Family: All My Love And Devotion: A True Story

All My Love And Devotion: A True Story

Written by Ellen M. DuBois

They met at a dance in 1931, and six months later, on January 30, 1932, were married. I am speaking of my Nana and Pop, (grandparents), who for sixty years were not just married, but were in love. Really IN LOVE.

I have chronicled their love through some very touching cards, (I found them in a box, tucked away with a lifetime of memories), that were shared between them before and after my father was born. Most are from my Grandfather to my Grandmother. He drove and worked and she was home so his ability to buy cards for her was greater.

Five years into their marriage they had a son. Their love was as strong as ever...growing stronger with each passing day, month and year as you will see.

I was witness to their special love for thirty years of my life, and for four more after repparttar passing of my "Pop" as I watched my Nana's heart slowly die of emptiness. She was literally, without her other half. If you believe in soul mates, they were soul mates in repparttar 111657 truest sense.

I don't have every sentiment ever expressed between repparttar 111658 two of them, (those are theirs alone), but was lucky enough to find a box of perfectly kept cards, beginning in repparttar 111659 year 1932.

1932: A Valentine To My Wife "I chose this loving Valentine especially for you, Because it's meant for Someone Who means more than others do; and it simply says, "I Love You", but within that little phrase, is a message that will tell you That I'll care for you Always!" Signed: To repparttar 111660 loveliest girl in repparttar 111661 world- And loveliest Valentine Always- Love and Devotion, Hubby Atomic Equation XXXXXX XXXX = XXXXXXXX= million

1935: To My Darling Sweetheart On Your Christmas Birthday A Birthday Message To My Wife "There's so much that's dear about you, There's so much that's sweet and fine, And so many special reasons- That I'm proud and glad you're mine -- It's no wonder that I love you so- And specially want to say - That I'm wishing happiness for you- With all my heart today." Signed: To repparttar 111662 dearest wife in repparttar 111663 world. A few Birthdays have gone. I wish from my heart that we will spend a hundred more together. From Hubby

1947: With Love to My Wife on our Anniversary, You're Very Dear to Me "I never knew what love could mean- Till repparttar 111664 day that I met you- I never knew that life could hold-A happiness so true- And on this day that's ours alone- From all other days apart- I send my very deepest love- To you, my own Sweetheart" Signed: This message expresses Everything. With all my Love and Devotion, Al.

1948: Mother's Day, To repparttar 111665 greatest Mother in repparttar 111666 World To My Wife and Sweetheart For Mother's Day "Perhaps you think that I don't know repparttar 111667 countless things you do- To make our home repparttar 111668 happy home I proudly share with you. But, believe me, Dear, I love you- As a Sweetheart and a Wife, And on Mother's Day I'm wishing you- The deepest joys in life!" Signed: With all my Love and Devotion, For repparttar 111669 Loveliest Mother and Wife in repparttar 111670 World. - Hubby 1932 to 1954: (22 years married) An Anniversary Greeting for repparttar 111671 Dearest Wife in repparttar 111672 World "I cherish our Anniversary, Dear, Much more than you could guess...It stands for repparttar 111673 day that brought me YOU And all my happiness! I treasure every memory, Dear, Still more as time goes by, And look to repparttar 111674 happy future That we'll share, Dear, you and I!" Signed: I just think it's wonderful. They have been all so lovely. With all my Love and Devotion, To my Sweetheart and Wife. Al.

1954: For My Wonderful Wife On Mother's Day "Your love is a precious thing to me, A comfort in times of stress, The reason for all I ever do, My pride- and my happiness...And, Darling, on Mother's Day this year I feel as I always do: The sweetest gift that a man could know Is a wonderful Wife like you." Signed: The greatest of them all. With my Love and Devotion. A million kisses. Hubby

1954: To My Husband on our 22nd Anniversary To My Husband on Our Anniversary "This Anniversary, Darling, Is especially dear to me, It stands for precious memories- And for happy years to be...It proves that love like ours Just deepens year by year, It makes me realize even more How much I love you, Dear!" Signed: With all My Love and Kisses. I only hope we spend many more Happy Anniversary's together. Hon

1965: To My Loving Wife From Hubby, To Mom On Easter Sunday Easter Greetings to my Wife "You are repparttar 111675 Keeper of My Heart." "You are repparttar 111676 keeper of my heart-- If all my dreams came true You are repparttar 111677 one-- and you alone -- That I would bring them to; So may this Easter greeting, Dear, One thought alone impart -- You are, and you will always be- The keeper of my heart." Signed: With all my Love and Devotion, With all Easter Wishes, Hubby (Over) "Do you want a hammer and a peg? Or do you want an Easter Egg? Or do you want repparttar 111678 sky to be blue or gray? So you and me can be so gay. On this Easter Day, O' mom, even if sky is not blue, I will always, forever and ever, love you!" Sonny (my father)

Sunset in the Rear-view Mirror

Written by Sheryl Simons

Sunset in repparttar

Rear-view Mirror

Driving home from work late one night, I couldn't help but notice it was almost dusk. I was headed North, and driving right along with repparttar 111656 setting sun on my left. With a slight headache, my thoughts drifted through repparttar 111657 day at work that was over. I work at a domestic violence shelter, and it seems one can never know from one moment to repparttar 111658 next what to expect. As I drive home at repparttar 111659 end of repparttar 111660 day, it is not unusual for me to think of my life, and all repparttar 111661 changes that have come about. I once was repparttar 111662 victim of domestic violence, myself. I was never beaten. I was threatened, had things broken, yelled at, but these were not something I could easily identify as abuse. I'd always thought abuse was hitting; a physical pain. The sky was slowly darkening and repparttar 111663 feathery wisps of clouds turned to pretty pastels. I continued to keep one eye on repparttar 111664 clouds as I watched repparttar 111665 road and let my mind wander. I often had tried to reason with my husband. He need not yell. I could hear what he was trying to say. I just didn't always agree with him. Did we have to think repparttar 111666 same way about everything? Was that what it meant to be submissive, I often wondered. I usually acquiesced. He was repparttar 111667 head of repparttar 111668 household, I was repparttar 111669 wife. That was my role. He plowed ahead, I tried to follow. Often I felt put-down and betrayed; repparttar 111670 butt of his jokes. He actually seemed to enjoy putting me down, but my own husband wouldn't do that, would he? He loved me! I must be repparttar 111671 cause of our problems. Sometimes he used my ideas and passed them off as his. If it was my idea, how could it be right? Silly me, I was repparttar 111672 stupid one. It was just easier to agree and go along, than fight. I wanted peace at any cost. I didn't know it cost giving up myself. But no one else seemed to notice, no one but me. And life had been so promising. I'd been a good student. I hadn't made many of repparttar 111673 mistakes my classmates had made. I thought I was steady and a common sense thinker, but why couldn't I do anything right in my marriage? Our three children were not repparttar 111674 butt of his violent temper, I was. As long as it was directed at me, it didn't hurt them, did it? My car left repparttar 111675 freeway, and I was now headed in repparttar 111676 opposite direction of repparttar 111677 beautiful sunset that was transpiring. I hated to leave repparttar 111678 florescent sky behind, but my trip must continue. I was headed home. Home now, was not with repparttar 111679 man I married. After 16 years, I'd left him, unable through counseling to find any way to reconcile our miserable marriage. When we went to repparttar 111680 pastors and counselors, I again was repparttar 111681 'bad guy'. By this time I was convinced that he didn't love me. I realized how evil he had really been. My family was devastated by repparttar 111682 divorce. No one in our family 'divorced'. It wasn't done. My family's shame was almost worse than repparttar 111683 bad marriage. But there were secrets that even they didn't know. I tried to explain, but I couldn't bring myself to relive repparttar 111684 details. If they wouldn't trust me, I was on my own. Couldn't anyone understand? I learned to live with that pain, as well. I had never felt so lonely.

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