. ¡Esperamos que estés bien nuestro dulce amigo! Bendiciones siempre. Con amor, Pam y Butch.

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  20. Happy 46th Anniversary! A road that long has had its share of joys, bumps, laughter, tears, and with you two…much music. God is certainly smiling down on you today. Prayers that you have many, many more years together. (John and I are right behind with 46 on April 19!).

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  22. Happy 46th! My husband and I love reading your blog. We where married in 1978 so it’s 41 years for us! Our dates started in a yellow Mustang. I was very involved in music in those days and knew every BREAD song! I also followed Christian music in those days,following the local , Jesus Music Series concerts. Remember the night Larry Norman was there like it was yesterday! Still know the words to In Another Land! God Is Good! Celebrate the moment!

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  23. Dear Pam and Butch ,
    Reading your love story and those precious memories has filled my heart with happiness !
    I always enjoy being on the dance floor at weddings when the now popular “anniversary song” is chosen.
    It is so sweet to see the couples that have been married the longest . We follow you by 1 1/2 years , so you would be the winner !
    Those songs of our past can really bring tears to my
    eyes . “Your” song by “Bread” is so beautiful . May you have many more dances for many more years !
    Congratulations and thank you for sharing .
    XOXO

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  25. I remember when yall started dating. Butch was always so cute!!!! And you were always so beautiful inside and out….We go so far back it’s scary…..to first grade? It’s been so much fun getting together these last few years that I cannot express in words. Happy Anniversary Pam and Butch and may you have at least 40 more.

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  26. WOW! what a love story! Thank you both for sharing these wonderful thoughts, it reminds me so much of my Dh and mine! Happy Happy Anniversary, my your days continue to be filled with much love, and joy!
    Blessings,
    Sue

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  29. A blessed Anniversary to a couple who express love personified. This would have been 46 yrs.
    for my late beloved and I, truly a love match like your own. Both Faith and that Love sustain one
    through the years. My Mom had one of the first Mustangs off the assembly line in butter yellow
    and, like Butch, I wish it were still parked in the garage… a classic beauty. Cherish this day and
    each other.

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    • I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved husband. You married the same year we did. I can’t help but cry just reading what you wrote. I can’t even imagine how much you miss him. Faith and love does sustain through the years.

      If that mustang was still parked in the garage, it would be worth some money, butter yellow had to be beautiful!

      Blessings❤️

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  30. My husband I used to listen to bread for hours. I still have the album! We met in 1978!
    I think I will try to dig that out, if I can remember where I put it! Lol
    Happy anniversary!
    Blessings

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  32. This post brought me to tears! Oh, how precious is your love story! God has blessed the two of you with such a sweet, enduring love that has stood the tests of time. What a wonderful example you are to us all! May God bless you with many more years together, and then an eternity together worshiping at Jesus’ feet. 🙂 Much love to you on this special occasion!

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  33. What a beautiful love story and I have to tell you a song brought my sweet man and I together.

    Happy Anniversary to such a beautiful couple. That selfie was fabulous!!

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  34. I loved reading your beautiful story, Pam. You’re two sweet people who deserve a world of happiness. Big congratulations!!!!!

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  35. Oh Pam, Happy Anniversary! The Best of Bread was also one of the albums of our young romance. Of course, it was played on an 8 Track! “Our song” would have been Annie’s Song by John Denver. Oh, how your post conjured up so many memories for me, too! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  37. Love your love story Pam, you and Butch are two of the sweetest people.. ..and your faith is so strong. I think of the time when Butch had his accident and you and I know there are miracles even today. God is so good to us. The Captain and I have our favorite song, although yours is a favorite too.
    BTW, I chose your post as one of my featured posts from last week, be sure to stop in at https://www.meandmycaptain.com/ about 8 p.m. (tonight when we go live) to see yours featured.

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    • Thank you for your sweet comments. You are a true blessing to me, and I feel like we have known each other for years. We feel so honored that you would choose our love story as a feature❤️

      Reply

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