This is Ed. He's the love of my life. I met Ed 14 years ago on December 17, 1987 when I was only 17. I can't explain it, but the very moment I first layed eyes on him, I instantly knew in that moment that I was going to marry him. It was love at first sight. I can still remember my head spinning and my knees feeling like rubber and me trying to find my voice. Up to that moment, I had only seen things like this in the movies. Ed was in the Navy when I met him. He was home for a 30 day recruiting duty in the mall where I worked. He was fully dressed in his blue uniform. He was so nice looking. (Still is!) We dated a few times before he had to return to Florida. I remember thinking that if this guy returns to Florida I may never see him again. It was the most heartbreaking thing I had ever been through. The last night he was home, he came to see me at work. He walked me outside and told me he loved me. I about fainted. It was pure magic. On New Year's Eve, he called me and asked me to be his wife. Of course I said yes! We wrote letters back and forth after he returned to Florida. He flew home to see me whenever he had a free weekend. From the end of December through the month of May we wrote letters and talked on the phone. We decided it wasn't enough. In May when he flew home to see me, I went back with him. We were married three months later and here we are now 13 years later. It certainly hasn't been easy for us. But we've learned through the years what makes each other happy. It takes sheer determination and dying of self to make a marriage work. We almost gave up after the 5th year. But we decided we loved each other too much and gave it another chance. I'm so glad we did. I'm grateful for the people we are today. We've literally grown up together. And I would do it all over again if I could. I don't regret getting married so young or marrying Ed. He's the best thing that ever happened to me. I'm thankful for the bond we've built by making that decision to stay together and to love each other no matter what. Love is not a feeling ~ it's a decision. Deciding to love is why we are where we are today. Now Ed is a youth pastor in our church. He's wonderful at it. He gives so much of himself to those kids. Our faith in Jesus Christ has been a wonderful challenge in our lives. It has helped us to be better parents and lovers and friends. Without Him, we would literally be lost. Ed said our marriage is a metaphor. He said it takes 12 years to go through school. Now we're in college in our 13th year of marriage. We're all grown up now even though we're still learning.

Things we've learned that make our marriage successful... Never go to bed angry... Pray together... Worship together... Listen to each other with your hearts, not your ears... Help each other live your hopes and dreams...

Romantic things we do together... Read out loud to each other... Watch old Cary Grant movies... Go to lunch together at least once a week... Call just to say I love you... Take walks by the waterfall... Listen to books on tape in the car... Go to work together...

They Were Wrong by Lady Viktoria They said we couldn't do it, we'd never last that long, If they could see us now, they'd see that they were wrong. We've had our problems along the way, That's what makes us in love today. Being with you had made me see, What true love is supposed to be. We've been apart since we've been together, But it's only made me love you better. We have a lifetime to look forward to, There's so many things for us to do. If we would've listened to what they had to say, We wouldn't be where we are today. I guess we knew it all along, When they said we couldn't do it, they were wrong.

Please do not take my poetry. It is copyrighted under my real name. If you want a copy for your website, please ask permission to take it and then I require a link back to me.

Thank you Marie

You By Lady Viktoria Dreams do come true. To say that you are a dream come true doesn't tell the whole story. My mind could not create such a man. Only God in His Greatness could mold a young man from Wyoming into the person you are. Only God would introduce me to you, knowing I'd love everything about you, Knowing my dreams weren't equal to His creativity. In you, God increased my knowledge of love and friendship, He gave me the half of my person and character that have always been missing. You are the end of my sentence, the beginning of my day, The completer of my thoughts, the reason for my smile. I am married to a man more wonderful than I could ever have imagined. Once I was a girl full of dreams, awe and wonder. Now I'm a woman who no longer wonders about God's goodness, Why I am alive, But one who dreams of being a good wife and stands in awe of God's greatness So personally and lovingly displayed for me in you. I love you!