Four Years into Forever
Four years ago today, I was seated in a limo reading a misalette. I was aching to get out of the car just to see if all the preparations were going well. My Mom insisted I stay inside the vehicle. I watched as friends and family started pouring into the church. I was very much excited yet also very much afraid. I was getting married in a few minutes.
Four years ago today, Fr. Ignacio shared a story about a huge sturdy tree that stood standing through hurricanes and earthquakes. One day, however, the tree just fell over. It was a beautiful day, there were no threats to make it fall. If you look closely into the tree however, you would see why it had fallen. Termites. The little monsters ate up the inside of the tree until the tree was weak inside, until the tree was no longer strong enough to hold itself up. It is the little things that can make or break a marriage, the priest shared in his homily.
Four years ago today, we heard the words “You may kiss the bride.” H leaned forward and gave me a sweet kiss on the lips, than enveloped me in a long and warm embrace. I cherish that first embrace as husband and wife much more than our first kiss. In each other’s arms, we found our true home.
Four years ago today, the Mother of the Bride gave a moving speech. My newlywed heart was touched deeply when Mama said:
I hope though that the love you have for each other will make you feel
protected but not smothered;
challenged but not threatened;
directed but not controlled;
wanted but not possessed.
It was encouragement she was giving and a lesson she was teaching. At that moment, I began to understand the richness and the boundaries of love.
Four years ago today, our post-ceremony outdoor pictorial had to be cut short as rain fell strongly from the sky. My husband and I ran through the rain, made it back to the reception area, drenched but still hand-in-hand, laughing. The old ones said the rain brings many blessings. With our fingers intertwined, my husband and I already knew that.
Happy 4th Year Wedding Anniversary, Husby. I love you very much.
May 24th, 2007 at 9:20 am
Happy Anniversary to you both. May you remain like newly-weds for the rest of your lives. Cheers!!
May 24th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Happy anniversary! =)
May 24th, 2007 at 10:44 am
Wishing you and your H many, many more blissful years together! God bless! *hugs*
May 24th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Happy Anniversary to you Ate and to your H! Ang cute naman ng posts mo tiyak kapag nabasa to ng hubby mo kikiligin yon! kilig to the bones! siguro ang dapat wag mawala sa isang relationship ung trust, respect and cyempre love tapos forever na. Godbless
May 24th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
happy anniversary toni! cheers to many years of sturdiness and homey hugs
May 24th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
happy anniversary!!!stay in love..forever..! and let christ be the center of your marriage..teka para na ring speech..happy anniv!:)
May 24th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
congratulations…and may you have 400 more wonderfully full years ahead!!
May 24th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
How sweet… Happy Anniversary!
May 24th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
toni, test lang ito…i tried to change my email address. here goes nothing…
May 24th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Happy 4th year Anniversary!
May 24th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
congratulations! i love reading about couples celebrating their anniversaries.
May 24th, 2007 at 4:21 pm
aaawww
congratulations on making it this far and i wish you more blessings forEVER 
*cheezzzyyy* hehe
May 24th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
wow.. how sweet
happy anniversary sa inyo 
May 24th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
happy anniversary, ate toni. best wished to you and your husby =)
May 24th, 2007 at 6:18 pm
happy anniversary toni! wishing you and H many many more blissful years together!
May 24th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
sweet naman! Happy Anniversary, Toni!
May 24th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
happy anniversary! i love your mom’s speech. so true. more years to come.
May 24th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
happy anniversary!
May 24th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Happy Anniversary to both of you. Wishing you more happy and promising years ahead. God bless.
May 24th, 2007 at 11:00 pm
Happy Wedding Anniversary, Toni! I wish you all the best, it’s such a good thing that people like you are aware there are still things in this life that you have to be enormously grateful for, and that is the joy of being alive itself and having to enjoy these wonderful relationships we have with our loved ones. God bless you and your family, take care!!
May 25th, 2007 at 12:02 am
HAPPY 4 YEARS to you and H! Love is the best glue in the universe!
May 25th, 2007 at 12:10 am
Happy anniversary
May 25th, 2007 at 1:46 am
happy anniv to you and dennis!
May 25th, 2007 at 2:03 am
happy anniversary husby and wifey!
May 25th, 2007 at 5:04 am
its not the years that you put into your life
its the life that you put into those number of years
happy marriage as always – today is a day to really celebrate!!!!
May 25th, 2007 at 5:56 am
happy 4th anniversary!!! cheers to more years of togetherness!
May 25th, 2007 at 10:17 am
(take two, at para ma-testing na rin si berries, hehe!)
i just wanted to say that this was a very beautiful post, toni! its poignancy took my breath away
happy anniversary, toni and d! lots more love and blessings to you 
May 25th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
wow ~ touched ako sa homily nung priest. grabe.
happy anniversary po sa inyo ^_^
May 25th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
You still love him after 4 uears
He is sure very lucky.
Happy anniversary to you both.
May 25th, 2007 at 3:25 pm
Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby, Toni! =)
May 25th, 2007 at 9:17 pm
Ain’t love grand? Happy anniversary and many more happier years to come! May you be blessed with long, healthy and happy life together!
May 27th, 2007 at 7:24 am
Happy Anniversary!
May 28th, 2007 at 1:19 am
CONGRATS TONI! Happy Anniversary…God Bless your Happy Home!
May 29th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
happy anniversary toni and H!
May you have a lifetime of wedded bliss.
May 30th, 2007 at 10:31 am
hi there! i chanced upon your site, and wow! and i thought that i just can’t lurk here. this tambayan is so warm, i can’t afford not to ask, would it be ok to add you on my blogroll?”
cheers!
May 30th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Ang galing naman nung speech ng mommy mo! Congrats, Toni and Husby. May the next four years be even better.
May 31st, 2007 at 12:02 pm
All the best to you both. Great memories to keep and more memories ahead to treasure.