Our 37th wedding anniversary.

I still say "I do!"

Then...

....and now!

Me more, my darling!  xo

Our 36th wedding anniversary.

April 3, 1982

My happy wedding day!

The young couple, very much in love.

Looking back 36 years, it seems like a dream.

I'm thankful Robert chose me to marry, and that he has been a sweet and gentle husband all these years.

I'm thankful to God for allowing our paths to cross.

Marriage is a beautiful process which reflects God's holy love to the church, the bride of Christ. It is for consummation between one man and one woman, for as long as they both shall live. It is a deep mystery and one not to be taken lightly.

My dear family, who loved and supported Robert and I.

I'll love you forever, my sweet bridegroom and husband.

By Loretta Williams Houben

Our 34th anniversary

April 3, 2016

Our 34th anniversary.

We ate dinner in the evening at Top's Restaurant on Kingsway; one of our favourite dining places. We would go here regularly in 1981 for hot cocoa after church service, in those good old days when the church we once attended was at the corner of Rupert and Kingsway. Robert drove the church bus for the cub Scouts to Alice Lake this weekend, so I was by myself until he got home at 5 pm. I kept myself occupied though doing genealogy research, and visiting my parents on Saturday. 

I find it hard to believe where the years have gone. It really doesn't seem like 34 years of living together; each year slides into the next, one day after another, just doing the simple things of life, but sharing it all together.

That's the joy of marriage! And we believe like the Bible teaches; marriage is for one man and one woman, united for life, until death parts them.

It's very old fashioned indeed, but it's God's way.

Robert gave me a pretty bouquet of a dozen crimson roses after dinner.

"A threefold cord is not quickly broken."

Ecclesiastes 4:12

By Loretta Houben

35 years ago...our very first date.

March 7, 1981 (how very ancient that looks) Robert finally took me on a date.

It wasn't his idea though. 

Jake and Effie Fiddick, who attended our church, decided to invite us both over for dinner.

They called me on the phone and gave me the invitation.

I thought it was weird that they spoke to me.

Well, Effie did. I asked if she meant my whole family to come, as she was unclear, and she said, oh no...just you.

So I asked how I was to get to their house on Greta Street, and she said "Robert will pick you up, if that's OK with you."

And that's the beginning, or rather, continuation of the story, as back in December 1980 when my cousin, Judy Brutka, came up for a visit, she prompted me to invite Robert over for tea after evening service at church. She even said if I'd do it, she would come to church.

Oh the memories....those happy golden years!

The above photo was taken in July 1981 at Portland OR campmeeting.

By Loretta Houben

30 years ago...our new IBM PC!

30 years ago!!!!!!

I find it incredibly difficult to believe that we've had a personal computer for 30 years! I remember this one: we were so proud of it. It only had GREEN FONT on a black screen. No colour, no photos, no video and the WWW was unheard of although Robert did try to explain to me that it was coming in the future. At least, he told me about it in the early 1990's and said that by 1994 I would be able to read newspapers and books online, and also to see in COLOUR. I didn't believe him. He also mentioned that sometime within the next decade a person would be able to buy and sell online. I didn't believe him. And I remember seeing blurred and slow moving video clips at a conference in the early 1990's. I never thought I'd live to see the day of YouTube, eBay, Facebook, let alone seeing it all on smart phones. We have certainly evolved!
PS: we also were the proud owners of a Dot Matrix Printer.

By Loretta Houben

Our 31st anniversary!

31 years ago today, on April 3, 1982, we were married.

It was a cold sleety day with lots of rain.

I remember being very miffed with the weather, something I still haven't got over!

This past weekend was really warm and very sunny, just as it should be in spring.

These photos were taken in Queen Elizabeth Park where Robert proposed to me on Nov 1, 1981.

This is the spot where Robert parked his little blue Volkswagon Beetle those many years ago.

The car with the duck is ours; a Toyota Corolla. That's me in the distance.

Happy anniversary, sweetheart! I still say "I do!"



Our 30th anniversary gift to each other...

Robert and I have always admired Hummel figurines.

Robert's mother, Ruth Houben, loved them.

She had a few but they were cracked.

We always wanted a few ourselves and while browsing in Fort Langley a few weeks ago, we came upon these lovely figurines which were only $45 each, so we bought all 3 of them for our anniversary gift to each other.

Aren't they sweet?

They are sitting on top of my piano on a linen embroidered runner from the Netherlands.

I just love them.

30 years ago today...

Robert and I, November 1981

(notice the grand 1980's fashion style and home decor)

Looking at these photos brings back the feeling of intense happiness I felt when Robert asked me to be his wife. The 1980's were the happiest times of my life.

It was 30 years ago tonight that Robert proposed to me in Queen Elizabeth Park near the rose gardens.

It was a bitterly cold Sunday night after church. He had asked me out, all by myself, without the usual group of young people. I was thrilled as Robert usually loved a crowd about, while I wished to be a little romantic once in a while!

We got into his little blue Volkswagen and drove down Kingsway to Top's Restaurant. We parked in the front but before I could open the door, Robert said, "I'm not very hungry. Would you like to go for a drive instead?" I was surprised because Robert always liked a snack after church! But I didn't mind a drive either, so I said sure. We wound up at the park, and parked in the dark near the rose gardens.

Robert chatted for a while and then he said he wanted to marry me. I was surprised for the second time that night. I couldn't believe it. We had been dating for 8 months and I thought he'd never ask. I said I'd like to marry him too! He then brought up the subject of no job, but that didn't concern me in the least. I told him I already had a date picked out; April 3, 1982.

Looking back I was quite naive, but also full of faith that everything would work out according to God's plan. Robert found full time work at the end of January 1982, and by that time I'd already bought my dress and made most of the wedding plans!
By Loretta Houben

Easter Photos from 1998 - 2000

April 4, 1999; Easter Sunday...Matthew and his basket, age 10.

Robert and Matthew, April 4, 1999. Easter Sunday and Robert's 40th birthday! (which is why Robert is in a porch picture!)

Loretta and Matthew; Easter Sunday, April 4th, 1999

Some of the clan on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1999: Matthew, Colin, Paul, Ashley

All of the clan...who knows why James is so unhappy?

Easter lunch at our house. (I don't have a picture of the adult table...maybe Robert's 40th birthday was too much for me?) April 4, 1999

Some of the clan...Easter, 1999 (the weird white line is my camera strap, alas)

Easter Sunday, April 23, 2000

Matthew and Loretta

Good Friday lunch at the Braun's home; April 21, 2000

Loretta Houben

Easter Photos from 1995 - 1997

Easter lunch at our home, March 30, 1997. (if you click on all the photos, you will really see the details well) I'm in a senitmental mood, so I'm scanning in all the Easter photos I can find. In the above photo, from left to right:

My Dad, Jack Williams; Leona; Matthew; Colin; Julie Matthews; Paul; Robert; my Mom, Susie Williams.

Matthew, age 8, with his Easter basket, which he always loved to hunt for.

Me and Matthew in our Easter best, March 30, 1997.

April 7, 1996; my parents, Susie & Jack Williams.

Easter lunch at my parent's home, April 7, 1996.

April 7, 1996; Matthew with his Easter basket. (notice his missing teeth)

April 16, 1995; Myself holding my niece, Ashley, and Matthew beside me.

Easter Sunday, April 16, 1995

Loretta Houben

Our 27th anniversary

Many years ago, way before I met Robert, I decided April 3rd was a lovely day to get married, I guess because I loved the month of April, and 3 is my favourite number. I confided this desire to my mom, and she looked at a perpetual calendar and informed me that I'd better hurry and find a man, as the next April 3rd to land on a Saturday was in 1982. I believe I decided on this date in 1977, so I had five years to find my Prince.

As the time narrowed, and there was only 1 1/2 years left, I began to sort of panic. My beautiful day would go past, and I wouldn't be married in it! But in the nick of time, my Prince came along, and I fell in love in March 1981. However, he was awful slow, and I thought I just might have to propose, when he popped the question on November 1st, 1981. Before he could finish talking, I told him I'd already picked the date.

He was extremely surprised, as he'd just lost his job, but I had no fears and not one care; my Prince had just proposed, and so what if we had to eat bread and butter and live in a basement suite? Nothing concerned me...I was in love and engaged!

Twenty seven years later, I still say "I do!"