24 Years Ago Today...

Today is Doug's and my 24th wedding anniversary. We were 42 and 44 when we married; and I remember thinking to myself, "Well, at least, if we're making a mistake, we won't have to live with it as long as some people."

I don't think either of us thought we'd live long enough to say we'd been married 24 years. That would make us 66 and 68, and that seemed awfully old. Besides, we felt that there was a good possibility that the Lord would come back before that much time went by.

But here we are, 24 years later, remembering our special day and celebrating all over again.

My lovely niece, Beckie, was in charge of the guest book.

Beckie's handsome brother, Dave, walked my Aunt Bea, down the aisle. Aunt Bea filled in for my deceased mother. Would you believe that she was 77 when this photo was taken? And that's her natural hair color.

I was escorted down the aisle by a dear friend, a widower who was also an associate pastor at our church, who was standing in for my deceased father.

The wedding party.

Pledging our love and faithfulness before God and our witnesses.

Officially man and wife.

Here we are with Doyle and Janet, the couple who introduced us.

Janet made this quilt for us, then arranged for wedding guests to sign the back of it, making it an extra special gift.

Cutting the cake.

And they lived happily ever after.