Happy 60th anniversary, Mom & Dad!

Today, September 3, is my parent's 60th wedding anniversary.

I created a special album for them, and printed the pages and put them in a white binder I purchased from Dollarama as Michael's Craft store had nothing suitable.

The binder has a clear sleeve on the outside, so last night I made a cover for it.

It was fun to work with paper again. It's a medium I enjoy crafting with!

I made each of these pages, plus others, using copies of their original wedding photos.

I layered the photos in the Picmonkey program which is free online.

I upgraded to Royale version so there are more options to choose from.

I always thought my parents looked like movie stars!

My mom was 22 and my dad was 26. They were married in a pretty garden setting at the homestead in Amity Oregon, where my mom was born. I think it's very romantic to be married at the place where you were born and raised. However, my mom dearly wanted a church wedding. At the time, for some strange and unknown reason, the church she attended would not perform marriages in the sanctuary. So you either had to marry at the justice of the peace, rent a hall, or use a garden.

Times changed shortly after that, fortunately, and that church now performs marriages in a proper church building. Another thing that church wouldn't allow, and still don't, is a wedding ring. To me, marriage is a very solemn and holy occasion, and a wedding band represents that state.

I designed this layered card in Picmonkey. It was fun!

I used a lace background, and added a cropped photo of my parents with their wedding gifts.

They opened them after the wedding ceremony, had cake and punch, and dashed off on a trip to the Oregon coast for their honeymoon. They spent a few nights there, then returned to my mom's home with a rented trailer. They loaded up my mom's personal items, including a bedroom set, and headed for the Canadian border along a one lane highway. They arrived late in the evening, and were halted by the border guards to see the paper work for the trailer. Alas, my dad had neglected to fill out any paper work, so they were there until nearly midnight listing the items.

My parents began life in a rented apartment in a house on W 12th Avenue in Vancouver.

The house is still standing. They were on the second floor, and had to share a bathroom.

My mom had a hard time adjusting to city life on a very busy street.

But I'm so glad she and my dad stuck it out all these years.

There were good times and bad, as in every life.

Their love for God made them strong and helped cement their marriage.

In all situations they looked to Him for their strength and hope.

After their first son, Martin James, died due to a premature birth in 1957, they raised four daughters; Loretta, Leona, Marlene, and Marie. They bought three houses in their married life, including a brand new modern home on Monmouth Avenue in Vancouver, close to Sir Wilfred Grenfell School which we all attended. Their 4th home is a condo where they still reside in Burnaby, and where they have been for 17 years.

Happy 60th anniversary, dear Mom and Dad!

God bless you on your special day!

By Loretta Houben