In the small town of Oakdale, Louisiana, our story began amidst controversy, scandal, and gossip (and rightfully so). Both deeply wounded and emotionally and spiritually immature, our happily ever after was anything but certain, but one truth remained constant— we loved each other. So... we set off on a remarkable, imperfect journey where passion and devotion collided and defied the insurmountable odds. Through trials and triumphs, our bond has remained unshakable.

On one of the darkest days of our marriage, Gary knelt beside me, and in a moment of unexpected insight, he said, "I know it’s hard right now and you want to quit, but if you just stick with me, I'll make it worth your while." Despite how hopeless I felt that day, those words pierced my soul and a glimmer of hope emerged bringing solace and comfort to my heart, challenging every move my emotions were urging me to make.

Yall, that man kept his promise! I am so glad we didn't give up on each other.

In December, a love story 25 years in the making will unfold as we renew our commitment to each other. Gary and I have weathered life's unpredictable highs and lows with unwavering faith and resilience, reminding us of the beauty and fragility of the tapestry of life. Our union is a powerful testament to the power of love and God's redemption.

Our story isn't a fairy tale, as most aren't, but by God's grace, we can reflect on our legacy shaped by our undying love for each other and our family, fights and make ups, laughter, tears, heartache, loss, grief, sickness, health, betrayal, good and tough times, forgiveness, and cherished memories— a love that stood strong in the face of every challenge and test. In a whirlwind of chaos, we found peace and purpose, and before we knew it, God transformed our mess into a beautiful life. We are profoundly grateful.

I believe we will run on and see what the end gon' be.

#alwaysartiste25

PS: I asked him if he wanted to add anything to our story. His reply? "I don't know"

Circa early 1997. He woke me up out of a dead sleep and asked, "Do you want to get married?" I replied, "Sure" and went back to sleep. He planned to surprise me with a ring that Christmas, but he told my mom first, and she ruined it by telling me and even described the ring. I still pretended to be surprised though. :)

Cleanliness

Family Oriented

Love food (even though he eats more)

Love Cruising

Love to Par-taaaa

Love Guns (duhhh we live in Texas)

Proud Americans

Love God

Love Dogs

Homebodies (we are both ok with doing nothing)

Whatever we've gone through, we've always been best friends.

We love peace and quiet

I'm emotional and express my feelings. He hides his.

I have extreme trust issues. He trusts everybody.

I'm a big spender. He's frugal and cleans up my messes.

I think romance is corny. He loves it.

I'm more hospitable.

I hate exercising. He loves the gym.

I'm emotionally supportive. It's awkward for him.

I'm very patriotic. He's like whatever. They're all lying.

I'm a good communicator. He's not.

I address things head on. He's "if it ain't broke don't fix it."

I avoid human interaction often. He never meets a stranger.

I get to the point. He drags out the story.

I'll cut you off without warning. He's more forgiving.

I'm inpatient. He's more patient.

I'm not naturally a neat person. He is to the point of OCD. (we have to even put the trash in the trash can a certain way).

I'm outspoken and will get in your face. He's more reserved.

I'm not moody. He's low-key "bipolar."

I like to fly by the seat of my pants. He needs a plan.

I don't mind change. It throws him completely off.

I hate tv. He loves it loud.

I'm a risk taker. He's like "what if?"

I'm nosey. He minds the business that pays him.

I'm balanced. He brings his work home.

I'm more giving, and finally,

I'm always accused of being bossy and "wearing the pants" in the relationship because I'm the outspoken one. HOWEVER, if you don't do it his way, its not done properly. He wants what he wants done when he wants it done exactly the way he said it should be done. Every single major decision we've made throughout our marriage has been his call.

He's scared of spiders.

I'm quick-tempered. He's mild.

He takes longer to get ready.

He's the better cook.

I'm usually the first or the only one to apologize.

I was more lenient on the kids than he liked.

Our favorite land vacay is Vegas.

I have a "G" tattoo on my left ring finger.

He's 11.5 years older than I am.

My nickname for him is stud muffin and velvet.

His worst habit is cigars.

My worst habit is forgetfulness and absent-mindedness.

I want to run for public office, but he's dead set against it.

He almost got eaten by an alligator when he was a kid.

I'M THE BETTER DRIVER despite what he tells you.

I like hood music (radio edit of course).

His only concern regarding this renewal is: His attire and the song he's walking out on. 🤦🏾‍♀️

We didn't have money for a honeymoon when we got married.

My brother burned our chicken for our wedding, and we had no money to buy more.

My dad was supposed to buy the meat for our wedding, but instead, he brought half a hog and a pot of chitterlings mixed with collard greens. 🤢

My ring wasn't ready on the day of our wedding. Our car was broken, so I walked to the jewelry store and back 3 times before the wedding started.

My cousin paid for us a night at the hotel after we got married, and we put our things down and went straight to sleep.

I want to die first because the thought of living without him often haunts me.