Today, is our anniversary. I have been married to Patrick Feren for 17 years. We’ve known each other for 21 years. It is amazing to think that time could go this quickly. I am so grateful for him and for these years that we have had together. I am knowing and claiming many more. I believe we have spent these years well and will continue to do so. We’ve most definitely used them up again and again.

When I met Patrick back in 1997, I knew deep within my being that I would get to know him. I can’t say it was love at first sight, but it was a knowing and connection and a strong emotional attraction that needed to be explored at a deeper level.

We were friends first, he was my teacher, I worked for him and then we went on to collaborate artistically. Our love grew amidst all these experiences we had together. It grew deeper, as we got to know each other and realized that we had a mission together. It wasn’t just to become husband and wife, but to reach out from our relationship to serve a larger world.

The day we chose to get married on was July 1 because not only was it the day we moved from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Los Angeles. It was the a significant day in our favorite movie – An Affair to Remember. It was the day the couple in the movie were to meet at the top of the Empire State Building to seal their love. In the movie, they never made it, but we saw things differently. Seventeen years later, here we are – living An Affair to Remember.

Our relationship is deep and rich. It is not always easy flowing either. We have been through so much together. We began on rocky ground and hiked through many ups and downs, including financial woes, health crises and an ever-quest for creative expression. We taught together, created workshops together, produced shows, directed and acted in shows and finally studied to be practitioners and ministers of Religious Science together. And, here we are, having transplanted ourselves from New Mexico to the Island of Kaua’i, where we have founded our own ministry based in the Science of Mind and Spirit.

I have to say I am blessed to have the richest, deepest, most loving and romantic relationship I could have ever imagined. However, what makes it the richest is the sharing of our Spiritual selves. We want the best for each other and support our spiritual growth more than anything else. On our wedding day, we gave ourselves, not just the permission, but the command to CHANGE and GROW.

I am grateful to be with a person whom I love so much, respect as a human being – someone who inspires me everyday. Our relationship truly continues to be “An Affair to Remember.”

I love you, Patrick Feren!  Here is our Song – “An Affair to Remember!”

Love and Aloha, your esposa,

Rita