April 16, 2018
Remember our Everlasting Love Series?!?! Yeep, we don’t either. HAHA In all seriousness though, this is a series that we started a LONG LONG time ago, and have not picked up in a while. As we casted vision for this upcoming year, we felt that this series is really important to us, and one that we don’t want to neglect any longer. Marriage and family are the heartbeat of why we do what we do! As much as we love a good portrait and perfect lighting, PEOPLE are really what get us excited. Weddings are incredible, and we LOVE how beautiful each and every wedding is that we get to capture, but we truly believe that the most beautiful part of what we do is capturing marriage. The legacy and joy that marriage brings is the story that we always want to keep at the forefront of what we do. That’s why we’re super excited to be bringing back the “EVERLASTING LOVE SERIES!”
All of us married and not married alike, can testify to the fact that relationships are not always filled with sunshine and roses. However we know that they are worth every bit of grace, forgiveness, sweat, happy-sad tears, and work that goes into cultivating a meaningful and lasting marriage. Sometimes in our relationships and marriage journey we just need a little encouragement, and that’s the purpose of this series. Through this series we will be talking with couples who have been marriage for several years, they’ll be sharing some of their experiences and advice in this whole marriage journey.
You can read more from other amazing couples HERE and HERE.
This month we’re talking with Gayle & Scott. We had the sweet honor of capturing their 25th wedding anniversary party this past fall, and we’ve gotten to know them as we’ve captured their family over the last 6+ years. We knew this was a couple we wanted to talk with. They’re insight into balancing work and family life is sometime we really appreciate (oh and their love for sushi too. 😉 ) Sit back and enjoy this one, folks!
HOW DID YOU MEET?
We met at a New Year’s Eve party Scott’s church youth group was hosting. One of my friends attended his church and invited me to join them.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED?
We’ve been married 25 years
WHAT HAVE BEEN THE HARDEST AND EASIEST ELEMENTS OF YOUR MARRIED YEARS?
Our personalities are very different. Scott, by nature, is very organized, detailed and plans ahead. Gayle is more of a free spirit and has a spontaneous nature. In our “early years” these differences definitely created some sparks…and not the romantic kind.
One element of our marriage that has come easy to us is making each other a priority. Family life can get super busy and sometimes stressful, but we’ve always made “us” important.
FOR HER, HOW DO YOU BALANCE BEING A MOM, WIFE, EMPLOYEE, ETC.? WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A WIFE AND MOTHER?
I really strive for balance in my life. When I have too much going on, my family suffers and I suffer too. For me, this means I work outside the home 3 days a week. I love volunteering at church and getting involved with my kid’s activities at school but I’m careful to commit to what I feel our family schedule can handle.
If I were to give advice to a new wife/mother, I would encourage them to find balance for themselves and their families. That balance looks different for everyone…don’t compare yourself to other wives/moms…do what works for YOU and applaud your friends when they do what works for them!
SCOTT, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A HUSBAND AND A FATHER?
Invest in your relationship with your spouse and your children. Be present. Put aside your agenda to spend time talking, kicking a soccer ball or working on a project. Time flies and children grow up so fast!
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO GO ON A DATE?
We love sushi! While far from fancy, Ginza is our favorite place to go to indulge this craving!
TELL US MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES YOU ENJOY DOING TOGETHER?
We take a body pump class at our local gym together every week which gets us a little date and keeps us active. We also love going to the beach together and working on projects around the house.
WHAT IS ONE OF THE FAVORITE PLACES YOU HAVE VISITED TOGETHER? AND DO YOU HAVE ANY “DREAM” TRIPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO ON?
We spent our honeymoon on St. John, US Virgin Islands. It has a super laid back vibe and the beaches are absolutely beautiful. While on a family cruise several years ago, we had the opportunity to take our kids to St. John for a day. It was so much fun for us to return!
Scott’s dream vacation is a trip to Alaska and I’m still trying to warm up to that idea. (pun intended!)
We are planning to take a trip next year to celebrate our 25 years together…we don’t have specifics yet, but we’re pretty sure it’ll be somewhere warm!
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEWLY MARRIED COUPLE?
We think it’s so important to continually consider your spouse’s needs and preferences before your own. This helps create a good flow of making decisions and processing together in a selfless way.
HOW DO YOU FEEL MARRIAGE HAS CHANGED YOU FOR THE BETTER?
In so many ways, we are better because of each other. Marriage has taught us selflessness, sacrifice and compromise, which makes us not just better spouses, but better parents, friends and co-workers too. Life together can teach us so much if we are willing to learn!
Happened to ‘stumble’ on this blog & it’s entry. Gayle’s father is my first cousin. Levi’s father & my mother are brother & sister. Simply communicated, this entire blog communicates one of my major passions & that is healthy marriage & families which includes the topics of balanced emotional health & how those realities impact marriages & families. THANK YOU. My personal scripture of emphasis is Ephesians 3:14-21 since it is the prayer that St. Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus beginning on the basis of our Creator & Redeemer BEING the FATHER of whom all fatherhood derives from & models after. Since the first place is the HOME where each of us as young children learn or do not learn love. The prayer is all about the LOVE of GOD & how HIS LOVE can be experienced in each person’s life. It can prompt us to trust in GOD which liberates us to trust & believe in while experiencing GOD more can we can ever dream, hope, imagine, think, or pray. The ending note is that ALL praise & worship goes to the LIVING LOVING GOD. I currently do not have a website but do attempt to manage a FB page called ReStart Haven. It is currently in much transition yet I am still posting revelant topics which impact our lives in the 21st century. Thank you for who you are & what all of you are doing to promote healthy marriages & families.