Strong MarriageStrong Marriage

George and Laura BushGeorge and Laura Bush

Who could have Who could have predicted that when Joe predicted that when Joe and Jan O'Neill invited and Jan O'Neill invited their two single friends, their two single friends, George Walker Bush George Walker Bush and Laura Lane Welch and Laura Lane Welch to a backyard barbecue to a backyard barbecue in the summer of 1977 in the summer of 1977 their efforts at their efforts at matchmaking would matchmaking would end up making history? end up making history?

Who would have Who would have known the couple known the couple would not only be would not only be attracted to each attracted to each other, but that other, but that sparks would fly sparks would fly and ignite so and ignite so quickly into flames, quickly into flames, that they would that they would marry in a mere marry in a mere three months?three months?

And who could And who could ever have ever have imagined that imagined that eventually this eventually this same young couple same young couple would become the would become the President and First President and First Lady of the United Lady of the United States.States.

George W. was George W. was admittedly "smitten" admittedly "smitten" by the lovely young by the lovely young Laura. He said that she Laura. He said that she was "gorgeous, good-was "gorgeous, good-humored, quick to humored, quick to laugh, down-to-earth, laugh, down-to-earth, and very smart." Laura and very smart." Laura thought that young thought that young George was "kind of George was "kind of cute, and funny" and cute, and funny" and liked how he made her liked how he made her laugh. laugh.

Though they were Though they were opposites in personalityopposites in personality—he outgoing and —he outgoing and sometimes outrageous, sometimes outrageous, athletic and from a athletic and from a boisterous, energetic boisterous, energetic family, and she a calm, family, and she a calm, quiet and thoughtful quiet and thoughtful reader, and beloved reader, and beloved only child--they found only child--they found they shared the same they shared the same beliefs and " West beliefs and " West Texas “ values of an Texas “ values of an individual's worth and individual's worth and of personal of personal responsibility.responsibility.

They discovered they They discovered they had common interests--had common interests--they both loved to read they both loved to read and spend time with and spend time with friends. They fell so friends. They fell so quickly in love that they quickly in love that they married on November 5, married on November 5, 1977. According to 1977. According to Laura,"It was a small Laura,"It was a small wedding, just about 75 wedding, just about 75 people. It was in the people. It was in the church I'd been church I'd been baptized in as a baby. baptized in as a baby. So it was really a So it was really a wonderful way to start a wonderful way to start a new marriage."new marriage."

Their marriage began Their marriage began with a honeymoon in with a honeymoon in Mexico , followed by a Mexico , followed by a congressional campaign congressional campaign trip throughout Texas . trip throughout Texas . It wasn't politically It wasn't politically successful, but both successful, but both have said it was a good have said it was a good way to start their way to start their marriage because they marriage because they got to spend every got to spend every minute with each other minute with each other and loved it. Rumor is, and loved it. Rumor is, they still do!they still do!

After years of trying After years of trying to have the family to have the family they so desired, the they so desired, the Bushes became Bushes became proud parents in proud parents in November 1981, of November 1981, of lovely twin lovely twin daughters, Jenna daughters, Jenna and Barbara, both and Barbara, both named after their named after their grandmothers.grandmothers.

The family was deeply The family was deeply involved in church and involved in church and community and in developing community and in developing loving relationships with each loving relationships with each other that have stood the other that have stood the test of time...through test of time...through difficulties and triumphs, difficulties and triumphs, through a not too successful through a not too successful oil exploration venture, a oil exploration venture, a very successful Texas very successful Texas Rangers baseball team, the Rangers baseball team, the Governorship of Texas , long Governorship of Texas , long and difficult campaigns, and and difficult campaigns, and finally to the White House as finally to the White House as President, First Lady, and President, First Lady, and beautiful, mature and beautiful, mature and gracious first daughters of gracious first daughters of the United States of America.the United States of America.

The story of George and The story of George and Laura Bush is a wonderful Laura Bush is a wonderful love story.....a song of love story.....a song of delight and passion, humor delight and passion, humor and fidelity, steadfastness and fidelity, steadfastness and grace. The President and grace. The President has said, "I saw an elegant has said, "I saw an elegant beautiful woman who beautiful woman who turned out not only to be turned out not only to be elegant and beautiful, but elegant and beautiful, but very smart and willing to very smart and willing to put up with my rough put up with my rough edges, and I must confess edges, and I must confess has smoothed them off has smoothed them off over time."over time."

There really aren't There really aren't that many couples that many couples who after 30 years who after 30 years display so openly their display so openly their deep affection for one deep affection for one another--in their another--in their embraces, kisses, embraces, kisses, whispers, playful pats whispers, playful pats from well-placed from well-placed hands, touches, and hands, touches, and looks that could melt looks that could melt the coldest heart.the coldest heart.

When they are together, When they are together, they can be alone in a they can be alone in a room full of people. room full of people. They have allowed us to They have allowed us to observe their love and observe their love and to love them even more to love them even more because of their because of their adoration for each adoration for each other,and even at times other,and even at times to be "twitterpated" and to be "twitterpated" and inspired by what we see inspired by what we see in them...the intimacy, in them...the intimacy, the trust, and even the the trust, and even the passion of mature love.passion of mature love.

One can easily see One can easily see how much fun they how much fun they have together and have together and how much they how much they enjoy each other's enjoy each other's company. company.

The delightful The delightful interaction interaction between them can between them can erupt at any erupt at any moment in time, moment in time, and the enjoyment and the enjoyment of each other of each other radiates in their radiates in their faces.faces.

Observers have noted Observers have noted that when Laura walks that when Laura walks into a room, her into a room, her husband is visibly husband is visibly calmed, while she has calmed, while she has said that he has brought said that he has brought excitement into her life. excitement into her life. But above all, they But above all, they provide for each other provide for each other comfort and refuge in comfort and refuge in times of need. Laura has times of need. Laura has said, "We have a very said, "We have a very sustaining relationship. sustaining relationship. It's always been that It's always been that way and we're lucky to way and we're lucky to have that relationship."have that relationship."

George has said, George has said, "Laura brings me "Laura brings me great comfort. It's great comfort. It's very helpful to very helpful to know that in this know that in this wonderful job, that wonderful job, that I am not alone." I am not alone." And, "My wife is a And, "My wife is a rock."rock."

The President, ever more The President, ever more effusive in his manner, has effusive in his manner, has declared what we have all declared what we have all come to understand: come to understand: "Laura is a beautiful "Laura is a beautiful person, inside and out." person, inside and out." She is to him, "mi She is to him, "mi esposa...mi amore"... my esposa...mi amore"... my wife, my love, and "the wife, my love, and "the great love of my life." And great love of my life." And in moments when she in moments when she needed assurance and needed assurance and encouragement, he has encouragement, he has been known to say, "You been known to say, "You look beautiful, babe!"look beautiful, babe!"

What a gift it is to a What a gift it is to a leader in the free leader in the free world to have a world to have a woman by his side woman by his side who has who has covenanted to be covenanted to be with him always in with him always in love and support!love and support!

Laura has observed that Laura has observed that in politics you have in politics you have many enemies, so it's many enemies, so it's better if it's not your better if it's not your spouse. It's not difficult spouse. It's not difficult to see that these two to see that these two are not enemies! In a are not enemies! In a rare unguarded moment rare unguarded moment when asked about the when asked about the President's appearance, President's appearance, Laura expressed that Laura expressed that "After nearly 30 years of "After nearly 30 years of marriage, I still think the marriage, I still think the President is the most President is the most handsome man I know."handsome man I know."

There is no There is no obligatory political obligatory political handholding handholding between them...it between them...it is the handholding is the handholding of lovers; of two of lovers; of two people who people who communicate that communicate that love through touch.love through touch.

Even the kisses on Even the kisses on campaign stages campaign stages can be filled with can be filled with passion, and the passion, and the embraces intense embraces intense and electric.and electric.

And, oh, the joy of And, oh, the joy of seeing them holding seeing them holding each other close as each other close as they danced at the they danced at the Inaugural Balls, Inaugural Balls, sometimes gazing sometimes gazing lovingly, sometimes lovingly, sometimes teasing, but always teasing, but always enjoying the enjoying the magical moment magical moment together!together!

What a blessing it has What a blessing it has been for the past six years been for the past six years to observe this to observe this exemplary relationship! It exemplary relationship! It is so extraordinary and is so extraordinary and exciting, yet so exciting, yet so normal...just like us, but normal...just like us, but not. This marvelous couple not. This marvelous couple has been subjected to has been subjected to some of the ugliest abuse some of the ugliest abuse in the country's history -- in the country's history -- false and vile false and vile rumors and unmitigated harumors and unmitigated hatred -- and yet they have tred -- and yet they have endured with an abiding endured with an abiding peace and joy. peace and joy.

In January 2009, they will be In January 2009, they will be leaving the public's view, leaving the public's view, and spend time at their and spend time at their beloved, peaceful Prairie beloved, peaceful Prairie Chapel Ranch, to take long, Chapel Ranch, to take long, hand-holding walks around hand-holding walks around the ranch, talk endlessly as the ranch, talk endlessly as best friends, take romantic best friends, take romantic rides in a pickup truck (and rides in a pickup truck (and maybe not have a Secret maybe not have a Secret Service agent close enough Service agent close enough to know what they're to know what they're doing!),and enjoy the scenic doing!),and enjoy the scenic Texas view from their Texas view from their "favorite room" with its "favorite room" with its presidentially mandated presidentially mandated king-sized bed!king-sized bed!

Enjoy your new home in Enjoy your new home in Dallas as you begin your Dallas as you begin your private life together again. private life together again. There you can go to bed There you can go to bed early, as you are wont to early, as you are wont to do, without having the very do, without having the very weight of the world on your weight of the world on your shoulders, and just savor shoulders, and just savor the company of the the company of the beloved mate whom God beloved mate whom God has graciously and lovingly has graciously and lovingly given to you. How blessed given to you. How blessed you are...and how blessed you are...and how blessed we have been to have you we have been to have you leading us and providing leading us and providing such a wonderful example such a wonderful example for us all!for us all!