• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
My Big Fat Cuban Family

My Big Fat Cuban Family

Cuban recipes, family, heritage, and culture.

  • Meet Marta
    • Media Mentions
  • Lifestyle
    • Cuban-American Life
    • My Big, Fat, Cuban Family
  • Entertainment
    • Disney
    • Marvel
    • Television
    • Concerts
    • Books
    • Theatre
  • Celebrate
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Cuban Christmas
    • Mother’s Day
    • Movie Nights
    • Summer Nights
  • Recipes
    • Cuban Recipes With Pictures
    • Family Favorites
    • My Cook Book
  • Shop
    • Cuban Foods Poster
    • Cuban T-Shirts
    • Costa Rican Foods Poster
    • Honduran Foods Poster
    • Puerto Rican Foods Poster
    • Salvadoran Foods Poster
    • Scottish Foods Poster
    • Customize Your Own
    • Cuban Goodies In Your Mailbox
  • Contact
    • Advertise
  • Archives

25 (and a Half) Years

February 9, 2018 By Marta Darby 18 Comments

It’s already February, people. Next week is Valentine’s Day. Wait. What happened to January? Is it just me? Or does time appear to be like Millennium-Falcon-in-hyperspace zooming away?

I’m having a serious case of Tempis Fugit* right now. (*that’s Latin for “time flies.” Yeah. All those years of Catholic really school paid off, didn’t they?)

Six months ago today, my husband, Eric and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. It’s only now (6 months later!) that I’m able to sit down and share the story with you, because 2017 felt like such a whirlwind. Also, because Valentine’s Day is coming up, I thought it would be nice to share this. Because it’s a Love Story.

So, today on our 25 and a half year wedding anniversary, let me tell you what happened 6 months ago…

My husband knows me. After all these years it should come as no surprise, of course, but he managed to pull off The Great Anniversary Caper of 2017 while living with me. ME! The consummate party planning goddess! 

He kept hinting that he was planning something for our 25th anniversary. It was 25 years (!), after all. That’s a milestone. That’s the silver one. It was going to be big. 

Our anniversary landed on a Tuesday and so it was not a big surprise that Eric planned a fun, local weekend getaway for the weekend before.

THE ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND

Yay for anniversaries and getaways!

He took me down to Carlsbad (about an hour south) to the fabulous West Inn & Suites where we had a beautiful suite and were treated to Champagne and chocolate strawberries by the attentive staff. 

Yay for anniversary celebrations! 

Our dear friends (and pastors), Ben and Stacie were also celebrating their 25th anniversary( just a week before!) and (unbeknownst to me) they were also staying at the West for the weekend. 

Yay for anniversary surprises! 

The four of us went to a perfect dinner at The Green Dragon Tavern. American history buff me was beside herself with joy. Good friends. Delicious food. American history. Read all about this amazing place right here. 

We toasted to our mutual 25 years of marriage and celebrated together. Look at our champagne!

Look at our food! What a great weekend anniversary celebration!

And that, I thought, was that. 

Our anniversary was still technically on Tuesday, and I was super satisfied with our weekend, so I made a suggestion: “I want to cook a big meal for both our families. We’ll eat out in the garden. It will be wonderful.” 

Eric (God bless him in every way) hesitated for a moment, but he didn’t blink. 

Slowly he asked: “What about inviting some of our other friends, too?’ 

Me: “No, no. Let’s just have both our families. It will be intimate and simple. That’s all I want.” 

Eric: “We could maybe have it catered…?”

Me: “No, no. I think I can do a better job. I want to cook.” 

Because this was now MY event. And it was MY vision. 

He agreed to my plan. I texted Stacie and invited everyone to our Anniversary Dinner Party.

Then Amy and Lucy began making suggestions for the dinner party. “Let’s all get dressed up.” I liked that. What a great idea. It would be more celebratory if we were dressed up. 

And so Anniversary Tuesday came around and I had Jon and the girls help set a big table in the garden as I went about prepping my simple, but delicious (not Cuban) menu: steaks, oven-roasted potatoes, sweet and fresh corn-on-the-cob, fresh asparagus, and a big green salad.

I enlisted the help of my amazing sous vide device (which I’ll tell you all about at a later time) and my trusty pressure cooker and went about making dinner for the 12 of us.

Lucy and Amy helped set the beautiful table. We had music playing to set the mood. It was all going to be quite lovely. And it totally was. Dinner turned out delicious. Everyone had seconds and it was pretty much exactly as I had envisioned. 

I was so proud of myself. Everything had unfolded according to my plan. “Let’s bring out the dessert.”

But Amy needed some help first getting the squirmy Sebastian’s diaper changed. Of course I would help her. 

The diaper change took approximately 2 minutes. Amy suggested I re-apply my lipstick (I taught my Cuban daughters well). So we had been gone for maybe a total of 3 minutes. 

THE REAL ANNIVERSARY SURPRISE

When we emerged from the bedroom, I could hear the strains of “our” song (“Have I Told You Lately” by Van Morrison) starting outside. How sweet of him to add this touch to what I thought was the end of our dinner party.

Then I saw Jon standing there with a large bouquet of red roses. I could see just over his shoulder that our pastor, Ben was standing before a trellis covered with twinkle lights (that was not there 3 minutes before!) next to Eric, who was sporting a red boutonniere. They stood at the end of an aisle between a dozen chairs that had miraculously appeared in the 3 minutes I had been gone. There were red and white rose petals scattered up this insta-aisle. Our families all seated on either side looking expectantly at my reaction as I walked in on my son’s arm.

It was then that I realized we were about to renew our vows. That was about the moment that the (ugly) crying began. (Full disclosure: I did NOT want to post the following photo because seriously…UGLY. CRYING. But this is me, authentically overwhelmed at that moment. C’est la vie.)

As I walked up that make-shift aisle with my son, Jon, I time-travelled back to our actual wedding day 25 years ago when my other son, Adam – then only 6 years old – walked me up the aisle to meet my soon-to-be husband. The parallel was not lost on me. *cue more ugly crying*

RENEWING OUR VOWS

I was almost (almost!) composed by the time I reached Eric’s side. Now that I understood what was happening I felt I could handle it less emotionally. WRONG. 

A few months before, Lucy had asked about the vows we took on our wedding day. Because we were preparing for her own upcoming nuptials it didn’t seem like a strange question. So I shared that I still had the pastor’s notes from our wedding day in 1992. The notes were tucked away in my bible on my nightstand. I showed her and she took a photo with her phone, you know, how the kids do that these days. 

Back to our present Surprise Vow Renewal Thing, and Ben our pastor began referring to the original vows we took on August 8th, 1992. *cue the ugly crying once again*

And let me tell you, after you’ve lived a lifetime with another person, when you say the “in sickness and in health” and “for richer for poorer” and “til death do us part” words, your mind tends to scan your mental rolodex for all those moments in your life, making the vows really REAL. Guess what happened to Marta right then.  Seriously, enough with the crying! 

THE LOVING CUP

Eric gave me a gift at that point. Silver for the 25th anniversary. An antique (170 years old) silver loving cup. 

Definition from Merriam-Webster – 1: a large ornamental drinking vessel with two or more handles; 2: a loving cup given as a token or trophy

I could not get on the other side of that ugly-crying. Ay, Dios mio. 

So we renewed our vows. And drank from the loving cup and toasted our 25 years of marriage. If you’ve made it to your 25th wedding anniversary, you totally deserve a trophy. Am I right?

We were surrounded by dearest family and friends (Adam, Alysha, and Asher Face-timed in). The night was so much more than I could have imagined. I mean, after all, I only imagined making a nice dinner.

My husband and friends and kids surprised me in such a profound and meaningful way. They seriously left me overwhelmed and breathless. 

I think that’s probably the real reason I couldn’t write about this 6 months ago when it all happened. I was coasting on the Wow-what-an-amazing-surprise of it all for days and weeks, but that’s not important right now. 

We cut the cake and I was finally able to catch my breath and laugh and delight in the Amazing Anniversary Surprise. We toasted again to the past 25 years and prayed for 25 more. 

Then Eric brought out his guitar. His guitar? What?

And played this song (which I happen to love but I never really listened to the lyrics), with everyone singing along to the chorus. I can’t even read the lyrics without busting out the big ugly tears. You know what happened next. *sigh* (I have this all on video, but I really think my loud gulping sobs take away from the lovely music, so I won’t over-share that part.) 

You can click on the song title to hear it, if you like. Not sung by Eric. But by the Proclaimers who do a fine job. 

“Life With You”

When I was a younger man
When I was a silly boy
I didn’t need a thing
I was strong as anything
I viewed solitude as a joy

But since I met you I’m distraught
You wandered in and now I’m caught
I never thought I would see
Someone so truly good
Someone who’s so everything I’m not

I want to spend my life with you
Don’t want to live all alone
I can’t conceive of the years left to me
Without you in our home

But what if what if what if what
If it’s not perfect then it’s not
But every care I take
Nothing I won’t forsake
To dwell beside what you’ve got

Every time I think about you
I think I can’t live without you
I tell you something I am nothing without you

I want to spend my life with you
Don’t want to live all alone
I can’t conceive of the years left to me
Without you in our home

I want to spend my life with you
Don’t want to live all alone
I can’t conceive of the years left to me
Without you in our home.

 
 
And I thought the evening was completely perfect before the song. Like we say in good Cuban, “Le puso la tapa a’l pomo.” – “He put the lid on the jar.” (Yeah. I know it loses a lot in translation. But you get the idea.)
 
And now, 6 months after the fact, and I think I’m finally able to share the story with you. Honestly, as I pulled out these photos and I wrote this all out, I re-lived the moment filled with love and gratitude for the good man I married and proud of the legacy we have created together.
 
Uh-oh. *cue the ugly crying once again*

You might also like:

Twenty Years New Year’s Mystery I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve. Operation Pedro Pan. It’s been 50 years and the pain is still present.

Filed Under: Celebrate, Cuban-American Life

Previous Post: « Born to Be Wild
Next Post: 5 Things I’m Loving Right Now »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amanda says

    February 9, 2018 at 5:57 pm

    I’m totally ugly crying right now. Happy 25 (and a half) anniversary to you! Love you Darbys!!

    Reply
    • Marta Darby says

      February 12, 2018 at 3:28 pm

      Thanks! Love you, Manders! xo

      Reply
  2. Lee Laden says

    February 10, 2018 at 4:27 pm

    All the love of family and friends, joyous memories and surprises written by a multi-talented woman I’ve never met in person. However, after all these years of getting to know each other (and our children) via email and FB, I feel that we are true friends,

    Bravo and Happy 25th to you and Eric. Your tears of JOY were touching. God Bless and Love,

    Lee

    Reply
    • Marta Darby says

      February 12, 2018 at 3:29 pm

      You KNOW we are true friends, Lee. Thank you for always responding with kindness and encouragement.

      xo,
      Marta

      Reply
  3. Kat says

    February 10, 2018 at 5:43 pm

    Damn girl, glad I was alone at home when I read this❤️You are blessed

    Reply
    • Marta Darby says

      February 12, 2018 at 3:30 pm

      LOL, MamaKat!

      I am indeed.

      xo,
      M

      Reply
  4. Kirsten says

    February 11, 2018 at 9:14 am

    Even though I already knew the story, this still made me cry. Kudos to Eric and everyone who made this happen-its just beautiful.

    Reply
    • Marta Darby says

      February 12, 2018 at 3:32 pm

      Aw, thanks so much, Kirsten!

      (still not over it)

      xo,
      Marta

      Reply
  5. Alina Labens says

    February 11, 2018 at 9:29 am

    Beautiful story. My husband and I will celebrate our 25th on June 26th.
    Cheers to 25 + more!

    Reply
    • Marta Darby says

      February 12, 2018 at 3:32 pm

      Early felicidades to you, Alina! Y muchos mas!

      xo,
      Marta

      Reply
  6. Alicia says

    February 11, 2018 at 6:51 pm

    Felicidades to you and your groom! That was a beautiful story. Cheers to many more years making memories .
    God Bless you both and your lovely family.

    Reply
    • Marta Darby says

      February 12, 2018 at 3:33 pm

      Thank you, Alicia!

      xo,
      Marta

      Reply
  7. Carie says

    February 12, 2018 at 1:17 pm

    Marta you are so blessed. Happy 25 1/2 years and may God bless you with atleast another 25 1/2 more full of health, love, family, good friends and making happy and fulfilling memories. Felicidades Mr. & Mrs. Eric Darby!!!

    Reply
    • Marta Darby says

      February 12, 2018 at 3:34 pm

      I appreciate you saying so, Carie!

      That is my prayer, too.

      xo,
      Marta

      Reply
  8. chief says

    February 14, 2018 at 4:36 am

    Know that you are not aloneI thought we’d be together forever, my sister and me.

    Reply
  9. Lourdes S. says

    February 15, 2018 at 7:08 am

    Oh, Marta & Eric, Happy, happy 25th Anniversary! Thanks for sharing the true thread of life – love. God Bless and “un abrazo”!

    Reply
    • Marta Darby says

      February 15, 2018 at 4:54 pm

      Gracias, Lourdes!

      Un fuerte abrazo,
      Marta

      Reply
  10. Yeneisy says

    April 25, 2018 at 7:25 pm

    My buena tu página Marta! Sobre todo me encantan tus recetas. Un gran abrazo de una Cubana Bahamesa. Good Job!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

TRY SUPER SMOOTH CAFE LA LLAVE ESPRESSO

Cafe La Llave espresso coffee pods

My Cuban T-Shirt Designs

“Cuban T-Shirts

Subscribe to MBFCF Newsletter!

Never miss a post! Sign up with your email address to receive recipes, news and updates right in your inbox!

Cuban Foods Poster

“Cuba

Cuban Coffee Poster

“Cuba

Cuban Desserts Poster

“Cuba poster - Cuban desserts subway art print

Most Recent Posts

  • Santayana loves Celia
    August 29, 2024
  • Post Solar Eclipse – Café La Llave Giveaway
    April 16, 2024
  • REAL Snow: A Darby Family Adventure
    March 19, 2024
  • Dulce De Leche Cheesecake with Maria Cookie Crust
    January 29, 2024
  • Hispanic Heritage Coffee Basket Giveaway
    October 24, 2023

Cuban Recipes Cookbook

Cuban recipes with pictures cookbook from My Big Fat Cuban Family

Follow Me on Instagram

mybigfatcubanfamily

I love all things Cuban. I love to share stories, my family, food & recipes. I'm Marta. 💋🎉 @martadarby
Marta Darby Designs:
https://etsy.me/3ZWbWIS

Oh, the Cubanity!! 🇨🇺❤️#mybigfatcubanf Oh, the Cubanity!! 🇨🇺❤️#mybigfatcubanfamily
O’ Hi! 👋🏼 ☘️🇨🇺Always represent O’ Hi! 👋🏼 ☘️🇨🇺Always representing. 😉#mybigfatcubanfamily
#stpatricksday
Believe it. ☕️🥰❤️Happy Sunday, my fri Believe it. ☕️🥰❤️Happy Sunday, my friends. 🎉#ohthecubanity🇨🇺
#belikemarta 🖖🏼😎
#thedrinkofmypeople🇨🇺☕️
I’m super crazy in love with my Christmas tree.🥰
And @gloriaestefan singing about it makes it that much more beautiful. Am I right? 🤩I’m over here waiting (rather impatiently) for Noche Buena to arrive. ⏱️
Who’s with me? 👀☺️🎄🙌🏼❤️#arbolitodenavidad
#feliznavidad
#ohthecubanity🇨🇺
I have a gift for you today on the blog. 🎁 Thes I have a gift for you today on the blog. 🎁 These Classic Cuban Crema de Vie printable labels designed by the lovely and talented @lucyruthdarby // I also share the recipe for our amazing Cuban egg nog. // 🇨🇺❤️ Merry Christmas, my friends.🎄 #itsacubanthing
bit.ly/2QJV2Ka
Best way to get from here to Noche Buena. Bring on Best way to get from here to Noche Buena. Bring on the @cafelallave
💚🗝️☕️🎄💃🏻🎶Feliz Navidad!!🎶🪅#cafelallave
#thedrinkofmypeople🇨🇺☕️
Felicidades, @anaqooks !!! I can’t wait to dig i Felicidades, @anaqooks !!!
I can’t wait to dig in! So proud of you, my friend. 😘❤️🥰
Bacon Guava Cream Cheese Bites. You should totally Bacon Guava Cream Cheese Bites. You should totally make these for Thanksgiving. Also, practice taking bows and saying, “it was nothing.” 🇨🇺🎉🏆 Here’s the link -  bit.ly/GuavaBites #thefoodofmypeople #guavabites
A big a Thank You shoutout to @santayanajwlrs in M A big a Thank You shoutout to @santayanajwlrs in Miami for this gorgeous Celia Cruz quarter which they made into a FINE piece of jewelry. 🤩🇨🇺💃🏻🎶
I’ll be wearing it with great pride.
“Abre que voy! Cuida’o con Los callos!” 🎶
AZUCAR!!!#santayanajewelers
#celiacruzquarter
#mybigfatcubanfamily
Our favorite sound…🙌🏼☕️💚🗝️“Mas cafecito, por favor.” ☕️❤️#cafelallave☕️
#thedrinkofmypeople🇨🇺☕️
#mybigfatcubanfamily
I want to recommend this beautiful story to you. 📕
1) Because the author @titaramirezwriter writes with such an appreciation for Cubanity. 🇨🇺🙌🏼
2) Also, is this the BEST quintessentially Cuban book title ever?? yes. Yes it is. 🇨🇺❤️🌴Felicidades, Tita on such a delicious read. ❤️🏆#ohthecubanity🇨🇺
#dimelocantando
#tellittomesinging
I’m excited and proud to share that my shop, Mar I’m excited and proud to share that my shop, Marta Darby Designs on Etsy is back open for business! 🎉
I have food posters from many countries available in multiple colors. ⭐️
Choose from digital uploads, printed posters, or framed posters. (Link in bio)
Que pachanga! 💃🏻
Come take a look and shop around. You’re bound some to find something you love.❤️https://etsy.me/3ZWbWIS#cubanfoodposter
#martadarbydesigns
Croquetas > Pumpkin Spice
This is the truth. Don’t @ me. 🇨🇺
.
.
.
.
.#ohthecubanity🇨🇺
#belikemarta 🖖🏼😎
#mybigfatcubanfamily
#croquetas
#pumpkinspice
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m pretty easy to catch.
🤭#pastelitodeguayaba
#belikemarta 🖖🏼😎
AHORA SI!! 🚨 My friends at @santayanajwlrs le p AHORA SI!! 🚨
My friends at @santayanajwlrs le pusieron la tapa al pomo!
Have you seen the new Celia Cruz quarters?? 🇨🇺💰
Well, Santayana has designed this gorgeous piece of jewelry. Seriously. 🤩
I’ll tell you all about it over on my blog. 🗣️ Porque I have all the chisme on this gorgeous piece. ❤️I know. Im a little crazy about it because we Cuban Queens have to stick together. 😉Link in profile! ☝🏼 ¡AZÚCAR! 💃🏻https://www.mybigfatcubanfamily.com/2024/08/santayana-loves-celia/
My good friends at @albisacandles are celebrating My good friends at @albisacandles are celebrating that 5 Years ago they introduced the amazing Cuban Bread Candle into the world.🌎
Those of us who have difficulty finding Cuban Bread are so grateful for this very Cuban scent. 🇨🇺🥖
Congratulations, my friends! 🎉Try it. I promise you’ll never be the same. 🇨🇺🥖❤️Oh, the Cubanity! 🤯#ohthecubanity🇨🇺
#belikemarta. 🖖🏼😎
#cubanbread
#cubanbreadcandle
#albisacandles
This was my breakfast. ☕️
And my lunch. ☕️
And my afternoon snack. ☕️
Because CUBAN. 🇨🇺☕️Who’s with me? 🙋🏼‍♀️
Gracias, @cafelallave#cafelallave
#ohthecubanity
#cafecubano
It goes without saying. Because CUBAN! 🇨🇺🍮#cubanfood
#cubanflan🍮
#thefoodofmypeople🇨🇺
This is so real. 🇨🇺🥖🙈Thanks to my fr This is so real. 🇨🇺🥖🙈Thanks to my friend, @theyumyumfoodie ❤️🙏🏼#thefoodofourpeople
#ohthecubanity
We have known this our whole lives! “Oye, Chiqu We have known this our whole lives!
“Oye, Chiqui! Traéme el VIBAPORU!! 🎯💃🏻❤️🎉#mybigfatcubanfamily
#futbol
Follow on Instagram

Follow Marta On Social

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

FEATURED POSTS

  • My Big Fat Cuban Cooking Playlist
    November 21, 2016
  • Bacon Guava Cream Cheese Bites RecipeBacon Guava Cream Cheese Bites Recipe
    October 3, 2016
  • Chicken Soup Recipe - Cuban-styleChicken Soup Recipe: Cuban-style
    July 27, 2016
  • Picadillo Pies Recipe
    July 27, 2016
  • El Flan de La Reina Recipe
    July 27, 2016

Blog Archives

Recommended Services

Orange County Private Investigator
Enterprise SEO

Footer

Meet Marta

Marta Verdes Darby is a Cuban-American food blogger in South Orange County.

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Sign Up For My Newsletter

February 2018
MTWTFSS
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728 
« Jan   Mar »

Copyright © 2025 my big fat cuban family

 

Loading Comments...