Thursday, June 26, 1975, was the day that changed my life forever. For that I am grateful!!! 33 years ago tonight, Tonia and I were married in our home church First Baptist Church of West Hollywood, at the corner of Taft St. and 441. We stayed just 4 miles from our present downtown Hollywood home, for the first night of our Honeymoon. It was and still is the Marco Polo in Sunny Isles. Just south of Hollywood. Today as I drive by it is definitely dated and not the contemporary high rise it was in that day. But it was the beginning of a journey that has been nothing less than phenomenal. That night, as this young 19 year old, college student opened all the envelopes with the anticipation of enough gift money to take us to Disney World the next day for our Honeymoon; I would have never imagined that 33 years later, I would be more in love with my high school sweetheart than on my wedding night. I would have never dreamed I would think she is more beautiful today than that day at the age of 19. But I really do!!! Actually even more so. I didn't dream, I would be pastoring a church like Oasis, in 3 locations, every night of the week, 70 countries from around the world. I had grown up in a very conservative, legalistic church background, in a South Florida that was more deep south. Nothing like today. But I love it and even more I love Tonia for being willing to take this journey with me and not just support me in it, but has had so much to do with what God has done here. She has been an awesome Pastor's wife and help mate/soul mate. I would have never dreamed I would have 3 grown sons, and two grandsons. You just can't think that far ahead when you're 19 years old on your wedding night. I would have never dreamed, we would have traveled to the Mediterranean, Italy, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Canada, practically every state in the USA and Israel two times. This was a kid who grew up in a 2 bedroom house in old Miramar, with 5 other family members, one bath and about 899 sq. feet. Never saw a mountain till my senior year. Never left Florida till I was 18 years old. I didn't see snow until my freshman year of College.
We have had our ups and downs like any couple. We have our disagreements, and our moments. We get irritated at each other. Our sons were normal (are) boys who got into trouble and didn't always live up to what some people felt the Pastor's Kids should be. As if Pastor's kids chose that role. But I am so proud of them and the men they have become. Who would have dreamed one would live in New York City, one in Indian Harbor Beach and one just a mile away in downtown Hollywood. We have had family disappoint us, friends let us down, watched other pastor friends and their families fall apart. We have journeyed through the dark days like anyone's family.
But 33 years later tonight, I would not trade the vows I made on June 26,1975 to Tonia Felice Gilmore. I would do it all over again. I said, "Till death do us part"...I hope to continue to live out that vow. That day in June, changed my life forever and I am so glad it did. I LOVE YOU BABE, MORE THAN EVER !!!!!!! THANKS FOR YOUR LOVE FOR ME, OUR BOYS, OUR GRANDSONS, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, OUR CHURCH FAMILY AND SO MANY OTHERS YOU HAVE SHARED YOURSELF WITH, THESE 33 YEARS. YOU'RE A SAINT!!!!
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE OTHER POST THAT GOES WITH THIS AND SOME GREAT PICS OF MY LOVELY WIFE OF 33 YEARS .
Comments
Now that was beautiful. Well written, passionate and honest. Thanks for sharing your heart with us Pastor Guy. Also...thanks for being such a great model of how to love, cherish & protect your wife...just as Christ said we should model how He loves the church. I pray your love for each other only grows & in another 33 years we'll be in awe of your relationship yet still. Blessings 2 u both!!!
Posted by: Warren C | June 27, 2008 at 01:47 PM
That's what i am talking about! That's a story worth telling you guys are great God bless you both! and hoping you have another 33yrs...(you can do it my grandparents did or came pretty close(66)) and they were one of those "until death do us part" couple.
Posted by: Sophia | June 28, 2008 at 09:27 PM