Jack & Kathy at their wedding and on their 35th Anniversary

Our tradition for over 35 years has been to try to get away overnight for our wedding anniversary (or when getting away ourselves wasn’t possible, to have the children “get away” to grandma’s). When we could afford it, we enjoyed going out for dinner, but if the budget could only cover one splurge, we found that a night away was a more important investment for us than a gourmet dinner.

Since our anniversary is the week before Christmas, we have never spent much money on gifts, but when we do it has been a mutual gift. Some ideas are a CD of romantic music, new sheets for your bed, a piece of new luggage, a special “coffee table” book, a new picture or other art for your bedroom, or something for you to do together– sports or cooking equipment, membership to a museum or tickets to a concert series, etc.

Friends of ours celebrated their 12th anniversary today by cooking a 12 course dinner. created by and for the two of them, with foods enjoyed on their travels throughout the years. (That probably wouldn’t work for many more years.)

A Facebook Friend’s post: “Yesterday for our 11th anniversary, my husband took me to see 11 special places and people from our marriage and gave me a rose at each spot. So memorable!” Wow, he’s a keeper ~ And she’s hoping he’ll still be doing this in 20 years!

Reminisce about your dating days or wedding & share memories with your children.

Look at your wedding album every anniversary.

Write each other a love letter or poem. Talk about what you appreciated during the last year. Thank God for the blessings he has showered on you.

Have your picture taken every year– perhaps in the place where you got married?

Get in touch with all the members of your wedding party whom you haven’t seen during the year.