On September 22nd, 1986, my parents formed a union between two people. They said their vows in front of God, family and their closest friends. They may not have known it then, but they would turn into a shining example for their future daughter and her future husband for what a successful marriage looks like. Thank you, mom and dad.

My parent's marriage was filled with the standard ups and downs. It was filled with triumphs and losses, as any marriage will be. My parents are a shining example of how a couple should handle those ups and downs. Through monetary troubles and health troubles, I never saw either of them waver. If there were struggles, which I'm sure there were, I never knew it. Fights, they're bound to happen. But my parents, they showed me that it isn't necessary to make fights public, nor is it necessary to drag them out beyond the initial argument. You don't put your spouse down, no matter how upset you are. You make things right, and you don't go to sleep mad.

My entire life, my parents have kept disagreements private. They started dating in the 80's before it was 'cool' to air out your partner's dirty laundry on Facebook or the like. They met in a time that wasn't ruled by technology, and the most important person in the room was your spouse; not your 1,500 followers on Instagram. They met when it wasn't looked down upon to walk up to a girl in a bar and write your number on a napkin (that's how my dad did it!) and girls weren't 'too cool' to give that handsome guy a call (on his land line, no less).

I have had nothing but an amazing example set for me, my whole life. My parents aren't perfect people by any stretch (who is, really?) but they emulated a perfect marriage, and set the bar incredibly high for me. Until recently, I never thought any man would match up to the standard my dad set for me. He set the standard of someone who's kind without being bashful, and proud without being boastful. He is patient and loving, yet knows how to give tough love when it's necessary. He's shown all of these qualities on my mother, and by proxy myself as well. My mom has given me a tough standard to live up to as a wife someday. She's not perfect either, I wouldn't want her to be. She's shown me that even as a mom and a wife at 62 years old, you're allowed to still be growing. You're allowed to learn how to love your husband in different ways, even after 31 years of marriage.

My parents have set the bar high, in more ways than one. I'm so fortunate to have found a man that lives up to the standard my dad has set, and I'm working towards being half the woman my mom is. On your 31st wedding anniversary, thank you, Mom and Dad.