Year 1
To look back now, I see we’ve come so far,
Our first year seems so very long ago.
But like those packing peanuts in my car,
The memories, from me, will never go.
The first year brought some questions and some doubts
Would I see war? Did I know how to clean?
But one thing we were ever sure about,
“I love you,” was a thing we’d always mean.
In that first year so much was still unknown,
We had a lot to figure out (still do)
But I was glad to forge the path now shown,
Because I would be taking it with you.
To say that I am glad that we are wed:
No truer statement ever has been said.
Year 2
No truer statement ever has been said:
My love for you has never ceased to grow.
I thought I’d known what love meant, but instead,
Our second year showed there was more to know.
As we began to settle into life,
You learned you had to tell me what you wish.
You showed me what it meant to love a wife,
And sometimes that just meant to clean a dish.
Those first few confrontations were a chore,
You were not used to speaking out your mind.
But as you opened up I welcomed more,
Learning to serve you, I could get behind.
Throughout our second year truth was the star,
We’ve ever grown to come to where we are.
Year 3
We’ve ever grown to come to where we are,
Our third year brought some changes of its own.
I started teaching; stopped selling cigars,
And that’s the year that we bought our first home.
Some bricks and mortar, walls and carpeting,
Have no real meaning when they’re left alone.
But you could turn that cold unliving thing,
Into a place we proudly called our home.
We painted rooms, changed lights, I “flipped the deck.”
You decorated with such love and care.
We made the space our own, each little speck
But really it was “home” ‘*** you were there.
And as into our fourth year we were led,
We had some plans, but followed God’s instead.
Year 4
We had some plans, but followed God’s instead,
We both had jobs; we wanted kids but when?
And after all, you liked to plan ahead,
So we said “wait” and God said “Think again.”
Despite our planning and some science too,
We found that our “two” soon would become “three”
I was delighted, quickly so were you,
(After a few stunned tears were shed on me.)
Throughout our lives, we’ve ever sought control,
And God has said, “No, I’ll take it from here.”
Once we relinquish and make Him our goal,
That His way’s better always soon comes clear.
And with the first of four sent like a dove,
Our family’s grown in number and in love.
Year 5
Our family’s grown in number and in love,
Each daughter born, another to hold dear.
But more than just our kids sent from above,
Our friends are family too, that much is clear.
Sometimes we take the time to think things through
We talk, we pray, we plan, we do the work.
We do not make the call unless it’s true,
But then sometimes we up and move to York.
When we moved here, it wasn’t too clear why,
And yet, despite that, God was in the move.
He blessed us with true friends, both you and I,
Who’ve helped us both our marriage to improve.
Year five left us more than a house to show,
With friendships that have watched and helped us grow.
Year 6
With friendships that have watched and helped us grow,
We’ve learned to trust in God, and His good plan.
And though what was to come we did not know,
He was still sovereign, we’d soon understand.
We had one child; we knew we wanted more,
But thought that we should wait a little while.
And yet, despite our plans, just as before,
We were surprised again, as was God’s style.
This second gift from God, as with the first,
Came to us sooner than we’d thought was wise.
But here again, a line we’d well-rehearsed,
Though often us, nothing could God surprise.
As He has o’er and o’er displayed His love,
Our faith has ever grown in God above.
Year 7
Our faith has ever grown in God above,
As of his love and care we’ve been assured.
And understanding what it means to love,
Has grown as through some changes we’ve endured.
One thing that’s changed a lot over the years,
My jobs (my resumé is very long).
But even as I’ve changed jobs and careers,
Your love and your respect have remained strong.
As I have tried and tried to find my place,
And tried again only to soon abort,
One thing that’s ever with me in the race,
Is knowing I can count on your support.
No matter what may change I’m fine, I know,
With your respect a shelter when winds blow.
Year 8
With your respect a shelter when winds blow,
We’ve weathered though some storms caused us to lurch.
And through this trip to where we do not know,
We’ve had the steadfast anchor of our church.
Year eight began and found us once again,
Embarking on a new uncharted course.
We joined a group of young ladies and men,
To plant a church; we started with such force.
Over the years, people have come and gone,
The church has seen its share of pain and strife.
But one thing that has helped me struggle on,
Is doing so united with my wife.
While through it all few things have stayed the same.
God’s taught us to rely on His great name.
Year 9
God’s taught us to rely on His great name,
A lesson sometimes difficult to learn.
One thing that’s taught us how His grace to claim,
Is our four daughters, each a gift in turn.
Our girls are treasures, precious to behold.
They love to dance and sing, they love the arts,
They love to hear our families’ tales retold,
And like all Baileys, always laugh at farts.
But it’s not all rainbows and butterflies,
We struggle to stay patient with their sin.
But if we see them through the Father’s eyes,
The grace He’s shown to us flows from within.
Our daughters bring us joy, too much to tell,
As we have sought to raise our family well.
Year 10
As we have sought to raise our family well,
Our life has taken many twists and turns.
At ten years in, so much to us befell,
And there was much of marriage we had learned.
When newly married, friends had said to us,
As we were struggling to make it through,
“When ten years married, then you will adjust.”
Their words, though hard-heard then, have proven true.
In early years we tried to figure out,
Just what it meant to truly love someone.
But now our love was true, we had no doubt.
Although we know the work is never done.
Since then our marriage hasn’t been the same,
With sacrifice and love to fan the flame.
Year 11
With sacrifice and love to fan the flame,
Our marriage is a beacon in the night.
And so when challenges at work soon came,
I knew with you I could withstand the fight.
I thought I’d known what God called me to be,
An educator in “the good and true.”
But soon it was quite clear for us to see,
That God was calling me to something new.
So much of me had been wrapped up inside,
Of education and the parts therein.
You helped me see while walking by my side,
Identity is not in work, but Him.
Through struggles and when things are going well,
Our love’s a story that is sweet to tell.
Year 12
Our love’s a story that is sweet to tell,
The triumphs that we’ve shared along the way,
And our fair share of challenges as well,
Have made our marriage what it is today.
At some point when we took a look around,
We realized ours was not the newest love.
We helped some younger couples and we found
That giving counsel fit us like a glove.
Pre-marriage counsel’s caused me to reflect,
On how far we have come in these few years.
We’ve ever grown in love and in respect,
And though not easy, I that growth hold dear.
And so, the good and bad, the thick and thin,
I’d gladly go through all these years again.
Year 13
I’d gladly go through all these years again,
Despite the bumps we’ve had along this ride.
I’d face the worst of it and shout “Amen!”
So long as I can do so by your side.
Some struggles I have faced have been unique,
Not from the outside but from ghosts within.
But when my melancholy makes me weak,
I feel your love and find some strength therein.
Though darkness seeks to overtake my mind,
And drown me in a sea of fears and doubt,
I look above the surface and I find,
You ready stand on shore to pull me out.
I’ll gladly see this journey to its end,
With you my bride, my life, my love, my friend.
Year 14
With you my bride, my life, my love, my friend,
I’ve seen how sweet a person’s life can get.
But looking on this last year, I contend,
That God had more of trust to teach us yet.
In one sense, this has been our hardest year:
Heart surgery, sickness, and broken bones.
And yet despite it all we’ve never feared,
Because we were not facing it alone.
“Better or Worse?” was asked, we said “I do.”
And through this “worse” year, that’s still my reply.
Each challenge has the lesson taught anew,
To on each other and on God rely.
And though this year has left us with some scars,
To look back now, I see we’ve come so far.
Year 15
To look back now, I see we’ve come so far.
No truer statement ever has been said.
We’ve ever grown to come to where we are,
We had some plans, but followed God’s instead.
Our family’s grown in number and in love,
With friendships that have watched and helped us grow.
Our faith has ever grown in God above,
With your respect a shelter when winds blow.
God’s taught us to rely on His great name,
As we have sought to raise our family well.
With sacrifice and love to fan the flame,
Our love’s a story that is sweet to tell.
I’d gladly go through all these years again,
With you, my bride, my life, my love, my friend.
