These past 6 months I have looked back on our 36 years and I want to say “Thank You”. I know I told you often how thankful I was for all you did, but I wanted to say “Thank You” again for such fabulous memories that I have to hold on to now.
Last year for Valentines you gave me a beautiful card and I made you a special dinner. That was the way we usually celebrated. Of course, you made sure to hug me and give me a kiss and tell me you loved me. I told you how much I loved you too. We just took it for granted that we would have many more years to share and show our love. I so wish that would have been true. You went home to heaven on August 13, 2020, and that is the day my world forever changed. I miss you more than words could ever express.
We shared 36 wonderful years and it all started here.
I remember the night before our wedding I was so nervous I could hardly breathe. Now I can’t imagine why because these last 36 years have been the best of my life. You are the most kind, gentle, loving, and caring man I have ever met and I thank God for you every day.
I look at that pretty wedding dress and it reminds me of how special you were even before we were married. What man would spend days and hours cutting out lace so I could create the dress of my dreams. When you came over I would be sewing and you would jump right in to do whatever I needed and it was hundreds of lace roses to be cut out so I could applique them to my dress.
After we were married, I told you I wanted to buy a house. You reminded me we didn’t have any money. Not to worry, I found a program that let Vets pay $1 down. Even though it meant an hour commute to work, you were on board. That made your days extra long, but you never complained. So life began for us — —
I am always amazed at how few pictures I have of us. This was our 15th anniversary and on our way to the Bahamas. You never met a stranger so it was no surprise that you made friends the minute we walked onto the beach. This friendship turned into a couple that we would have as friends for years.
By now we had moved to a new state and were in our third home. With every move and new home you always hung every drapery rod and any other projects I had in mind without a word. Then you would compliment me on how pretty the house looked. At the same time you would turn our yards into a beautiful garden. You even gave me tons of flowers in the desert. I thought the heat in Arizona would kill me, so I wanted something cool. A pool and tons of flowers, maybe an Old English Garden. You did your best and this yard was on TV and in several magazines. It really was amazing. I truly was spoiled, you tried your best to give me everything I asked for.
This was our 20th anniversaary and just quiet time at home. We loved spending time at home together. We could talk for hours and hours.
We lived in a house with a big yard so you created the veggie garden of our dreams. You loved to garden so I always had beautiful flowers and fabulous veggies to pick from the garden.
When we downsized to a smaller house you still created a beautiful veggie and flower garden for me. You could take the smallest space and turn it into something amazing.
You gave me more flowers than I could count. I loved the flowers you would cut from the yard and create a beautiful bouquet for me. These were always my favorite.
We seemed to always forget our anniversaries for some reason. Both of us forgot our first and just about every other one after that. The one I remember forgetting the most was a big one. I woke up and went into the kitchen for coffee and there was a huge bouquet, a beautiful card, and a beautifully gift-wrapped present. IT WAS OUR 25TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AND I FORGOT. You didn’t, you bought me a gorgeous silver Anniversary Clock and even had it engraved. It is still one of my most prized possessions.
On our 27th anniversary, we took a fabulous trip to Hawaii. We always have so much fun no matter what we are doing. I love that you make me laugh every day. 
We got up early every day and planned out our itinerary. We saw every inch of Maui. We didn’t want to miss a thing. That is how we always traveled, we wanted to experience and share every detail.
Our last move was to our current home 4 years ago. Again you got busy helping me with all my projects around the house and creating a backyard that I love. We immediately did a semi-gut job to the kitchen and family room areas and you didn’t say a word about all the mess or washing dishes in the bathroom sink. Carry out or just one more sandwich was always fine with you. Immediately after that project, we started on the pool and backyard. Again you were totally hands-on and in just 3 short months we had a beautiful yard. You again planted the surrounding area with beautiful shrubs and flowers. This became a special place where we would splash around and have a glass of wine and talk for hours. Our daily ritual around 4:30 every day.
No matter what project I asked you to do, (even putting together a million pieces of a new console) you just dove in and got it done. I didn’t have the patience, but you would read every word of the instructions.
You loved nothing more than getting all the kids and grands together. You loved them all so much.
If we were all getting together, you would make sure the yard and pool were perfect and sparkling, you loved seeing them all together and having fun.
Our grandchildren have the most wonderful memories of spending time with you. You always made your time with them special. You were a hands-on grandpa, you never walked away from a diaper or time to cuddle a crying baby. I have some of my favorite memories of you rocking them and you falling asleep too.
I love that this picture shows how you would hold me. You always treated me so special and with such love and tenderness.
We’ve traveled all over and are always busy, but we really do prefer a quiet day at home. We love puttzing around the house, splashing around in the pool with a glass of wine, talking, laughing and just being together. We have been blessed with a wonderful family and way more good times than bad. Even when times were not the best, we always found a way to laugh together. All these memories are forever etched in my heart. Thank you for giving me the most wonderful 36 years of my life.
Love You Tons.
What a beautiful tribute to you both!
That was such a beautiful love letter.
What a beautiful post. Thank you for reminding all of us to appreciate the simplicity of the everyday day.
laura
What a beautiful love story! Thanks for sharing!
Such a heartfelt letter, Mary! I am so very sorry for the loss of your best friend and lover.
What a beautiful love story!! Happy Valentine’s Day!!
Marty I’m glad you wrote this as it’s so heartfelt and beautiful. I have tears from reading it. You n the love of your life shared a wonderful blest life. Make sure you have that glass of wine at 4:30 today as your love will be waiting for you too. Xo
What a beautiful love story of 36 years well lived and loved!
So very special … as are the two of you together. Every day was Valentine’s Day!!!❤️ (((Hugs)))
Your beautiful story of how you both shared your love and life together brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you for the window you’ve provided to see into this deeply personal letter with us today. God Bless.
Beautiful! You were both blessed in your marriage.
Your tribute to your relationship with your husband is just beautiful.
I have tears reading this. Thanks for sharing your beautiful love story with all of us. Such a lovely love letter to remember your beautiful life together. Big hugs. Kris
What a beautiful tribute to love and a life well lived together. It brought tears to my eyes. I loved seeing the pictures of the 2 of you. Thank you for allowing us to see all this. Have a glass of wine at 4:30 today especially!!!! XO
What a wonderful tribute to your husband. Sending you a big hug, Marty.
What a sweet, sweet life.
Beautiful!
Thanks for the look inside your heart
Absolutely beautiful! Brought tears to my eyes. I wish peace and beautiful memories to last you forever.
Oh Miss Marty this was the perfect way to remember your forever Valentine! Jim was such an amazingly kind and gifted man.
Awl, Marty. I am bawling my eyes out. I know this Valentine’s has to be so difficult for you.
Please know you are in my thoughts today – and one day you will see your hero again.
You know he is heaven. What a sweet post.
I am so sorry for your loss. ♥
You were truly blessed.
Thank you for sharing your love letter to him with us.
Wonderful man! Wonderful couple!
You will be together again!
God Bless!
Such a beautiful love story! I’m so sorry it had to end so soon. Thank you for sharing.
I have loved reading all of your journeys. You have such a good attitude throughout this whole adjusting time.
Such a beautiful heartfelt love tribute to your dear husband, Marty. May all these happy memories always be a comfort to you until you meet again. ((Hugs))
Thank you Marty for sharing this beautiful love letter. A reminder to all of us not to take our special one for granted.
Thank you and hugs to you on this Valentines Day.❤️
Marty, my heart goes out to you. I understand the loss of a great life partner. I feel lucky to have had a great love, and I think you do too. Still, there is a pain at a loss that seems unfair. The first several years of a loss can be up and down, I hope your family and friends lift you up as you adjust. God bless you in this time, He blessed you in love, it just ended before you were ready. I’m sorry. Hugs, Jeanne
What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful life and loving husband. Crying here and you must be too.
I will always remember the Sunday you let him have your blog and he answered my question about the bromiliads.
Maybe God needed some gardening help. Til you meet again. Happy Valentine’s Day.
This was a lovely lovely post and tribute to a long time marriage and to both of you. Also a great reminder to all of us not to take our spouses or loved ones for granted cause we never know what a day will bring.
Loved seeing all your sweet pics………….life and love really are so much about the lil everyday things that make up ours lives.
Hope writing this helped your heart and healing process………….and it sure blessed our hearts.
Still praying for you Marty as I know this is a marathon not a sprint situation.
Happy Valentines day to you and this sweet man you love and miss so much!
Love and Blessings hon,
Nellie
je suis émue, aux larmes à lire votre message. Sachez que vous avez eu beaucoup de chance ….mais vous en êtes consciente .
je vous souhaite de continuer de vivre dans la douceur avec vos merveilleux souvenirs.
Bonne journée.
Beautiful
What a lovely post and what a beautiful and loving tribute to your years together. Thank you for sharing this.
I had just discovered your loss not too long ago, as I had been away from my favorite blogs for a bit. This is a wonder heartfelt tribute to your soulmate. I’m so sorry for your loss.
Marty, that was beautiful. Such a wonderful life you had together! I hope all of your precious memories are a comfort to you. Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
Such a beautiful love letter and tribute to your soul mate. Hugs and Blessings to you Marty.
Such a touching tribute to the love you shared. COVID has taken too many way too soon.
What a beautiful tribute to your husband and your life together. How blessed you have been:)
Beautiful and touching…
Thanks for sharing your love story with us through this letter. I’m glad you have such wonderful memories.
Marty, thank you for sharing this touching love letter. What a wonderful way to honor your husband and your 36 years together. Through your words, I can tell what a wonderful man he was, and how special and rare your marriage was.
Wishing you peach and comfort,
Niky @ The House on Silverado
MY HEART BREAKS FOR YOU AND THE LOSS OF YOUR LOVE. THANK YOU FOR SHARING SUCH A WONDERFUL, HEARTFELT TRIBUTE OF YOUR LIFE, LOVE AND 36 YEARS TOGETHER. THOSE MEMORIES AND PICTURES WILL BE WITH YOU FOREVER. MAY GOD GIVE YOU COMFORT AND PEACE AS YOU JOURNEY AHEAD WITHOUT YOUR LOVE OF 36 YEARS.
I’M SO HAPPY YOU SHARED SUCH A TRIBUTE TO JIM. THANK YOU FOR SHOWING ME MORE OF YOUR LIFE TOGETHER-YOUR WORDS WERE WOVEN WITH SUCH LOVE AND GRACE, HE REALLY WAS A SPECIAL MAN, MARRIED TO AN EQUALLY SPECIAL WOMAN.
What a wonderful way to honor such a great man and the love that you two shared! Love reading and seeing these pretty pictures. ❤️
Wonderful…God bless you.
Your love letter to Jim made me cry. The tribute that you wrote to him will be something that your family will always be able to treasure. You described the love of your life and the life that both of you loved for for 36 years beautifully. It touched my heart and many others. I hope that these special memories are a comfort to you.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful love story Marty.