This post is sponsored by James Avery Jewelry.
Hello friends!
In honor of Valentines Day next week and as part of a Valentines campaign with James Avery jewelry, I’m sharing our love story! I’ve shared a bit about how Mark and I met before, but I haven’t told you all that many details, so today I’m sharing more.
Mark and I met on e-Harmony in November of 2015. I had been single at this point for about 4 years and we were both online looking for love. Now, I’m the first to say that online dating can be a wonderful thing, but with any dating situation you definitely have to be careful. I wrote a post about that a couple of years ago (Dating in your 50’s) and I encourage single women to give it a try if they haven’t. We do so much online nowadays so why not date online? Dating has to get started by some method and online is as good as any, from my experience. You just have to do your homework with any dating situation. I’ve learned some of those lessons the hard way.
Gone are the days when your best friends set you up on dates or you meet someone at work or at the grocery store. That hardly ever happens, so if you’re really looking for love, then I say go online. That’s where the largest pool of singles my age were located. We were both signed up for e-Harmony and that’s where we connected. It started with phone conversations. I knew I liked his voice, he had a genteel Southern accent. He was a Southern man which I really liked, his parents were still living, and he had 4 daughters all grown up, and at the time, 2 grandchildren, which has multiplied to 4 now. From our early conversations, we had a lot in common. We both grew up from a young age here in the Atlanta area. I grew up in Marietta, he grew up mostly in Decatur, so we were on opposite sides of town. But in the 80’s and 90’s, for a period of many years, we both had houses in Marietta about 3 or 4 miles from each other, probably shopping in the same stores, living in completely different worlds, never knowing that our paths would cross all these years later.
We both liked house stuff and talking about that came naturally and it’s something that draws us together now, our excitement for making a house pretty.
{Mark brought me home these beautiful tulips that he knows I love, to celebrate our 6 month anniversary last week}
It’s not the easiest thing to merge lives when you are our age. There are so many circumstances to look at and you have so many factors to consider, including family and children, houses, money, and lots more conversations to be had before you can determine if someone is a good fit for you. It takes a lot of trust to get to the point of thinking about marriage at this age. Trust was a huge thing for me and Mark passed those tests with flying colors. He’s a trustworthy man and has been since day one.
Our first date was to a BBQ joint that Mark loved and it happened to be in Smyrna, a place he had been going to for years. So that’s where we met for our first date. We talked non-stop for over 2 hours and I knew from the first date that he was someone I was interested in getting to know better. He had so many good qualities and was a good conversationalist. Besides he was pretty cute and I even liked his bald head! I’d rather see a man shave his head than pretend that he’s still got plenty when it’s half gone.
We made plans immediately for our 2nd date and he took me to the Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas tour that year for the candelight tour. It was so romantic walking around the sidewalks of Marietta and going in and out of these houses, just chatting and getting to know each other, talking about what we liked about each house. We had dinner at a great Italian restaurant before the tour and that was so romantic too.
We first met the weekend after Thanksgiving that year and so we went into the Christmas season on our first dates together and that was a very special time. It made for wonderful holiday memories. Mark was such a great guy from the very start and I knew he was someone special and I’m pretty sure he felt the same way about me. He’s a very normal (thank goodness, normal is really good), down to earth guy and that’s what drew me to him and his love of family was evident. We’ve always gotten along so well and just had fun together and that was such a big plus, exactly what I needed. We are best friends and enjoy spending time together. We don’t fuss and bicker, but we do have fun picking on each other and teasing back and forth.
He asked me out for New Year’s Eve in early December and we had that special date planned in advance and what a fun time to look forward to. We decided to get all dressed up and go to the Square for dinner and dancing and it really was a magical fun evening and one of the best New Year’s Eves I’ve ever had. Love was blossoming between us pretty fast and we were both a bit smitten.
In late January 2016, I went on a cruise for a week and when I returned, he told me he loved me the night I came home. It was such a sweet reunion and what a wonderful beginning for us. Falling in love was the best feeling! We only dated each other from our very first date and then we built on that relationship, allowing it grow and blossom into love in those early months and beyond. We took the time to get to know each other though and didn’t rush into anything. It was nice to not be playing any games. We were committed to each other.
He is stable, comforting, sweet, funny, generous, definitely not boring, and everything I could have asked for in a man and husband. He makes me laugh all the time and we do a lot of laughing together. I do believe God brought us both into each other’s lives at just the right time. We had both been through some very rough years in our past and we had that in common too. But neither of us had given up on love and we weren’t bitter, amazingly enough.
We got to know each other’s families very well during that time and felt very confident that we were making good choices in each other. Not that we needed it, but we got our families approval on our relationship. It was a risk worth taking again. Love is a wonderful thing to find at any age and I think with difficulties come a greater appreciation for a really good solid love.
You all know the rest of the story. We dated for a total of 20 months and got married last July in Savannah, GA and we bought a house together. It was a sweet and romantic wedding with just the two of us along with an officiant and photographer.
We both feel very blessed to have found each other and just celebrated our 6 month anniversary. I told Mark the other day that the only thing I’d change is that I wish we were 20 years younger, so we would have more time together. We are having the time of our lives in our new house and making it our own.
When I got the opportunity to work with James Avery again on this Valentines campaign, it was an easy fit. They wanted us to share our love story and wear our love story. Have you ever thought about what you’d choose to wear in jewelry to wear your love story, besides your wedding ring?
I along with some other bloggers were invited to shop at a local James Avery store here in Atlanta and it was so fun to get to look around the store and find something that commemorated our special love story.
I chose this beautiful necklace in silver and aqua tones.
We got married in Savannah and it reminded me of a treasure I’d find at a vintage shop, sort of an heirloom looking necklace with beautiful blue stones and gorgeous fine details.
It also reminds me of one of our favorite places to visit, the beach. We both dearly love the beach and have traveled to Florida twice with Mark’s family beach trip.
Blue is the color of the ocean on our favorite Gulf coast of Florida and reminds me of simple and sweet times on the beach, walking and looking for seashells. This necklace will remind me of our love story when I wear it.
I had never shopped in a James Avery store, but there is one here in Norcross at The Forum, if you want to check them out. I’m very impressed with their story and how they make their jewelry.
James Avery is a family owned company and they make the jewelry, a well as market and sell all their own products. Skilled artisans in the Hill country of Texas make the jewelry and their designs represent values and timeless designs that commemorate what’s important in life.
Memories are made with their jewelry and from the comments you all left me on the last post, you all love James Avery jewelry too and have many family pieces that you’ve collected over the years. This jewelry is crafted with care and attention to detail, it’s evident in the necklace that I chose.
We all enjoyed our time at the James Avery shop, along with goodies and drinks while we were shopping. In case you don’t know about James Avery, the company has been around since 1965 and has grown and expanded since then.
There were so many beautiful things to choose from, but I’m so glad I got the necklace. It’s a new piece to their line called the Tessares Necklace with Amazonite and Mother of Pearl and it immediately caught my eye when I saw it in the case.
I know I’ll enjoy this beautiful necklace for years to come and when I wear it, I’ll always remember picking it out especially to wear to celebrate OUR love story, Mark and I. It’s a gorgeous piece with fine intricate details in the way it’s made and I will certainly wear it with pride.
What’s your love story? Comment below and share your love story and click the link to visit James Avery and read more love stories! Please visit James Avery and your heart will be full reading more love stories.
I don’t know about you, but when someone shares their love story, I always enjoy reading it. I’d love to hear your love stories as well, if you’d like to share them with me here in the comments, please do! I get giddy over love stories and it makes me so happy to hear when love blossoms between two people. It’s extra special to me now at this stage of life and was SO worth waiting for!
Love is a wonderful thing and truly God’s gift to US!
Becky in 'Bama says
You are guys are a great ‘team’ with a sound marriage. Wishing you many happy days and years. My husband and I met at a birthday party my senior year (I’m older than him). He pursued me quite intensely and we dated 2.5 years before we married – which is 42 years now. The funny part: when I was working at getting my driver’s license – I had a minor accident my first time behind the wheel – and ran the car into a deep ditch – in HIS parents’ front yard. He didn’t know me then, but he remembered the wrecker coming to drag the car back to level ground. Oh brother. 🙂
Rhoda says
Hey, Becky, I love that! Haha, how could he forget a car getting dragged out of the ditch at his parent’s house. That’s too funny!
Shelia Massey says
Your story is refreshing! Glad you both found love. Love or true love is special at any age. I have been married nearly 49 yrs. and looking forward to 50! I have been so blessed to have that long lasting love with my husband. Thank you for sharing “ your story”.
Rhoda says
Thank you, Shelia, congrats to you for long lasting love. I so enjoy these stories of love as well.
Doris Self says
Thanks for sharing your love story, it is a good one for sure. I have told you this before but you are a great writer.
Rhoda says
Thank you, Doris, I appreciate that. I just write from my heart and it’s not too fancy.
Linda says
Loved reading your Love Story today and it has put me in the mood for Valentine’s Day! My husband and I met at a dance that was held twice a week for young singles. After meeting there, we talked on the phone quite a bit & went out once or twice. I knew right away that I liked him a lot & my family really like him too. I could tell he was perfect for me but then I didn’t see him at the dances anymore for quite awhile. The next time I saw him, I made it my mission to walk past him and he stopped me. He said he had been out of town for 6 weeks in training for the company that he worked for. Then to my surprise, he told me I was the one girl he could fall in love it. That was the beginning of a wonderful romance. We have been married for 42 wonderful years, have 2 fantastic children and 4 fantastic grandchildren.
Rhoda says
Hi, Linda, I love your story. I knew my readers would have some good love stories!
Julie Curtis says
When it was time to give my oldest granddaughter something to commemorate asking Jesus into her heart and being baptized the first thing I thought of was a cross charm necklace from James Avery. I had her baptism date engraved on the charm. I’m proud to say I’ve now given 3 more of my 5 granddaughters the same chain and charm! Our little Emma is only 3 and I can’t wait for the day I order hers.
Rhoda says
Hi, Julie, that is so special and sweet!
Jane H. says
Not a big fan of Valentine’s Day. Lost my love and best friend to pancreatic cancer in October 2015, before we had a chance to marry and make all those special memories. Good grief, this post could have at least included the opportunity to win something. 🙂 (Just kidding about that part.)
Rhoda says
Hi, Jane, I’m so sorry about your loss. I can’t imagine how hard that would be to find someone and lose them. Big hugs to you on Valentines Day this year!
Nancy says
Oh Jane, I am so sorry. My husband was madly in love with a woman that passed away with a virulent breast cancer. They knew one another less than a year. He was single and sad (his words) for about 8 years before we met He is the love of my life, and I believe him when he says I am his, but sometimes I feel I married a widow. Try not to give up, your best friend would want you to be happy.
Sue Davis says
My love story is the sweetest. We both never dreamed we would ever find true love again. This Sat. Feb 10th….is the day we met……28 years ago. I was invited to go to the Grand Ole Opry by some friends …since my divorce ( a single Mom with two small children) I had not dated at all (it had been over a year) sitting at home alone each week-end the kids were at their Dads. Well, after some reluctance. …I gave in and said yes…..I’ll go. Well…..on the way to there, one of the girls said she had a back stage pass. I thought…how cool is that. After mingling in the Green Room (that’s where the Opry stars hang out before their appearances on stage. Well, someone introduced us to the staff drummer. He was so nice. A guy in our group knew a friend of his…so after the Opry…we all went out to a place to hear a band he knew ….we sat and talked awhile, we danced. ….which I hadn’t done in a long while……I felt so comfortable with him. He wad funny and adorable. Well….before the night ended…he asked me for my phone number…..well….I reluctantly gave it to him. After several phone conversations. ..I invited him to come to my home town for the day. We went to lunch at a little meat & 3 restaurant…we talked for a couple of hours. He went back to Nashville later that day. We continued to see each other…..talk about a long distant dating. We did it for 10 years. We met in 1990…..we got married in 2000. He is the love of my life.
So…even if you are older….there is love out there for EVERYONE.
Rhoda says
HI, Sue, thanks for sharing your love story, that’s so sweet. Ten years is a long time, you’ve got some patience to wait that long, but congrats on finding love!!
Sheree Winstead says
Beautiful jewelry! And beautiful love story…much like ours! I met my husband on e-harmony 7 years ago. We married 5 1/2 years ago. He proposed to me during a walk in Duke Gardens (very romantic). I was 56 and he was 62. I had been in a verbally abusive marriage for 21 years. Had been single for 7 years when I met my husband. I never knew love and marriage could be this wonderful. I’m thankful to God for second chances! And so happy for you and your husband! Love your blog!❤️❤️❤️
Rhoda says
Thank you, Sheree, I too have been through some horrors in previous relationships and it’s so wonderful to be in a good one finally. Happy for you too!
Squeak says
Hi Rhoda!
What a beautiful love story!
I live in Victoria, Canada, where there are 7 women for every man. Because I’m average looking and about 25 pounds overweight, it’s really difficult for me to get a date even though I’m kind, funny and generous. I’ve been on 8 dating sites over the course of the last 4 1/2 years and the only men who contact me are scammers. Few of the (average-looking, not handsome) men I send messages to ever reply and, of the ones who do, the comments I receive are discouraging – comments like “You’re not pretty enough to be on a dating site.”, “You should try wearing more makeup and sexier clothes”, “You’re too fat to be on a dating site.” and my all-time favourite “Surely you don’t think someone like you is going to find love. You don’t have anything going for you.”
I know women who’ve met their current boyfriends/husbands online, but they’re all above average looking. I think dating sites definitely work for attractive people, not so much for the rest of us. After 30 years of being single and 4 1/2 years of being on dating sites, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that I’ll be single for the rest of my life.
Rhoda says
Oh, Squeak, that makes my heart hurt for you! I’m so sorry you’ve had to go through that on dating sites. Men can be so callous and cold. I wish I could give you more hope, but I do believe there is someone for everyone if you can just connect with them.
Squeak says
Thanks, Rhoda!
It’s the connecting part that’s eluding me.
Rhoda says
I know that is so hard as we get older, but don’t totally give up hope. There are social events out there and maybe just maybe someone will cross your path. I believe God can open those doors!
Sue says
Hi Rhoda,this August we will be married 48 years. We live in a small town and everybody cruised the streets and backed their cars in places for people to stop and talk. He was fresh out of the Navy and we just clicked. I honestly would have married him after our first date but we married 18 months later. Pawpaw and Grammy Sue are enjoying our grandchildren and retirement.
Rhoda says
Sue, that’s so sweet, sounds like a fun and innocent time.
Laura says
Hi Rhoda,
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, one of the things that attracted me was that you were single and in your 50s also. I too have met someone on eHarmony after being single for 3 years. I feel as though you are telling my story! I met Jon from the site almost 10 months ago and he is truly my best friend. Thanks so much for sharing, online dating can be a great thing!
Rhoda says
Hi, Laura, I’m so happy for you, so glad it’s working for you too!
Susan F. says
I don’t have a romantic story about how I met my husband. It was in a bar. I moved to Atlanta in the mid-80’s when I was 26 and bar hopping with my girlfriends became my way of meeting men. Timothy John’s, Friday’s at the Prado, Houlihan’s, wild times back then. Our first date was to the Piedmont Arts Festival and we had a good time walking through the park, talking and listening to the music. After several dates, he told me he had a confession to make. I thought oh no, he is married but it turned out he had lied about his age. I was so relieved that I didn’t care that he was 10 years older than me. It was the first marriage for both of us and we’ve been together for 28 years. He is gregarious and I am reserved, we have similar interests and we don’t go to bed angry. That has worked for us.
Rhoda says
Hey, Susan, I love that! And I hear you, I went to those same places back in my 20’s when I was single too, all the ones you mentioned. It was a way of getting out and being social in Atlanta. So happy that you found your guy and have been married so long.
Betty McIntyre says
I was in High School he was in college. We had one date…he said I needed to grow up. Two years later, we ran into each other, began dating. We will be married. 58 years June 19th.
Tara G. says
We were college sweethearts who went separate ways with hurt feelings. 5 years later, a letter asking for forgiveness reconnected us. We celebrate 18 years of marriage this fall. If I were to choose a piece of jewelry that represented our love story, I think it’d be a cross with a diamond – it all comes back to Jesus & a diamond seems to represent all that’s lovely, pure, and withstands testing.
Rhoda says
Tara, what a great story, so happy for you.
Tamara says
What a lovely love story! Was your first date at Old South BBQ, by any chance? I grew up in the Smyrna area 🙂
Rhoda says
Yes, Tamara, Old South is Mark’s favorite place and he grew up going there!! I liked it, but now we like Poe’s BBQ on Whitlock the best. Have you been there?
Tamara says
I haven’t been to Poe’s but will definitely give it a try when I’m back in town. I am so happy that you have found your true love, it definitely shines out in your beautiful pictures!
Johnna says
What a wonderful love story! My husband and I have been married for 16 years. Our first initial meeting was at a church I was attending that met in a school. A mutual friend introduced that day. He never came back to the church. I ended up going back to a church I had attended before with a larger singles group. The first Sunday that I went back to that church I walked into the Sunday School class and lo and behold there he sat! Talk about a divine appointment! Mind you we lived in a metroplex area..what were the odds? We did not end up dating until a year later. We both grew up with the same values and our families are so much alike! God definitely brought us together! And to take the cake…our names are Jon and Johnna! lol Looking forward to many more years with my sweetheart!
Rhoda says
Johnna, that’s a very sweet story too, so glad you found your man! Dating in churches can be very tough, it always felt like competition to me and I didn’t have much luck with that.
Johnna says
Yes, it can be. I have several friends who have met their spouses through online services and have been happily married for several years now! Congrats and wishing you and Mark many blessings!
Brandye says
In August, my husband & I will celebrate 30 years! We met in high school (we went to rival schools), but did not date until my senior year of college. As we dated, we realized we had many, many near misses of running into each other again. However, God’s timing is perfect. And that is true of you and Mark as well. Y’alls is such a sweet and honest story. I wish you many happy years together.
BTW, being a Texas girl, I have many pieces of James Avery…not the least is my charm bracelet from summer camp. Love that company and their story.
Rhoda says
Thank you for sharing, Brandye, what a great story for you too. So many of you have long lasting marriages and that makes me so happy. It didn’t happen to me, but it did with my parents and I’m grateful for all the good role models you all have put out there.
Linda says
My love story is that I was married to a wonderful Christian man for 44 years 4 months and 4 days. We met at 16 , married at 18 have a wonderful son and daughter in law and 2 grandchildren . He was my everything, my best friend.
Yesterday he has been gone for 4 lonely years
Rhoda says
Linda, I’m so sorry for your loss.
Linda says
Thanks Rhoda. I appreciate your kindness. IAM so happy that you found love again….remember to tell each other every day. ” I Love You ” like my husband and I did. We never know when the Lord will call us home.
Roxanne says
John and I got off to a less than romantic start way back in 1972. I was struggling in a chemistry class at the College of Charleston, and he was a teaching assistant in the labs. One day I accidentally started a fire in lab on a distillation apparatus. The next day Mr. Smart Aleck walked in and said “are you the dumb blonde who started the fire?” (This was back in the days before political correctness!!!). I looked around and realized I was the ONLY blonde so I had to admit it. He started tutoring me, I pulled my grades up and made an A. We got married a year later, and this April will be celebrating our 45th anniversary!
I adore your magical love story and wish you and Mark many, many years of happiness!
Rhoda says
Roxanne, that is so cute and funny! I love that you got married after all that and 45 years later. Wow, you ladies are inspirational with your long years of marriage. I’ll never make that, but I hope Mark and I get many years together.