Today marks 20 years of marriage to my best friend, Jimi. Reaching two decades together feels like such a huge, beautiful milestone. Looking back over the years, we have walked through so much side by side—celebrating the incredible highs, navigating the difficult and scary moments, and upholding our promise of “in sickness and in health.”
Our story actually began long before our wedding day. I first met Jimi back in junior high. Over the years, our life paths continued to cross time and time again until we finally started dating in our early 20s. Looking back, I truly believe we were always meant to be together. We just had to wait for the exact right time when we were both ready to build this life together. Everything we experienced individually prepared us to become true partners. Life has thrown so much at us over the years, but every step of the way, we teamed up and made it through—sharing in the fears, the tears, the laughter, and the overwhelming joy.
The Daily Habits That Keep Us Grounded
When people ask what makes a marriage last 20 years, I think about the simple, everyday rhythms that keep us connected.
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Our Daily Walks: Walking together is something we did even before we officially started dating. Before we were together, Jimi told me that my vision loss never bothered him because it meant he got to hold my hand. All these years later, we still go on our daily walks, and we still hold hands.
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Starting and Ending the Day Together: We make it a priority to go to bed at the same time every night. Even if one of us falls asleep first, ending the day together creates a sense of comfort and safety.
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Small Tokens of Love: We always kiss goodbye before either of us leaves the house, and we tell each other “I love you” multiple times throughout the day.
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Gratitude for the Little Things: We never take each other for granted. Whether it’s help around the house or a quiet act of kindness just because, we make a point to express appreciation every day.
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A Safe Place to Be Myself: Jimi is the very first person I want to talk to, laugh with, and lean on. In our marriage, I can be 100% authentically myself without any fear of judgment. When challenges arise, we face them as a team rather than against one another.
20 Years of Growth, Adventure, and Family
We have both grown so much as individuals over the past two decades, and I am deeply grateful that we have grown together through every season.
We’ve built a life filled with incredible memories. From going to Six Flags and the beach on our honeymoon, to renewing our vows in Las Vegas for our 10th anniversary, we have embraced every adventure. Today, we celebrated 20 years by going bowling and enjoying a wonderful dinner together, and we are looking forward to heading back to Vegas to celebrate this amazing landmark!
Beyond all the adventures, one of our greatest joys has been raising our two amazing kids together. I couldn’t be more proud of the human beings they have become, or of the team Jimi and I formed to raise them.
Reflecting on these 20 years, my heart is simply full of gratitude. Jimi is my best friend, my anchor, and my greatest supporter. I am so grateful that I get to spend this life walking hand in hand with him—today and for all the years to come.