Four years ago today, I was seated in a limo reading a misalette. I was aching to get out of the car just to see if all the preparations were going well. My Mom insisted I stay inside the vehicle. I watched as friends and family started pouring into the church. I was very much excited yet also very much afraid. I was getting married in a few minutes.
Four years ago today, Fr. Ignacio shared a story about a huge sturdy tree that stood standing through hurricanes and earthquakes. One day, however, the tree just fell over. It was a beautiful day, there were no threats to make it fall. If you look closely into the tree however, you would see why it had fallen. Termites. The little monsters ate up the inside of the tree until the tree was weak inside, until the tree was no longer strong enough to hold itself up. It is the little things that can make or break a marriage, the priest shared in his homily.
Four years ago today, we heard the words “You may kiss the bride.” H leaned forward and gave me a sweet kiss on the lips, than enveloped me in a long and warm embrace. I cherish that first embrace as husband and wife much more than our first kiss. In each other’s arms, we found our true home.
Four years ago today, the Mother of the Bride gave a moving speech. My newlywed heart was touched deeply when Mama said:
I hope though that the love you have for each other will make you feel
protected but not smothered;
challenged but not threatened;
directed but not controlled;
wanted but not possessed.
It was encouragement she was giving and a lesson she was teaching. At that moment, I began to understand the richness and the boundaries of love.
Four years ago today, our post-ceremony outdoor pictorial had to be cut short as rain fell strongly from the sky. My husband and I ran through the rain, made it back to the reception area, drenched but still hand-in-hand, laughing. The old ones said the rain brings many blessings. With our fingers intertwined, my husband and I already knew that.
Happy 4th Year Wedding Anniversary, Husby. I love you very much.
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
cookie
May 24, 2007 at 9:20 am (17 years ago)Happy Anniversary to you both. May you remain like newly-weds for the rest of your lives. Cheers!!
Tina
May 24, 2007 at 10:08 am (17 years ago)Happy anniversary! =)
tin
May 24, 2007 at 10:44 am (17 years ago)Wishing you and your H many, many more blissful years together! God bless! *hugs*
Rachel
May 24, 2007 at 11:53 am (17 years ago)Happy Anniversary to you Ate and to your H! Ang cute naman ng posts mo tiyak kapag nabasa to ng hubby mo kikiligin yon! kilig to the bones! siguro ang dapat wag mawala sa isang relationship ung trust, respect and cyempre love tapos forever na. Godbless
star
May 24, 2007 at 12:24 pm (17 years ago)happy anniversary toni! cheers to many years of sturdiness and homey hugs
dang
May 24, 2007 at 1:05 pm (17 years ago)happy anniversary!!!stay in love..forever..! and let christ be the center of your marriage..teka para na ring speech..happy anniv!:)
leah
May 24, 2007 at 1:56 pm (17 years ago)congratulations…and may you have 400 more wonderfully full years ahead!!
watson
May 24, 2007 at 2:26 pm (17 years ago)How sweet… Happy Anniversary!
jojo
May 24, 2007 at 2:55 pm (17 years ago)toni, test lang ito…i tried to change my email address. here goes nothing…
Daphne
May 24, 2007 at 3:32 pm (17 years ago)Happy 4th year Anniversary!
Pao
May 24, 2007 at 3:39 pm (17 years ago)congratulations! i love reading about couples celebrating their anniversaries.
notsquare
May 24, 2007 at 4:21 pm (17 years ago)aaawww
congratulations on making it this far and i wish you more blessings forEVER 
*cheezzzyyy* hehe
lady cess
May 24, 2007 at 4:49 pm (17 years ago)wow.. how sweet
happy anniversary sa inyo 
vea
May 24, 2007 at 5:31 pm (17 years ago)happy anniversary, ate toni. best wished to you and your husby =)
mich
May 24, 2007 at 6:18 pm (17 years ago)happy anniversary toni! wishing you and H many many more blissful years together!
Apol
May 24, 2007 at 6:48 pm (17 years ago)sweet naman! Happy Anniversary, Toni!
karol
May 24, 2007 at 8:02 pm (17 years ago)happy anniversary! i love your mom’s speech. so true. more years to come.
macy
May 24, 2007 at 8:30 pm (17 years ago)happy anniversary! 😀
rach
May 24, 2007 at 9:17 pm (17 years ago)Happy Anniversary to both of you. Wishing you more happy and promising years ahead. God bless.
Tessa
May 24, 2007 at 11:00 pm (17 years ago)Happy Wedding Anniversary, Toni! I wish you all the best, it’s such a good thing that people like you are aware there are still things in this life that you have to be enormously grateful for, and that is the joy of being alive itself and having to enjoy these wonderful relationships we have with our loved ones. God bless you and your family, take care!!
Emer
May 25, 2007 at 12:02 am (17 years ago)HAPPY 4 YEARS to you and H! Love is the best glue in the universe!
Robin Lim
May 25, 2007 at 12:10 am (17 years ago)Happy anniversary
mari
May 25, 2007 at 1:46 am (17 years ago)happy anniv to you and dennis!
abby
May 25, 2007 at 2:03 am (17 years ago)happy anniversary husby and wifey!
Junnie
May 25, 2007 at 5:04 am (17 years ago)its not the years that you put into your life
its the life that you put into those number of years
happy marriage as always – today is a day to really celebrate!!!!
JO
May 25, 2007 at 5:56 am (17 years ago)happy 4th anniversary!!! cheers to more years of togetherness!
Meeyagirl
May 25, 2007 at 10:17 am (17 years ago)(take two, at para ma-testing na rin si berries, hehe!)
i just wanted to say that this was a very beautiful post, toni! its poignancy took my breath away
happy anniversary, toni and d! lots more love and blessings to you 
fionixe
May 25, 2007 at 12:38 pm (17 years ago)wow ~ touched ako sa homily nung priest. grabe.
happy anniversary po sa inyo ^_^
Diogenes
May 25, 2007 at 12:56 pm (17 years ago)You still love him after 4 uears 😉
He is sure very lucky.
Happy anniversary to you both.
smarie
May 25, 2007 at 3:25 pm (17 years ago)Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby, Toni! =)
iska
May 25, 2007 at 9:17 pm (17 years ago)Ain’t love grand? Happy anniversary and many more happier years to come! May you be blessed with long, healthy and happy life together!
Linnor
May 27, 2007 at 7:24 am (17 years ago)Happy Anniversary!
justice
May 28, 2007 at 1:19 am (17 years ago)CONGRATS TONI! Happy Anniversary…God Bless your Happy Home!
Christine
May 29, 2007 at 10:05 pm (17 years ago)happy anniversary toni and H!
May you have a lifetime of wedded bliss.
banggigay
May 30, 2007 at 10:31 am (17 years ago)hi there! i chanced upon your site, and wow! and i thought that i just can’t lurk here. this tambayan is so warm, i can’t afford not to ask, would it be ok to add you on my blogroll?”
cheers!
Connie
May 30, 2007 at 11:39 am (17 years ago)Ang galing naman nung speech ng mommy mo! Congrats, Toni and Husby. May the next four years be even better.
Leah
May 31, 2007 at 12:02 pm (17 years ago)All the best to you both. Great memories to keep and more memories ahead to treasure.