Marriage, Milestones, and Falling Flat On Your Face

This month, my husband Mike and I celebrated 35 years of marriage – and turned 60. These are milestones that make you pause, laugh, and thank God for the sheer miracle of making it this far in a crazy world.

We are blessed with a vibrant Catholic family: three adult children (two married, one hopefully to be engaged soon), three grandkids here on Earth, and one more on the way. I’m also the youngest of eight siblings, all married to their original spouses—my oldest brother and his wife going strong at 53 years together. So yes, marriage runs deep in our bloodlines. But even more than that, our Catholic faith does, too.

Mike and I have learned over the years that marriage is not just a partnership—it’s a path to sanctity. We believe marriage is for saints in the making. And saints are forged in fire, in laughter, and—sometimes—on the floor of an airport.

Yes, I literally fell flat on my face at the airport on the way to our anniversary getaway. My overstuffed backpack tipped my rolling suitcase, and down I went—like a volleyball player diving for a save. Ten years ago, I would’ve been fuming with shame. But this time, I popped up like a rubber ball, and Mike and I laughed until we cried. That moment, as silly as it was, revealed something deep: our marriage has changed.

What changed it? Spiritual fasting through Delay and Pray. For the past four years, I’ve been practicing Catholic fasting—not just for health, but as a spiritual weapon. Fasting for my own transformation. Fasting especially for my husband. And slowly, beautifully, the unseen work of the Holy Spirit has become visible in our marriage.

Spiritual fasting has helped me stop blaming Mike for my emotions. It’s helped us shift our burdens onto Jesus—where they belong. We now look to Him who is under the cross with us bearing the heaviest load for our family. He’s always been there; we just didn’t always see Him.

Before fasting and Catholic coaching, I often reacted emotionally. I let shame or frustration run the show. But fasting teaches you to Delay & Pray—to pause, reflect, and invite Christ into the moment. That’s what allowed me to laugh at a fall instead of rage at the embarrassment. It was a literal, physical “Nunc Coepi”—a new beginning.

Marriage is a sacred training ground for love, humility, and laughter. It’s where the Lord meets us, especially in the mess. When we fast and pray for our spouses, we open the door to transformation—ours and theirs. One of you has to go first. That’s the work of love.

So, whether you’ve been married five years or fifty, take heart. Open the door to Jesus. He’s knocking—especially in the hard, hidden places.