Twenty-five years of marriage is no small feat—especially in a world where love often gets tested in ways we never expect. As I look back on my journey with Nate, I can truly say this has been more than just a love story. It's a testimony. One built on humble beginnings, hard-earned lessons, unwavering faith, and a commitment that only deepens with time.
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From Poverty to Purpose
Nate and I both came from challenging financial backgrounds, though our struggles arrived at different times in life. I grew up in a home where money was tight. My family relied on government assistance for years, and I witnessed firsthand what it meant to stretch every dollar. Thankfully, things improved by the time I reached adulthood and my mother no longer needed help from the system.
Nate’s experience was almost the reverse. As a young child, he lived a bit more comfortably, but the struggle came later—middle school through high school were some of his toughest years financially. He often jokes that he rode the "Struggle Bus," but the truth is, both of us came into our relationship with a deep understanding of what it meant to do without. That shared history gave us not only empathy for each other, but a strong desire to build something better—together.
Love at Full Speed
Some folks might say we rushed into things. Two weeks after meeting, we moved in together. Nine months later, we were married. And from day one, we merged everything—especially our finances. We opened joint bank accounts and have kept it that way ever since. There’s never been “his” money or “my” money—it’s always been ours.
Now, I know that’s not for everyone. I’m not here telling people to follow in our exact footsteps. But it worked for us. It taught us trust, transparency, and teamwork from the very beginning.
Lavish Love, Big Surprises
One thing about Nate—he’s always been generous to a fault. If I mention something I want, he doesn’t hesitate. In fact, he went all out when we were just getting started. Within our first year together, he gifted me a diamond pendant worth around $1,400. On our second anniversary? A $3,000 diamond bracelet. And this was way back in 1998-99, when he was only 21 years old and just starting his career!
Looking back, we laugh at how extra he was. Nate now says young men should ease into it—maybe start with a charm bracelet and build over time. Otherwise, you might end up buying a whole Mercedes Benz as a birthday gift… like he eventually did for me!
Our Age Gap? No Big Deal
I was 23 when we met, and Nate was 19—yes, I’m three and a half years older. Some people had things to say about that, even throwing comments like “she looks like his mama.” It used to sting, but now I just shake my head and laugh. Because what we have isn’t about age—it’s about connection, respect, and shared vision.
We've Been Tested—But Never Broken
Over 25 years, life has handed us our share of trials. Moments that could’ve shaken the foundation of any marriage. But instead of breaking us, they built us. Every hard season brought us closer. Every disagreement forced us to communicate better. Every valley made us appreciate the mountaintops.
I wouldn’t erase a single moment. Why? Because they’ve all contributed to the deep bond we share today. We've made it this far not just because we love each other, but because we’ve chosen each other—over and over again.
Prayer: The Glue That Holds Us Together
If I had to give one piece of advice to couples—especially Christian couples—it would be this: pray together. Prayer has been the bedrock of our marriage. It’s not just something we do when things go wrong—it’s how we stay connected to each other and to God.
Even when we’re upset—especially then—we turn to prayer. And let’s be real: sometimes your spouse says something that cuts deep, something low, and the last thing you want to do is look at them, let alone hold their hand and pray. In those moments, I go into my own space and cry out to the Lord. But when we come back together in prayer, it feels like heaven moves. That kind of unity? It’s powerful. Like the Bible says, one can chase a thousand, but two can put ten thousand to flight.
Twenty-five years in, and I still get excited thinking about our journey. We didn’t just build a marriage—we built a legacy. Through ups and downs, tears and laughter, challenges and victories, we kept showing up. For each other. For our family. For the life we dreamed of when we were just two kids trying to make it.
So to anyone out there wondering if real love still exists—yes, it does. But it takes faith, forgiveness, patience, and prayer. And if you’ve got that? You’ve got everything.
