Still the One

Marriage Partnership catches up with four couples who have been married 20 years—and discovers their secrets for staying together.

by Tyler Charles

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In recognition of our10-year anniversary, Marriage Partnership profiled four couples who were celebrating their tin/aluminum anniversaries. This time around, MP tracked down those couples to find out how their marriages have developed over the last decade. We were pleased to discover that all four couples are still married, and we're certain that their commitment to each other and to God will once again serve as an inspiration and encouragement to our readers.

The Honeymooners Give Back

Tim and Tiffany Thompson stay close by serving together.

Wedding Date: February 27, 1988
Hometown: Appleton, Wisconsin
Children: Whitney (18), Niko (17), Tessa (15), and Tate (13)
Tim's occupation: Sales rep for a contract packaging company
Tiffany's occupation: Public speaker with Life! Promotions and a speaker to teen groups about abstinence

Ten years ago MP dubbed Tim and Tiffany Thompson "The Honeymooners" because they were committed to keeping each other first. How did they best do that? By going on trips together every 18 months. It's a way for them to "keep that 'newlywed-ness,'" says Tiffany.

After 20 years of marriage, they're still committed to couple getaways, although these days some of their trips would never be mistaken for a honeymoon. Whereas 10 years ago they focused only on newlywed-ness, now they focus on "other-ness" by spending their time together on mission trips.

"We still want to invest in our marriage and spend that time together, but serving together is also a way that we get closer," says Tiffany.

They've traveled to Guatamala, and this year they're heading to Israel. And in what has become their annual Christmas mission trip, the Thompsons and their four children have traveled to Mexico every year for the past five years.

"People tell us, 'Oh, cool! You're going to Mexico for Christmas,' because they think it's exotic and warm. But it's not like that," says Tiffany. "It's in the mountains, so temperatures are in the 50s. There's no heat in the hotel, and sometimes no hot water for showers. We go to the slums and clean up their playgrounds and play with the kids, so it's not a vacation."

"It's not one of those honeymoon trips," says Tim. "There's no white sand, no beach. But even though it's not that type of excursion, it's amazing that it turns out to be our family's favorite trip."

The couple has enjoyed watching their kids discover their spiritual gifts on these trips, but they've also witnessed ways mission trips have benefited their marriage.

"When we're on a mission trip, with our cell phones off and our attention on serving God," says Tiffany, "we're better able to hear his voice and learn more about his will for our lives. It's incredible to be able to share this kind of experience because it increases our spiritual intimacy."

Better than caffeine

For the past three years, as part of her job, Tiffany has traveled to high schools in Kenya, where she spends two weeks promoting abstinence as a way to combat AIDS.

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Originally published in: Marriage Partnership, 2008, Spring, Page 38

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