Happy 50th Anniversary! — Morris and Elaine Bastian

It isn’t everyday that a couple reaches that fabulous milestone of 50 years of marriage. My good friends, Morris and Elaine Bastian, have successfully done just that!

Morris and Elaine Bastian have been great supporters of my efforts through the years to help strengthen marriages. In fact, Morris Bastian was one of the editors of my book And They Were Not Ashamed — Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment.

The following is a little bit about the Bastians, and some of their suggestions for building a strong and happy marriage to last throughout the years.?????

About the Bastians

Morris and Elaine Bastian met on a blind date after Morris returned home from a mission to Northern California for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Morris and Elaine attended a dance at the Institute of Religion at Boise Junior College in Boise, Idaho. Morris said it was love at first sight, as she was the “most naturally beautiful” girl he’d ever seen. Elaine said it took her a little longer to be “won over.” Morris said of their courtship:

“We went together for about two months. I was in love, but I tried to forget her because I just couldn’t see how I could marry and do all the things I felt I had to do before marriage…especially graduate from college and get established in a career. So, I phoned her one night and called it off. I told her I was sorry, but it just wasn’t right.

Three days later, I found myself at her door at 11:30 p.m. at night with an engagement ring. I felt like a heel. I didn’t know what to say or do so I just gave her the ring and that was that. Thankfully she accepted! We were engaged on June 28, 1960, and married on September 9, 1960 in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.”

Morris and Elaine have raised seven wonderful children, and have shared a life of faith and service to others. Elaine is a great woman of faith, and a believer in the promises of God. She often taught her children that, “All things work together for your good when you walk uprightly before God.”

Morris spent most of his professional life teaching at the Boise Institute of Religion at what is now Boise State University. Together Morris and Elaine have served many missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

They have served as mission president of the South Dakota Rapid City Mission (1979 – 1982); a Church Educational System (CES) mission to BYU-Hawaii as an instructor in the department of religion (1998 – 2000); and a CES mission to Southern Virginia University (SVU) as an instructor in the institute (2010 – 2011).

One of their favorite pastimes is to dance to the oldies in their kitchen!

Thoughts on Building a Strong and Lasting Marriage

The following are some of the Bastian’s thoughts about key things that help build a strong and lasting marriage:

1. Be Committed. Enduring marriages begin with a strong commitment to do whatever it takes to stay together. The commitment has to be stronger than “We’ll see,” or “We’ll try,” or “I’ll do my best.” Just like there are good days and bad days in your life; there are good times and trying times/seasons in your marriage. You have to find a way through the tough times.

2. Fight Fair. If you must fight, fight fair. No hitting below the belt. Don’t issue ultimatums, make threats, get even, etc. Marriage isn’t always easy, but it is still wonderful and worth it.

3. Stay Focused. Always keep your eye on the important things–like being a forever family. Don’t get distracted. Always remember what your marriage is about. It’s easy to be blinded by the craftiness of men.

4. Meet Each Others Needs. Follow the advice given by Martin Luther: “Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave.”

5. Be the Best Spouse You Can Be. Charles Shedd wrote: “Marriage isn’t so much about finding the right person as being the right person.” We have found that concept to be foundational in strong and enduring marriages.

Congratulations to Morris and Elaine Bastian for their wonderful life together thus far. They have been a shining example not only of a life of service and love of God, but they also set a great example of a happy and healthy marriage to all! Thank you!

Related Articles: “Happily Married Couples Needed” by Laura M. Brotherson

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Marriage and intimacy expert Laura M. Brotherson is the author of a bestselling book on sexual intimacy and marital oneness entitled, And They Were Not Ashamed—Strengthening Marriage through Sexual Fulfillment. Laura shares her passion for building strong marriages and families as an author, intimacy expert, relationship consultant, and host of the online “Marital Intimacy Show.”

Visit her website StrengtheningMarriage.com to learn more and to sign up for her “Straight Talk about Strengthening Marriage” newsletter. StrengtheningMarriage.com is your trusted resource for education, products and services to strengthen marriages . . . intimately!

© Copyright 2011 Laura M. Brotherson. All rights reserved.

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Other Ways to Connect with Laura!

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We’re thrilled to announce the winners of our StrengtheningMarriage.com 2009 Valentine’s Getaway to the romantic Anniversary Inn. The lucky winner of the random drawing was Josef and Krista.

With their Couples Photo and “How We Met” story, Josef and Krista have won a FREE one-night stay at the beautiful Anniversary Inn of their choice, in the room of their choice! (Valued up to $289.)

In addition to the luxury of spending focused time and attention on each other, they’ll enjoy the relaxing in-room jacuzzi, complimentary cheesecake, sparkling apple cider, and a delicious freshly baked breakfast delivered to their suite.

Every couple ought to enjoy at least one getaway to The Anniversary Inn each year. It’s one of my favorite places ever!

We encourage you to continue to send us your Couples Photos and “How We Met” stories to be posted here on Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog. All entries will be added to the mix for next year’s Romantic Getaway winner.

Couples have shared how fun it’s been for them to reflect on their courtship days, plus glean ideas from others for strengthening their marriage.

We hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day this year, and hope you will take the romantic spirit of the Valentine’s season with you all year long!

Chris and Jackie
Married 5 Years

In Love and At War
We tell people that we have a unique story. Not because we are very different, but because of the circumstances under which we met and fell in love. It’s what movies and romance novels are made of.

I was one of 174 anxious U.S. Army soldiers on a military transport headed for Kuwait where we would receive our orders to move into Iraq. I found an available seat in the front row with extra leg room. I figured it would come in handy for the 23 hour flight we had before us.

As I sat down in my seat and got my gear situated, Specialist Hansen introduced herself. We talked a lot as we crossed the ocean and Europe moving into the Middle East.

At one point during the flight she pulled out her military sized Bible and a Book of Mormon and started reading. “So you’re one of those, huh?” I let on like I wasn’t LDS and had a little fun before telling her that I was a Mormon as well.

We had some great conversations during the flight, and had fun watching movies together as well. I woke up at one point during the flight to find her sleeping on my shoulder. She seemed exhausted. She hadn’t had much time to prepare to go to war with our unit.

She volunteered to go to Iraq at the last minute just a few days prior to us leaving. Her military unit was staying in Fort Carson, Colorado.

We spent the next 15 months of our lives together at war. We spent hours of waiting for sirens to silence, wearing our gas masks as we sweated out the fear that surrounded us.

It goes without saying that we experienced a lot of worry, and had many conversations, and developed a closeness that made us inseparable as we got orders on day two of the invasion to move our medical logistics unit into Iraq.

We traveled from dusk until just after midnight where we stopped at a safe zone. Jackie and I slept on top of my Hummer to avoid the desert floor and the things that lived on and under it. It was pretty difficult to sleep.

The canvas cover on top of the Hummer was more comfortable than sleeping on top of the hood, but the hood was warmer. We switched places in the middle of the night. After several hours of sleep, we moved our convoy to a northern camp where we would spend the rest of the war doing what we did best in Iraq…fall in love.

Our relationship was very professional at first with some occasional, harmless flirting. We were very good friends and got to spend a lot of time together because we were on the commander’s staff. She was an NBC Warfare Specialist (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) and I was the Supply Sergeant and Unit Armorer.

She was very forward and actually asked me one day if I felt that there was any “tension” between us.

We ended up spending even more time together several nights on guard duty. We shared everything about everything in those guard towers and bonded, but it was still just a friendship.

One night after our day’s duties were done we decided to hike up to our traditional hang-out spot on top of an airplane hangar that looked like a large, cement turtle shell. We would sit up there and watch the sunset, and then stay awhile to watch the fire fights.

With all the dust in the air, the sunsets were always fire-red. And the way her skin glowed when that light touched her face reminds me every day why we ended up kissing that night.

We were such good friends that we ended up laughing after several attempts to kiss, but we spent enough time up there that night that we mastered it! : )

Later I went home on leave for two weeks and bought an engagement ring for her. It was small, but I didn’t want to have her lose anything out there in the Iraqi desert.

I don’t think we spent a single day after that without smiling ear to ear. There were several times that we were formally written up for looking “too happy.” It was worth it though.

It still seems like a dream to us that we met the way that we did, and became two best friends. We are still best friends. We have been married now for five years and have three children.

Strengthening Marriages

We do many things to strengthen our marriage, but we have found a special mission together to help strengthen other peoples’ marriages as well. We are the proud owners of a one-of-a-kind store in American Fork, Utah (and online) called “Husband & Wife.” This store is dedicated to strengthening marriages and ensuring that husbands and wives are not only intimate lovers, but best friends as well.

“Husband & Wife” – Strengthening Marriages through Intimacy

“Husband & Wife” is one of the few physical (and online) stores promoting a tasteful, comfortable and clean atmosphere where couples can find new and exciting ways to spice up their marriage. Products are free of graphic images and offensive or crude language. There is a large selection of lingerie available online–all displayed on mannequins. Lingerie and other romantic gifts can be purchased in their Utah store — 57 E. Main Street, American Fork, UT 84003, 801-756-LOVE (5683) or online at www.HusbandAndWife.net.

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This is one of the “How We Met” stories featured here on “Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog.” You can enter to win a Romantic Getaway to The Anniversary Inn by sending us a favorite photo of you and your spouse, and/or a wedding or engagement photo, by Saturday, February 14th, 2009. Tell us the story of how you met, how many years you’ve been married, plus something you do to strengthen your marriage (500 words or less). Send your photo and story here. We’d love to receive your story and your photos even if it is after February 14th!

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икони

Eric and Terry

After being engaged three different times in about a year and a half, I met Eric. As we were getting acquainted, when we first met at a church dance, I found out he was going to Ogden the next day to visit some family. I had left my sewing machine in Salt Lake with a friend and had no way to get it, so I asked if he would drop me off there on his way to Ogden and pick me up on his way home.

My friend was not home when we got there, so I ended up going to Ogden with Eric. We stopped by his Grandmother’s apartment. On the way out of his Grandmother’s apartment, a neighbor lady recognized Eric from before his mission. She asked if I was his wife to which he answered, “No.” Then she asked if I was his fiancee, to which he answered, “No.” Then she asked if I was his girlfriend.

He then said we were just friends, to which the lady said, “Well, you have to start somewhere.” (The next time she saw us, we were engaged.) We got a chuckle out of it, thinking nothing of it at the time.

One evening shortly after that, my roommates and I were headed out to a rodeo. We opened our front door and there was Eric. He asked if I wanted to do something with him. We invited him to the rodeo. When the rodeo clown tried to sit in between him and me and my roommates, Eric said, “Hey, they are with me!” The clown yelled down to the other clown, “Hey, guess what we have here? One guy with three girls!” The other clown yelled up to Eric, “Way to go Brigham!”

Eric and I continued to mostly hang out, spending long hours talking. One night after going to the movies with him I realized I was falling in love with him. A good friend had come to see me the next day. She had told me over and over not to get involved with Eric because he was fickle and would hurt me. I told her how I loved him and she seemed supportive.

However, the next day at church, I walked into Sunday School and lo and behold there was Eric with a girl I did not know practically sitting on his lap. He looked rather uncomfortable. In fact it reminded me of a kid finding a stray cat and holding it tight, and the cat trying to get away. I was heartsick. I was also embarrassed because of what my friend had said to me about Eric, and here it was playing out in front of her. That day was excruciating, but when I’d close my eyes I kept having the thought of Eric and I walking hand in hand from the Provo, Utah LDS Temple.

Some time later Eric came over to help me think through a predicament I had about my living arrangements. We talked for a long time. At the end of the conversation we stood and Eric wrapped his arms around me to give me a hug. As he did so, I felt like a warm blanket had wrapped around me. I felt like I belonged and had come home. As he started to leave he looked at me to say “Goodbye”. As I gazed into his eyes, a bonding took place at that moment that was powerful. He looked at me and said, “I do not know what it is, but there is something very special between us.”

Then a few days later, he stopped by to drop off a book I had left in his car. He sat on the couch next to me, and as we sat there I had the feeling that if he were to ask me to marry him I would say “Yes.” Then almost immediately doubts set in that I could not seem to fight.

A few days later, he asked me to marry him. I told him if he had asked me a few days before I would have said “Yes,” but since then, I had been doubting. We talked about it and finally decided to go talk to our church leader. As we shared our dilemma he got really excited and said, “I knew it about your two!”

We still didn’t know what to do. We knew we loved each other but neither of us felt like we were ready to get married. When we got back to the new place I was moving into, we decided to kneel down and ask the Lord what to do. As Eric said the prayer, I once again felt like a warm blanket was being wrapped around us.

When we stood and he started to leave, he stopped and looked into my eyes and asked me to marry him. I had the feeling to say yes. The fear and doubt had gone.

It has been 31 years (in December) that we married in the Provo, Utah LDS temple. Life with my sweetheart and eternal companion just keeps getting more like a fairy tale romance. The thought of spending eternity with him fills my heart with delight!

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This is one of the “How We Met” stories featured here on “Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog.” You can enter to win a Romantic Getaway to The Anniversary Inn by sending us a favorite photo of you and your spouse, and/or a wedding or engagement photo, by Saturday, February 14th, 2009. Tell us the story of how you met, how many years you’ve been married, plus something you do to strengthen your marriage (500 words or less). Send your photo and story here. We’d love to receive your story and your photos even if it is after February 14th!

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Fred and Analisa

I met my future wife, Analisa, at a BYU singles ward that I attended after I got off of my mission. My older brother, Vincent, was going to the ward, so I tagged along with him.

During high school Analisa and I lived only four blocks away from each other. She knew about me, but I did not know anything about her while I was still in high school.

In the BYU singles ward, I became involved in a play called “Father, Mother, Mother and Mom.” I played the piano for them. Analisa was the assistant Director. The only reason I did the play was to get to know another girl that was in it. Needless to say I got to know Analisa instead.

When I was serving my mission, Analisa was in my parent’s ward back home. My mom was very impressed with how Analisa treated her grandmother who lived with her and her family. My mom suggested that I get to know her better. She thought she would make a wonderful wife.

While attending BYU classes one day, I found a note on my car. It said, “Hi Fred from ?.” I still have that note today. Analisa and I became good friends. I wasn’t head over heels for her at first, but I enjoyed talking to her, as she was easy to talk to.

She was (and continues to be a wonderful and caring person), but I had no intention, at the time, of thinking that she would someday be my eternal companion. I continued to have roaming eyes and wanted to get to know different girls. I will say, though, that one time during the play Analisa had to put makeup on me, and I gazed into her eyes. She had the most beautiful big and bright eyes that I had ever seen. She still has beautiful eyes.

We really did not date officially. We just went to events together a lot. But there came a point where Analisa and I had a talk. I told her that I felt that I should check out other girls to make sure I knew who my eternal companion should be. The response that Analisa gave let me know that I did not need to look any further for a wife. She was sitting right next to me. She said that if that was how I felt, then I should pursue other girls.

But at that moment I knew that I did not need to look any further. Analisa was the one for me.

I proposed to her on New Years Eve of 1978 (going into ’79). We were doing dishes at her house, and I just asked her. It wasn’t very romantic. I had no ring. I feel bad about it today that I didn’t do things differently.

Something that was in the way at this time was that Analisa felt that she should serve a mission for our church like her mother did. Our Bishop suggested that we could also serve missions together at a later time. We were married July 7, 1979. It will be 30 years this July.

We have three children, a married daughter, a son leaving on his mission in March, and a son attending High School. We continue to be each other’s best friend, and are very much in love!

How We Strengthen Our Marriage

1. We pray together. We feel it is so important to always include the Savior in our lives.
2. We laugh, play and work together. We are both employed by the same company, and have offices next to each other.
3. We leave each other love notes and phone messages on a daily and weekly basis.
4. We attend the LDS Temple together monthly.
5. When difficulties arise we talk things out even though the solutions are not clear cut, and we may continue to disagree.
6. We try and think about and put each other first above everything else in life.
7. We continue to be each other’s best friend, and make it a point to spend our wedding anniversaries together at a Bed and Breakfast or other such establishment.

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This is one of the “How We Met” stories featured here on “Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog.” You can enter to win a Romantic Getaway to The Anniversary Inn by sending us a favorite photo of you and your spouse, and/or a wedding or engagement photo, by Saturday, February 14th, 2009. Tell us the story of how you met, how many years you’ve been married, plus something you do to strengthen your marriage (500 words or less). Send your photo and story here. We’d love to receive your story and your photos even if it is after February 14th!

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Chad and Naomi

Chad and I met in college in May 2002 when I took over his student government position. I called him to learn about what the position entailed. During our meeting he interrupted me to tell me that I had the most beautiful eyes. I thanked him but didn’t really think too much of it.

The next day I left to go home for the summer, and I wasn’t really thinking about Chad until he started emailing me more things about my new position, slipping into his emails things like: “When you come back to Utah, we should have lunch together.” I started paying more attention to him then, and we emailed all summer long.

When I returned to Utah, he was the first person I saw on campus, and all of a sudden he looked so good to me. Attraction started growing as we started working on projects together. We became really good friends at first, and the more we talked the more we wanted to spend time together. One night he came over to my place on a dare, and that night we kissed for the first time!

After that we just hung out more and more, and dated each other for a few months before we started talking about marriage. We knew we wanted to be together, but some differences caused us to break off our relationship a few times. We were on and off over the next few months, during which I realized that I wanted to be with Chad no matter what!

Over the 4th of July weekend in 2003 I visited a friend in Arizona to think about things. We were on a break at the time, but by the time I got back I needed to talk to him. I called him to see when we could talk. He said he was planning on meeting up with a friend in Cedar City. I asked him if I could come with him. He reluctantly agreed, and so we drove down to Cedar City together, talking about us on the way.

By the time we got there, we were holding hands and acting like a couple again. So the next morning, we looked at each other and said: “If we are going to be together let’s make it official. Vegas is only two hours away.”

We were both tired of being on and off, knowing full well we wanted to be together. So, after a long prayer and a long talk, we drove to Vegas and were married on July 7, 2003. Even though we had no family or friends with us, it was the most wonderful day of our lives.

We have been happily married for the past five+ years and have been blessed with two beautiful children.

How We Strengthen Our Marriage

Chad and I love to go out to dinner and a movie together for a date night. Our intimate relationship is also very important to us, and has strengthened our marriage throughout the years.

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This is one of the “How We Met” stories featured here on “Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog.” You can enter to win a Romantic Getaway to The Anniversary Inn by sending us a favorite photo of you and your spouse, and/or a wedding or engagement photo, by Saturday, February 14th, 2009. Tell us the story of how you met, how many years you’ve been married, plus something you do to strengthen your marriage (500 words or less). Send your photo and story here. We’d love to receive your story and your photos even if it is after February 14th!

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Neil and Elysianna

Married 10 Years

HAPPY 10th ANNIVERSARY!

Neil and I met while attending BYU-Idaho. (It will always be Ricks College to us!) A friend of his was dating a friend of mine and wanted to set up a double date. Originally they had both invited someone other than Neil and myself on the date. Neil’s friend asked him after the first guy bailed, and then my friend invited me after the other girl bailed.

It was October, and I had yet to go out on a date since school had started in September, so I thought, why not? When they came to the door I thought Neil was cute, but didn’t think the other guy was so much, plus, he was shorter than me. I thought, “No way! Jill is letting me have the cute tall one!”

We went swimming on our date and got along great. Afterwards, we ordered pizza and my friend Jill and I had a pizza eating contest–not usually the kind of thing you do on a first date! I scarfed down four pieces in front of Neil. He said that’s when he knew we’d be great together.

He sent me flowers two days later, and we were together everyday after that. We were engaged by Christmas and married by Valentines–February 12th to be exact! So, that’s our story.

What We Do to Strengthen Our Marriage

To strengthen our marriage, we keep the humor going in our marriage. We joke around a lot and tease each other. His sense of humor was one of the things I was first attracted to, so, it’s nice to still have that.

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This is one of the “How We Met” stories featured here on “Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog.” You can enter to win a Romantic Getaway to The Anniversary Inn by sending us a favorite photo of you and your spouse, and/or a wedding or engagement photo, by Saturday, February 14th, 2009. Tell us the story of how you met, how many years you’ve been married, plus something you do to strengthen your marriage (500 words or less). Send your photo and story here. We’d love to receive your story and your photos even if it is after February 14th!

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Doug and Shauna

Shauna and I met because of a joke perpetrated by my friends at a Burger King Drive thru window. Some buddies of mine had gone there for food, and they gave Shauna my phone number as a joke. (She was working at the window.)

She called me as soon as she got off of work thinking I was one of the other guys in the car. I hadn’t even gone to dinner with them. We talked on the phone for quite a while, and found out we had a lot in common.

We decided to go out together. In our area there is a very large outdoor rodeo and amusement park the last week of July. We decided to spend the day at the amusement park. We had a very enjoyable day. We continued to talk on the phone quite a bit. We really seemed to hit it off.

It seems like we knew from day one we had a future together. We hadn’t been dating very long when we started talking about marriage and the size of the family we would like to have. We began dating in July, got engaged in October, and were married in February. It all seemed to happen so fast.

It is funny when you think that this whole thing started out as a joke!

What We Do to Strengthen Our Marriage

We really enjoy going out for date night. We both miss it when we allow ourselves to get to busy and don’t make it out.

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This is one of the “How We Met” stories featured here on “Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog.” You can enter to win a Romantic Getaway to The Anniversary Inn by sending us a favorite photo of you and your spouse, and/or a wedding or engagement photo, by Saturday, February 14th, 2009. Tell us the story of how you met, how many years you’ve been married, plus something you do to strengthen your marriage (500 words or less). Send your photo and story here. We’d love to receive your story and your photos even if it is after February 14th!

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Robbie and Natalie

Married 1 Year

Our Story

My husband’s family moved into my neighborhood and church boundaries when I was in third grade. He always seemed too old for me because he is three years older than I am. I remember I thought he was really cute though, when I would see him at church.

I remember him leaving on a mission for our church, and I remember him coming back too. He had no clue I was in existence until he came home from his mission and saw me in the Young Single Adults class. I was just barely graduating from high school at the time. He thought I was cute and went home and asked his dad who the girl with brown hair was in the single adults’ class.

The next summer (a year after he first realized I was alive) I came home from the singles ward I was going to and went to my home ward activities. I knew Robbie had to go to those, because he was the Young Single Adult chair person in our home ward at church. The leaders made sure he came to the activities…just for me. (It was a conspiracy from the start.)

Finally he asked me out July 15th and we went to the Zoo on a day date. After that, we would watch movies together and then we had to see each other every day. Since we lived literally a 30 second drive away from each other, it was easy to see each other every day.

The church members loved feeling like they were a part of our romance, and a year and a half later we were married. We have now been married one year and almost two months, December 19th is our anniversary.

What We Do to Strengthen Our Marriage

We have been reading “And They Were Not Ashamed” since we got married. Since I had the “Good Girl Syndrome” we have had to really work on the sexual fulfillment in our marriage. This has been one of our biggest struggles. We have committed to find more time for each other.

Since we had read the book we knew we needed to start fixing this now and not years down the road. We have found that prayer has helped this aspect, as well as other aspects of our life together.

We are also trying to plan a getaway, even though we may not have much money. We know that time together is very important. Little date nights also go miles to strengthen our marriage. Each weekend we have a date night to relax, laugh, and just talk.

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This is one of the “How We Met” stories featured here on “Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog.” You can enter to win a Romantic Getaway to The Anniversary Inn by sending us a favorite photo of you and your spouse, and/or a wedding or engagement photo, by Saturday, February 14th, 2009. Tell us the story of how you met, how many years you’ve been married, plus something you do to strengthen your marriage (500 words or less). Send your photo and story here. We’d love to receive your story and your photos even if it is after February 14th!

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Morgan and Elisa

Married 4 Years

Morgan and I met in 2003 when we both started working at the Sears Call Center. We were in the same training class, and all of us in the class quickly became friends. We spent the summer hanging out and partying a lot. Come to find out, we were both of the same faith and were both going through a rebellious stage and going against our beliefs. We lost touch at the end of summer.

After I moved out of my boyfriend’s place in December of 2004, my roommates dragged me to a church function, which I did not want to attend. While I was there, I noticed a boy singing in the choir. I recognized him, but couldn’t put my finger on where I knew him from.

Finally, it hit me that he was the guy I used to work with at the Sears Call Center! After the function, I said “Hi” to him. Considering our past, the only thing either of us could think of to say was, “What are YOU doing here?!”

He invited me to choir. I can’t sing, but wanted to see him, so I said yes. Things quickly progressed from there. Morgan had been attending church and being faithful for about six months prior to this. I was still not sure what I was doing. We had many long conversations about our faith and he helped me find my way.

We went out on two official dates, and then were inseparable after that. We spent every waking moment together. One month after that church function we were engaged. I was sitting on the couch with Morgan and thinking, “Just ask me to marry you, I’ll say yes,” when out of nowhere, he said, “Will you marry me?”

We set the date for July, but soon found that July was too long of a wait, so we changed the date to April. Not long after that, April became too long of a wait (this was February), so on a whim we went to the courthouse and got married (March 1st).

For two weeks we didn’t tell anyone that we were married, not even our roommates. We didn’t have anywhere to live, so we took turns staying at each others’ places. We finally decided it was time to tell our parents. His parents took it very well. My mother was LIVID. My father laughed. We had a reception in April to celebrate.

In hindsight, I wish I had the big white wedding, but our story is unique, and I thank God every day that it worked out so well.

How We Strengthen Our Marriage

To strengthen our marriage, we pray together each and every night. Sometimes we don’t always go to bed at the same time, with him in school and with a young baby, but we always make sure before one of us goes to sleep, that our prayers have been said together. God brought us together and He will keep us together.

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This is one of the “How We Met” stories featured here on “Laura’s Strengthening Marriage Blog.” You can enter to win a Romantic Getaway to The Anniversary Inn by sending us a favorite photo of you and your spouse, and/or a wedding or engagement photo, by Saturday, February 14th, 2009. Tell us the story of how you met, how many years you’ve been married, plus something you do to strengthen your marriage (500 words or less). Send your photo and story here. We’d love to receive your story and your photos even if it is after February 14th!

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