31 YEARS AGO TODAY – WE SAID “WE DO” ♥MR. & MRS. RICHARD AND PAMELIA RHABURN.♥
It’s almost impossible to believe that a whole year has passed since we created and shared our 30th Anniversary Newsletter! We were celebrating 3 cherished decades of marriage, and giving thanks to all who had played a role in our lives since the day we became one on September 8, 1990. We were thanking God for having kept us, for watching over our union, and for blessing us in more ways than we could count. We were reflecting on the memories of loved ones who are no longer with us, but who we will never forget. We were doing all of this in the midst of a deadly pandemic, under circumstances vastly different than we could have ever imagined our 30th anniversary being celebrated.
Today – 365 days later – the pandemic is still looming, we have lost even more loved ones, and our anniversary celebration is again quite different than what “we” had planned for it to be. But you know what? We are even MORE grateful for our love, for our union, and for one another than we were a year ago today. We value and cherish our
friends and family – especially our children – our healthy & strong days, and all of our other non-material blessings more than ever before. Simply put, life has new meaning!
31 YEARS & COUNTING!
As we genuinely and sincerely say “Happy” 31st Anniversary to one another, we can’t help but think of all the ways in which we have supported and encouraged one another through this past year, all the ways in which we have leaned on one another, lifted one another’s spirits, gained an even greater respect for one another, forgiven and shown grace & understanding to one another, and found joy in one another’s company. We reflect on all the ways in which God has blessed us to be a blessing to others and the countless people who have blessed us. Instead of thinking about what could have been, or the plans we had for ourselves, we’ve chosen to thank Him for yesterday, appreciate today, and continue to take care of ourselves and one another in ways that will keep us here to see what else God has in store for us.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME! (and we can’t wait to see it!)
In the yesterdays of this past year, we’ve watched our baby girl – Ms. Krystal Patrice Rhaburn – move into her own place – enjoy her independence, and put her hard-earned college degree to work as she completed 2 years of
her Public Relations career. We’ve watched our son – Mr. Richard Rhaburn Jr. – grow his award-winning
landscaping business to unimaginable heights. We’ve watched all of our parents celebrate another year of life, we’ve gotten up day after day clothed in our right minds, able to move & breathe freely, and still in love with one another. We’ve watched our finances and income grow, as our debts diminished. We’ve been blessed! Today, we
celebrate another year of – not just being married – but of being happily married. And for the majority of the
remaining tomorrows of the year, we await the blessing of becoming grandparents, as our son prepares to welcome
his firstborn child – “Baby Bryant Alexander Rhaburn” this Christmas!! #TEAMHEALTHYBABY!
We end this newsletter by saying thanks be to God for another wonderful year as Mr. & Mrs. Rhaburn, for your
continued prayers, and for all of His many blessings.
Richard and Pamelia Rhaburn and one of the approx. 60 couples I photographed and interviewed my coffee-table Photography book “Always&Forever, Love” African American Success Stories of Marriages 20+ Years Strong. Visit Amazon.com to purchase your physical copy or ebook.
