Through it all was love

Last night I was thinking about wanting to go retro and vintage with my style and decided I might as well start with what's in my apartment. While looking for inspiration, I came across a few picture frames that I don't know how I'd overlooked.

These are my (maternal) grandparents, not too long after they got married in 1944. I think Grandma is gorgeous and Grandpa is dashing!

 (Click on the picture to view larger image).

These are my grandparents many years later, in the kitchen of their house - and I love how happy they look!

(Yes, I took pictures of pictures - I couldn't really scan them).

So an evening of vintage inspiration searching turned into memories of the amazing love I witnessed through my grandparents' 50+ years of marriage. They raised six girls (in a house with one bathroom), and managed to create a home that anyway felt comfortable in as soon as they walked through the door.

I remember love, laughter, lots of family dinners, and time around the piano. Once when we visited, Grandpa met us at our car and told us Grandma had just gotten her hair done, and it would make her feel extra special if we said something to her when we went into the house. I remember they were always having coffee together when we'd come down in the morning - sometimes talking, sometimes not, just enjoying time with each other.

That love? The best kind of vintage I could ever hope for.

Is there a "vintage" love story you're inspired by?

(And a huge shout out to my Aunt Susie who slogged through a super slow internet connection to tell me where these pictures were taken!)