November 24, 1997, was our 25th wedding anniversary. Anyone who has been married that long usually has questions and reflections about their relationship.
Over the years, there were moments when I wondered if we would make it another year. Although our relationship was strong, the circumstances we endured over the course of those years were horrendous. Our lives were battered, often bruised, and broken more times than I can count. Yet, we survived. Yes, we grew stronger. But as some people have said, "I'd take weakness over all the struggles you had to endure to make you stronger."
When you start your life together as a couple, you concentrate on a bright future. You talk about all the hopes and dreams you have together and individually. When trials come, you work through them -- together. Rarely does anyone anticipate that almost every year would bring a major trauma into your lives. But, in our case, that is what happened.