An Interview with Bill and Jennie N.

May 10, 2009

Pastor John: How many years have you been married?

Bill: Soon be 65 years (congregation clapped)

Pastor John: How old were you when you got married?

Bill: When I got married I was 26 years old.

Jennie: I was 25.

Pastor John: What year was that?

Bill: August 12, 1944

Pastor John: How did the two of you meet?

Jennie: It was a blind date. I didn't know I was going to go out with him. One night, after dinner, my sister and I were doing the dishes...that was our job. So after that I was getting ready for work the next day. So I put my pajamas and robe on and wet my hair and put my hair up in curlers. My sister was going with a sailor at that time on a ship with Bill. And he brought Bill over, and I did not know I was going to out with Bill. So when they got there and I found out what was planned I ran upstairs. Because I did not want to be there anymore. When I found out I was going to go out with him I said, "What am I going to do?" So I got dressed and I out a scarf over my head because my hair was wet and we went to the movies where no one would see us. (congregation laughed)

Bill: That was not love at first sight either. (congregation laughed)

Pastor John: Well that was your first date...when was it that you realized you did love this woman?

Bill: That's a good question. When I first met her I really was not in love with her because she was strange and I was strange to her. But as the years went along and we corresponded because I was overseas for over 13 months before I saw her the next time. But she had sent me a Christmas card that year, in 1941. And on that Christmas card in great big letters was "FROM SOMEONE WHO CARES." That opened up my eyes and I began to realize she cared and we began our long journey toward loving one another.

Pastor John: When you were younger in those days, did you go to church, did you attend church?

Jennie: I grew up in the church. My father and mother went to church every Sunday. And my brother and sister and I, we went to Sunday School. In fact I have a Bible I received in 1926 that I got from the church.

Bill: I attended church all of my life. I confessed my faith to the Lord Jesus Christ, October 31, 1931. And I have tried my best to live that ever since. But I have been involved in teaching Sunday School classes, I have been involved with church work and with the youth all my life. The only problem was that during the service we had no chaplain on board the ship. So we did not have a chance or an opportunity to go into church or go into worship services. The only time we could was if we were in port, the Navy had a rule that you were allowed to call away a boat and go to some church service in town, which we did.

Pastor John: I know you have heard the statistics today that half the marriages end up in divorce. There's not many that are like yours that have gone the distance and continue to grow. What were some of the elements in your relationship that have helped you get to where you are today?

Jennie: If you have problems in your marriages, don't argue about it. Because sometimes you say things you shouldn't. Take time out and pray and ask God to help you resolve that problem.

Pastor John: That's some good advice.

Bill: One thing that opened my eyes, our eyes, the both of us. We had an incident in the family where our 16 month old boy had drank some turpentine and he passed out. I took him in my arms, limp as a rag, and we rushed him to the hospital and for 7 days he laid in intensive care unit and was being cared for and his life was in jeopardy. And that gave both of us a wake up call to say that we needed to get more active in the church organization and so we did. We became very active in the church we were attending and we were involved in about everything that went on in the church.

Pastor John: Any advice you would give married couples here today or young people planning on getting married to help them?

Bill: I would suggest that the first thing you do is to do your home work. Another thing I would encourage you to do is to take the marriage vows and look at it, read it, digest it and understand what it really means. Then see if you intend to keep the promises that you will make in that vow.

Jennie: Parents with young children...take time out for your children. Read the Bible, pray with them. That's what my parents did with me, they always prayed with us and read the Bible to us.

Pastor John: I know it is difficult in a few minutes to encapsulate your 65 years of marriage. We appreciate you sharing this morning your experiences with us and how you made it through the long journey. Would you express your appreciation for them sharing with us today. (congregation clapped and stood)

Bill: 65 years you have to do some compromising.