WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT FEBRUARY?

According to the internet, February's a pretty boring month - but not in our house

A SPECIAL MONTH 

A few weeks ago I was wondering what to write about for February - I looked all over the place for inspiration and found.....crickets......nobody seems to have much to say about February at all. However, I did find one little quote from Jerry Della Femina that said:

"Why do all our friends and relatives destroy the Summer for us? 
Why can't they get married in February?"

As I read this I realized that my husband and I must have been super considerate, because we were married in February, in fact we met in February and then married the following February - so February has played a big part in our lives.

MEETING - FEBRUARY 1982

I met my husband 36 years ago in Bridgetown, a tiny country town in the south west of Western Australia. I was a Dental Therapist and had been posted to work there for a year or two and Ross (my husband) was a radio DJ at the time and he was working from the tiny little town radio station.


He used to play me a song during his morning shift or relate some little piece of trivia that I knew he'd picked to get my attention. His first big move though was to turn up at my house with all the ingredients for a pizza that we then made and shared for lunch. I think that was the winning move - what girl could resist a guy cooking pizza for her?


DATING AND ENGAGED

Young love in a country town involved him having a dog and my housemate and me having a sheep to keep the back lawn under control. Life was simple and really easy.

 

But, not long after we became a couple, Ross was transferred to a bigger radio station a few hours drive away and we had to decide whether we wanted to keep going or move on. We stuck it out, writing letters (remember those days?) and ringing each other occasionally - no mobile phones back in the Dark Ages! And before too much time had passed, we decided that we were in it for keeps and he asked me to marry him.

No professionally posed engagement photos in the good old days - instead we have a handful taken by his mum when we called in to visit one day. The dog got to participate because he was part of the family.


WEDDING BELLS - FEBRUARY 1983

A year after we first met, 9 months after we started dating, and 6 months after we got engaged, we walked down the aisle. That was 35 years ago today and when I look at the photos it's hard to believe we were so young and so sure about what we were doing. I'd just turned 21 and Ross was 22 - we had no idea of the roller coaster ride we were in for - maybe it's just as well! 




CURRENTLY - FEBRUARY 2018

Well, here we are 35 years later - with several different careers each under our belts, two children who are grown, flown, and married, one delightful granddaughter, two cats, and a very contented life. Sometimes I wonder why we couldn't have had one of those cruisy, easy marriages with no hiccups along the way - but then I look at how far we've come and how many storms we've weathered, and I know that we made the right choice all those years ago. Maybe if it had been too easy I'd have been bored, or we'd never have known what we're capable of working our way through. 

I know that we can face just about anything together and come out the other side still smiling - that's pretty amazing in today's disposable world isn't it?

According to the internet, February's a pretty boring month - but not in our house

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50 comments

  1. Happy February to you! Congratulations on riding the waves and surviving 35 years of marriage. What a beautiful story and wonderful photos to match!

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    1. Thanks so much Kirsty - it's hard to believe so much time has zoomed by - it seems like yesterday and it also seems like forever.

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  2. Happy Anniversary, Leanne and Ross! Wishing you a warm and happy February and beyond!

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    1. It was 36degrees Celcius on our wedding day Donna - a bit cooler today, but always warm here and I look at those snowy pics from the other side of the world, and it just blows my mind.

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  3. That is pretty amazing in today's disposable world. Congratulations!

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    1. Thanks Jo - I think we've both been tempted to throw in the towel occasionally, but we'd miss each other too much if we actually went through with it!

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  4. Happy anniversary Leanne and you are still as beautiful as that 21 year old. What a beautiful story and thank you for sharing with us at #overthemoon. I've selected your post as one of my features for this week. You and Ross look so happy and still going strong 35 years later - a great story! xx

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    1. You are so lovely to say such nice things Sue - and yes we were so young and happy back then - now we're still pretty happy (not quite so young) and still choosing to do life together - life's pretty good isn't it? Thanks so much for featuring us xx

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  5. What cute photos, wishing you more years of love and happiness ♥

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    1. Thanks Dee - there are so few photos from our younger days - imagine how many I'd have to choose from if we all had mobile phones back then :)

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  6. Replies
    1. Thanks Paula - it's a lovely way to finish the month :)

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    1. The end could still be another 30+ years away Renee - let's hope it stays happy :)

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  8. I love hearing about long-term marriages where someone says "we choose to stay together/do life together". Yes, sometimes it is tough. Hubby and I were both older and more set in our ways when we married in our 30's - both for the first time... which is both good (we knew who we were as adults) and bad (we were already stuck into adult habits). But we also have chosen to stay together for 25 years and I choose to love him again every single day...even when he drives me crazy. Happy Anniversary to you both!

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    1. You describe it perfectly Patricia - love is a choice - sometimes an easy one and sometimes it's hard slog, but giving in would be such a shame because it always gets better as we go along.

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  9. I love these pics of you and your husband. A sheep to mow the lawn just cracks me up! I'm glad that you have a marriage that fits who you are today even if you had a few growing pains along the years. I think those hard times are what makes a marriage successful. You know that you're where you want to be. Congratulations! You've got 10 years on me. I hope you do something extra special to celebrate!

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    1. It's quite amazing to look back and see how much water has gone under the bridge Rena - nice to know too that no matter how turbulent that water has been, the bridge still holds strong - and will for many more years to come.

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  10. In this day and age 35 yrs is very admirable. Staying together through everything that life throws at you can be hard but good for you both that you stuck it out.

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    1. I guess there aren't that many people who have a perfect marriage without any tough spots to navigate Victoria - I like to think that getting thru the tricky bits has made us stronger and the connection deeper.

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  11. Happy Anniversary. Right on my birthday. Special for so many reasons.

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    1. How lovely to share our special day with your special day Adela - happy slightly belated birthday to you xx

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  12. Happy Anniversary to you and your husband. Very nice.

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    1. Thanks Patrick - I keep telling him how lucky is to have me :-D

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  13. Happy Wedding Anniversary! Our ages when wed in 1971 were very close to yours! I had just turned 21 and he was about to be 22. I know! Loved reading your story. I think February is not a fave month of mine for a few reasons but I love it for the one reason as it is today: my husband's birthday. It's his last in the 60s!! Yikes. Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek 9/52. Next week's optional prompt is Share Your Snaps 2.

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    1. Your February has been packed full of interesting things Denyse - and please pass a big happy birthday onto your husband from me - you guys are inspirational!

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  14. Congratulations and Happy wedding anniversary, Leanne! Wishing you both many more happy anniversaries to come.

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    1. Thanks so much Natalie - it's amazing to think that there is 35 years worth of living together that has flowed under the bridge of life and hopefully we'll get close to another 35 before we exit planet earth :)

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  15. Happy Anniversary. I love your pictures they are so full of youth and happiness.

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    1. It's funny how I look at them and still see us - it's like my brain blurs youth and reality into one picture (a bit like an IG filter!)

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  16. Happy anniversary Leanne! I love your photos. Thanks for sharing your story. I really don't believe there are any easy, breezy marriages. I'm sure some are more challenging than others, but anyone who has been married more than a couple of years has ridden some waves. Congratulations on 35 years. That is impressive, especially considering you were babies when you started out. :-)

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    1. Thanks Christie - my DIL said the same thing about others' marriages not being as perfect as we assume they are. Everyone gives the highlights, but real life always has messy bits to it. That's when the rubber hits the road and we learn maturity and acceptance and give and take isn't it?

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  17. Happy anniversary to you both Leanne! This is just so beautiful to read and honest as well. I love reading stories like this and seeing snippets of other people's lives. Congrats on 35 years and may there be many more years together for you both. :) Shared for #mlstl

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    1. I'm the same Deb - I enjoy all the life snippets people share on their blogs - it gives you a little insight into their lives - and how much we all share in common doesn't it :) Thanks for your good wishes too x

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  18. What a precious couple you were and you are! Happy anniversary, sweet friend. So enjoyed reading your love story.

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    1. Awwww thanks Leslie - it was fun to write (and to look back at the old photos when we were so young and fresh and innocent!)

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  19. Happy Anniversary! My husband and I also married in February, five years ago. Thanks for sharing your sweet story :)

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    1. Thirty years to go to catch up with us Cherie - I wonder if your journey will be a rollercoaster ride too?

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  20. Happy February - October is my equivalent month!

    Congratulations on still being together 35 years in

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  21. Hi Leanne, I enjoyed your story. You had a sheep? That sounds very Australian! We will be married 35 years in August. We got engaged 7 months after meeting and married in 10 months. It has been a rollercoaster, but I love where we are now. Congratulations on your anniversary! here's to many more years together!

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    1. Wow Michele - we must be peas in a pod - obviously we knew we were on a good thing back then (and young and impulsive!) I hope you write a post about your story when you get to August - you can link it up with us at #MLSTL and we'll reminisce about the good old days. And yes, sheep and country towns go hand in hand!

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  22. Congratulations on 35 amazing years. This is such a great post. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Thanks so much - I think it's important to celebrate the milestones - but also to acknowledge that the journey can have its ups and downs along the way!

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  23. What a lovely post to read Leanne. And it's so true that our journeys shape us. 35 years is an amazing achievement. Thanks for linking to #HighlightsofHappy

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    1. Thanks Carol - and it was lovely to link up with your happy group - I'm all for anything that promotes joy and happiness x

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  24. CONGRATULATIONS! (Playing catch-up here.)
    So fun to see you on your big day! You were the same ages as Husby and me when we tied the knot. Good decisions!
    P.S. I always think your muscles get stronger when you have something to make them do. We don't get stronger by having things too easy!

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    1. The optimism of youth definitely comes into play Diane, but you're right, as we go thru the ups and downs and survive the pitfalls, our muscles definitely get stronger and we learn to go with the flow.

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  25. You were so young, I remember feeling like I knew it all at that age, but so true life brings us so much we don't expect, the good and the not so good. I loved hearing your story and seeing these photographs. We got engaged 6 almost 7 months after meeting, but waited 2 years and 2 months to marry. We married in May and our first child was born in May so it is a special month, plus mothers day. I am glad you weathered the storms. It is actually 18 years ago today that we met, here we are 3 kids, 4 dogs later still going good. #highlightsofhappy

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  26. Leanne,
    I love this post on your 35th anniversary. I love what you say in between the lines. . .that marriage is not always a picnic. I love the photos, mostly because they reminded me so much of me and my hubby of nearly 38 years (since 1980). The styles of clothes and hair, and how young you guys are.
    Thank you for this. It is nice to see another couple that reminds me of us.

    After reading your post, my hubby had just got up from his Sunday morning sleep-in. He sat across from me at the bench near the window, while waiting for his coffee water to boil, and I heard in my head me telling him, "I'm going to Australia." Yikes! Where did that come from? It came from me feeling a cosmic connection to you and me always wanting to visit Australia, but it never going to happen.

    This is because of good writing on your part. Your ability to connect with someone a half a world away. . .Massachusetts, USA.

    Thanks. Donna

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  27. I am a bit late but congratulations on 35 years. A great story and example of going through the tough times and know knowing that things can get better again. In the midst of the hard times you may not have thought or realised that things could get better than ever. I love your photos, you looked beautiful and that trade mark smile.
    Kathleen
    Blogger's Pit Stop

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Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.