My husband, Randy, and I, pelted by rice, exit St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vesta following our May 15, 1982, wedding.
THIRTY-ONE. The number flits through my sleepy brain at 6:01 a.m. as my eyelids flicker and I begin to awaken on this May morning.
A cool breeze wafts through the open south window. Birds trill—the piercing voice of a cardinal, the methodical caw of a crow.
Traffic wheels by and a train rumbles blocks away.
I lie still, on my back, needing to get up and pee, but not wanting to disturb him. My husband. The man I married thirty-one years ago today.
I turn my head toward him, watch the gentle rise of his shoulders snugged beneath the polyester block quilt my Grandma Ida stitched for our wedding.
There is something comforting in lying here, watching him, knowing how much I love him. Still. After thirty-one years.
© Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Awwww…..Happy Anniversary!!!! Chris and I hit 31 in July so we are alike in yet another way. Hope your day is perfect in every way—just knowing that you have your best friend there to share it with ought to make it spectacular. Congrats!
Thank you, Beth Ann. I did recall that we also shared an anniversary year. So much in common…
Congratulations….Have a wonderful day.
And my dress was very similiar to yours! Just add a hoop! Oh, my! 🙂
Thank you. The dress was $82, off the rack from Maurice’s.
100.00 off the rack at Dayton’s in Rochester…
A Jessica McClintock….remember those?!!!
My kids laugh, think it looks like “Little House on The Praire”, which I have no problem with!
Those darned kids of ours…
Congratulations and happy anniversary to both of you, Audrey! I hope your husband reads this post; it’s beautiful.
He usually reads my posts. And thank you. I could have written about lots based on 31 years of marriage. But I wanted to keep it simple because sometimes less is more.
I just love that wedding photo. Congratulations to you Audrey and Randy on your wedding anniversary. What a journey! I hope you’ve enjoyed a wonderful celebration xx
That’s one of my favorite shots, too, one of those only candid ones shot by the photographer. I’m so glad wedding photography has changed to include more journalism style shots.
Not sure how we will celebrate. We have a furniture refinishing project we need to complete, so may just order a pizza and enjoy that with a beer before working on the table.
Very nice. Congratulations on your anniversary.
Thank you.
BTW Congrats on having a great picture. You (or someone) had the good sense to go with the conservative morning tuxedo in a classic color. No crushed blue frilly numbers to look back on 30 years later with some amount of embarrassment. *sigh*
Good point. Would that be you with the crushed blue frilly number? Just askin…
Happy anniversary, Audrey!!!
Thank you, Amy.
Congratulations!! Really 31 years, it seems like yesterday. I loved your dress then and still do now. I loved the picture with Uncle Mike and Grandma in it. Thanks for sharing your special day. Love you.
I know. Hard to believe it’s been 31 years already. Time passes so quickly. Yes, I love, too, that grandma and Uncle Mike are in the pix along with so many others we love and cherish.
Happy anniversary! Hope you’re able to celebrate!
Thank you, Erin. We’ll celebrate somehow.
Happy Anniversary!!! Great picture!
Thank you, Rhonda. Yes, I love that photo, just love it.
I love that photo–so much joy! Happy Anniversary!!
I wish I had more candid shots like this which capture the moment and, as you say, the joy.
Thank you for your wishes, Kristen.
Beautifully written. Congratulations! 31 is nothing to sneeze about! The next 31 will go by twice as fast.
Thank you, Marilyn. Time does have a way of slipping away the older we grow, doesn’t it?
Congratulations on your anniversary. I’m like you, I love to look at my husband while he sleeps and think how lucky I am that he is a part of my life.
Blessed is how I feel.
Congratulations, Mom and Dad! Btw nice dress! Very nightgownish! 😉
Thanks, Mir. No one has ever called my wedding dress nightgownish. So apparently I do not need to save it for you?
Happy 31st Audrey, Love the photo of you and Randy exiting the church! Did you do anything special to celebrate? Rick and I had our 31st last month 🙂
Thank you, Jackie. Typically we go out to eat. But since we dined out twice last week while en route to and from Fargo, we just ordered a pizza from a local home-grown pizza place. After that I mowed lawn and Randy varnished the table we are redoing for Caleb. Yup, after 31 years, that’s how we celebrated. Congrats to you and Rick also on 31 years of marriage.
Happy anniversary Audrey and Randy! God bless you both!
Thank you.
Happy 31st! What fun. Such a lovely post. 🙂
Thank you.
Congrats – Happy Anniversary – Enjoy Your Special Day Together:) Here’s to Many More Wonderful Years and Adventures too!!!
Thank you so much, Renee.
Happy belated anniversary, Audrey! 31 years is indeed something to celebrate (and what a great photo!). 🙂
Thank you, Emily. Time goes so fast. I cannot believe 31 years have disappeared.