50 Wonderful Years

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Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here. Today’s post is going to be a little different—more introspective than usual.

You see, November has always been a special month in our household. It’s the month when autumn finally settles in for good, when I start thinking about what I’m grateful for, the Christmas countdown, and cinnamon-spiced everything. But more personally, it’s the month that holds two of our children’s birthdays—both of which seem to land near Thanksgiving, and every so often, right on it. Those overlapping celebrations have made for some memorable holidays over the years, full of cake beside pumpkin pie and laughter that carried long after the dishes were done. There are plenty of extended-family birthdays, too—November has always been a big month for births in our family!

And not just birthdays. My parents were married in November, and my husband and I celebrate our wedding anniversary this month as well. This year, though, November feels a little different—richer somehow. My husband and I will be celebrating our fiftieth wedding anniversary—the so-called golden anniversary—and it truly does feel golden.

Half a century of shared adventures, ordinary days, and everything in between. When we married, we were young and full of dreams, sure we could take on anything life sent our way. Looking back now, I realize that while the dreams and adventures were wonderful, the real gift came in the everyday faithfulness—the simple rhythm of two people choosing each other over and over again.

 

Our children have planned a big family fish fry to mark the occasion. Nothing fancy—just our crew gathered outdoors, catching up and swapping stories while the little ones run wild and free. It feels exactly right for us: casual, family-focused, and full of laughter. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate five decades together than surrounded by the family and love that grew from those early years.

Maybe that’s why I’ve been thinking of my parents a lot lately. Their wedding anniversary also fell in November—seventy-four years ago. Both of them are gone now, but the memories linger. I can still picture the big celebrations we held for their 35th and 50th anniversaries—dress-up events full of family, friends, and music. They had so many people who loved them—a real tribute to the kind of folks they were. And now, all these years later, I see the same kind of joy echoing through our own family gatherings.

As I look back, I’m struck by how gratitude has a way of deepening over time. When we’re young, we’re thankful for the big moments—new jobs, new homes, new beginnings. But as the years pass, gratitude becomes quieter, steadier. It settles into the small things: a familiar hand reaching for yours, a child’s quick hug, a sunset shared in comfortable silence. And somewhere along the way, that gratitude transforms into a sense of fulfillment and blessing.

Fulfillment in knowing you’ve loved and been loved. Blessings in the memories built, the lessons learned, the laughter that lingers even after the moment has passed

 

I suppose that’s why this milestone feels less like a finish line and more like a sweet blessing. Fifty years together isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence, forgiveness, laughter, and faith. And it’s about recognizing that the good things in life are rarely flashy. They’re built quietly, day by day, in the heart of a home filled with love.

So this November, amid birthday candles, Thanksgiving pies, and a family fish fry, my heart is full. Love and gratitude brought us here. A sense of fulfillment and an abiding faith keep us grounded.

And as a nod to the upcoming Thanksgiving Day celebration, what’s one person, moment, or memory you’re most grateful for this year? Leave a comment on this and/or on my post and you’ll be entered in a drawing for your choice of a signed copy of any of my books.

 

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Winnie Griggs is the author of Historical (and occasionally Contemporary) romances that focus on Small Towns, Big Hearts, Amazing Grace. She is also a list maker, a lover of dragonflies and holds an advanced degree in the art of procrastination.
Three of Winnie’s books have been nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and one of those nominations resulted in a win.
Winnie loves to hear from readers. You can connect with her on facebook at www.facebook.com/WinnieGriggs.Author or email her at winnie@winniegriggs.com.

72 thoughts on “50 Wonderful Years”

  6. Winnie, this is just beautiful. We’ve got 48 years, and I can agree with everything you said. 2024 was the worst year of my life. We lost our younger daughter to cancer. But God has been showing me, repeatedly, WHAT I HAVE LEFT, and I’m so thankful for it. Because what I have left isn’t bad at all.

  7. Happy 50th Anniversary! My parents anniversary was this month also and it would have been their 65th Anniversary. My dad’s birthday was also this month. We do get to celebrate my niece’s birthday and a nephew’s birthday this month.

  8. Congrats on your 50th anniversary. One of my daughters is hosting thanksgiving this year which I’m thankful for as we have 32 (just family) invited. I am also thankful for my wonderful pastor’s wife and the godly example she shows.

  9. This year, I’m most grateful for my amazing, wonderful Daddy who turned 100 last November. We had the biggest celebration for him! In June of this year, he left earth to meet his heavenly father! What more could a girl with 4 great brothers be grateful for!

  10. Winnie, this was beautifully, beautifully written!! As you know, we also celebrated our 50th anniversary this summer with our children and grandchildren around us, and it was so, so meaningful. Truly a highlight of our lives.

    Congratulations, my friend. Wishing you and your husband many more anniversaries together!

  11. Congratulation on your 50th anniversary!

    I am just thankful for the family I have left which is one sister and I so appreciate her so much.

  12. Congratulations. This year is very different for this question. This year I will be having knee surgery on my right knee on Nov. 24th So my husband is a year retired has been taking over the house work, the meals, the laundry etc. He is driving me everywhere because he understands the pressure driving puts on my knee. He is preparing me and the house for the year after surgery. God really has brought a wonderful man into my life 43 years ago. He loves to lift my spirits with laughter and share with me his thoughts and love of life. We have grown so much in those married years. And now we get to experience our first grand child together. Yup God knew right what he was doing when He brought my husband into my life.

  13. Congratulations on reaching 50 years! That’s quite an achievement. When my husband passed away just before our 37th anniversary, I realized that I would never celebrate a golden anniversary. However, I am extremely thankful for a second chance at love with a man who lost his wife after 47 years. We just celebrated our 12th anniversary.

  14. Happy Anniversary. November is a busy month for birthdays, but it also is month of sorrow too. But we move on and celebrate the good times.

  15. Happy Anniversary Winnie My Family has many Birthday’s in Nov. also my late Husband’s BD falls on Thanksgiving Day this year and I have a granddaughters BD on the 28 and then my oldest daughter is the 29th

  17. Congratulation! My husband and I have been married for 53 years, and still very much in love. We also have birthdays in November, and my oldest was born on Thanksgiving. He was quite a surprise since he wasn’t due until January 1st. Last year his birthday fell on Thanksgiving and he turned 50. I am so thankful for my husband, 6 children, 18 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. God has been so faithful.

  19. This year the biggest day of my life happened… I got married!! It will always be a very special and favorite memory of mine. We got married on a train… the ceremony was held in the open air car (while it was moving!) and the reception was held in the dining car immediately afterwards.

    Perhaps my favorite memory from the event was when I was walking down the aisle to the platform where my fiancé stood. The aisle seemed so much longer than I remembered, my legs were weak, my heart beat fast. I was wearing heels, of course, but I never wear heels and every step I took I was very conscious of. The train was rumbling over a rough part of the tracks, the wedding march from Sound of Music over the speaker system contending with the sound of metal against rails. I was wobbling, so afraid I’d fall into the guests on either side. And then, as I passed my dear Grandfather, he leaned into the aisle and loud-whispered to me, “Hey, are you drunk?”

    I thought I would die. I will NEVER forget that moment.

  20. Good morning Winnie and you have written this so Beautifully, you are indeed Very Blessed! Happy Anniversary , Happy Birthday to your children and all who share Birthdays this month! One of my Special memories for this year is that in Mid October. my husband and I went on a train trip, we were on the train for 10 hours before we got to our destination , my husband and I went on a mini vacation, which we hadn’t done for a very long time. We really enjoyed ourselves . I had been wanting to go on a train trip for a very long time and the last time I went on a train trip was in 1983 so my husband set up this train trip which was so very nice! We spent alot of our time on the observation car and we actually were on the same train track and passed very close to the house where I grew up, one of my brothers lives there, it was so nice, when I was growing up we would walk down to the same railroad tracks! Have a Blessed day and a Blessed week.

  21. I’m so grateful for my family and friends who have helped me out tremendously since my divorce. It took me awhile to adjust from stay-at-home mom to working mom, and I never would have made it without their support. They have picked my kids up when I wasn’t able, taken my kids to appointments when I had to work, and even let my kids stay overnight with them when I had a family emergency. I can never thank them enough.

  22. Congratulations on your anniversary. My husband passed away just before our fiftieth anniversary. My son and granddaughter have a birthday in November and my dad and father-in-law had November birthdays. My son’s anniversary is in November. I am thankful for getting to take a trip to Florida with my son and grandkids for a week in October. I’ll r your books.

  23. Congratulations, Winnie. What a remarkable achievement. The person I am most grateful for is my husband. 56 years this past June. I can relate to so much of what you said. It takes work, but is so rewarding to have someone always, always there for you. My husband has suffered some serious health issues and every day is a blessing.

  24. Happy Anniversary!! What a great milestone to reach! My own parents didn’t reach that one, as Daddy passed after their 42nd. I’m very thankful I had the parents I had. They didn’t just take us to church, they went with us. I learned from them how important a walk with God was. I learned how to love others, as both of them loved me unconditionally. I could talk to both of them about anything and everything, and often did! We have a few birthdays this month, too, but then there’s only I think one month where we don’t have a birthday in it, and other months we have quite a few! This month was Daddy’s and two nephew’s!

  26. Happy 50th Anniversary!!! My parents also celebrated their 50th in June! I am grateful for my parents. Since you said one, I will pick my dad. He is amazing, taking us everywhere we need to go and everywhere we want to go. I can’t drive because of my health and my daughters don’t have their licenses yet. He is also taking them driving. I don’t know what we would do without him.

  27. Happy Anniversary! Happy Birthday! and Happy Birthday again! (Don’t Want to leave anyone out. lol)
    Then, there’s Happy Thanksgiving! Ny favorite holiday of great food and family catching up with each other. It just feels different somehow from other family gatherings that have the same things going on. Well except in summer we have the adults playing a family made outdoor game and my 2 granddaughters vying for attention. They are 6 and soon to be 5! Any and all family time is very precious to me and I am extremely grateful for all of them.

  28. I was grateful this year that I was able to give a couple of homemade quilts and some household items to two ladies who lost their homes due to fire. I think they were much appreciated..

  30. I’m so thankful for my family. My husband celebrated his 82nd birthday Saturday, the 8th. I’m thankful that our children and some of our grandchildren and one of our great grandchildren were able to be with us to celebrate. We had a wonderful time just being together. Hope you all have wonderful birthdays, anniversaries and a Happy Thanksgiving. December is our month for lots of birthdays and anniversaries. Both our parents were married in December, we married in December (will celebrate #59 this year) and we each have siblings that married in December. Two years ago one of our grandsons got married in December, not to mention the umpteen birthdays in December. Plus of course, the most wonderful celebration, the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless you and your family.

  31. My best friend and her family have been sharing in Thanksgiving for over 15 years. We split who makes what and take turns hosting. We eat, watch football, eat some more, play games, laugh, reminisce and just enjoy the holiday. As our children have grown, married and added to our numbers- it’s a full day of family showing up when they can. It’s honestly one of my favorite days of the year. So thankful for a friends who became family and a loving Lord who introduced us 26 years ago.

    • Oh what a wonderful way to celebrate Thanksgiving by sharing it with friends as well as family. An alternating the hosting and splitting the menu also makes for a less stress-filled day

  32. Congralations! I’m thankful to have what I have food etc. I urge everyone that can please donate canned goods, pet food, and toiletries to your local food pantry .

  33. Congratulations on your 50th anniversary! This was written so beautifully. We, too, had just a family gathering for our fiftieth a few years ago, and it was wonderful to have everyone together that day, although I have always enjoyed others bigger gatherings. One friend even wore her wedding dress for part of their party. No way I could have done that 🙂
    This year I am so very thankful for all the help I have received from family and friends. Happy November!

  35. A very Happy 50th Anniversary. So few marriages make it that long anymore. You are so right about good things rarely being flashy. Our 53 years have had those ups and downs that life always throws at us, but we seem to have steadied each other, being strong for the other one when necessary. At our age, we know there are going to be rough times ahead, but as long as we have each other, we can handle them. I am so glad you have such a wonderful party planned.
    November is a big birthday here, too. It seems to be the month of most of the women in our family. We start the month with 7-8-9th birthdays: my mom, our oldest daughter, and my maternal grandmother. Mid-month was my youngest brother’s birthday. We end the month with our son’s on the 25th and my paternal grandmother’s and my mother-in-law’s the next few days. Our son was born on Thanksgiving Day and of course it has been his birthday several times since. Because of this, the month always brings back so many wonderful memories, even though only our son and daughter are the only ones left to celebrate with.
    Again, Happy Anniversary. May there be many, many more. Enjoy your celebrations.

    • Thank you! And wow it sounds like November is a very special month for you as well. Congratulations on your own 53 years, I know like me they have been very joy-filled and blessed

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