As a starry-eyed teenager, I loved the song, “Young Love,” as sung by Sonny James on a record album we had in our home when I was when I was growing up.

Some years ago, I came across another song, sung by Sonny James. It is beautiful in a different way. Not about young love, but at the other end of the spectrum… mature love, filled with memories and appreciation of all the shared years.

When I found the song, I immediately thought of our dear friends, Art & Ella, who were approaching their 60^th wedding anniversary at the time. Since Art was sixteen years older than my Ian, and unwell, none of us dreamed that Ian would precede him in death.

It was 42 years ago today – February 13, 1982 – that Ian & I were married in Miller Chapel, at Prairie Bible Institute. Five years ago, we celebrated our 37^th anniversary, and even then we never dreamed he was so close to leaving us. Just 2½ weeks later, the Lord called him Home.

Ian and I never had much money, but we enjoyed a rich, abundant life together. We were blessed with seven children who have brought us great joy through the years, and who have all grown up to be adults we can be proud of. Not that we felt we could take credit for that… we were always very much aware that God, in His love and sovereignty, was leading and guiding us all the way.

Every couple imagines growing old together – don’t they? Ian and I were in that in-between time when some would consider us having grown old, and yet our youngest was only 19. We thought we would have more time together. But what we had was 37 years filled with precious memories and shared experiences.

Ian would deny this, but he was an artist, and created some treasures for each of us along the way. This picture shows our wedding cake, which was designed by Ian, baked by his mom, and decorated by his Aunt Maisie Hennan.

And this picture shows the card he made me for our first wedding anniversary/Valentine’s Day. If you are able to zoom in and read what he wrote, it might not make much sense until I explain that he was reading through my journals I had kept from the time I was fourteen. And the wiggly little girl he referred to in one verse was our firstborn, Irene, who was 6 weeks old.  

Here is the song by Sonny James. No matter where you are in your walk with your loved one – whether your beloved still walks with you in this life, or whether you are like me, and you walk in memories only – this song is for you.

When the Snow is on the Roses…