The Anniversary Sandwich: Built with Love, Music & a Whole Lot of Gratitude

Hello, my favorite Monday peeps! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Mine was packed with fun from start to finish. Friday night, I got to cheer on the hubby while he played another fantastic gig, which meant I stayed up way past my bedtime—but it was absolutely worth it!

Then on Saturday, I headed north for a fun “book party” at Barnes & Noble to celebrate the newest release by one of my all-time favorite authors, Sheila Roberts. Even better, she’s been a longtime family friend ever since I was just a wee little one, so getting to celebrate her newest book made the day even more special. It was a wonderful weekend…but wow, Monday sure arrived in a hurry!

“Today’s music idea was inspired by this interesting factoid found at CoolKidFacts. The first sandwich was allegedly made on August 6, 1762, and was given the Lord of Sandwich’s name. The dish consisted of meat placed between two slices of bread, which he requested because he was in the middle of a gambling game and did not want to interrupt it.

This week’s prompt is sandwich. Build a sandwich (acrostic) with your favorite song picks, find song titles, lyrics, or band names with sandwich or items found on a sandwich. This is a lite assignment; the object is to have fun!”

With this week’s theme as “sandwich,” I decided to build mine a little differently. Instead of stacking meat and cheese between two slices of bread, I stacked together songs about love, commitment, finding your person, and holding onto the people who matter most. After all, Tuesday is my husband’s and my 23rd wedding anniversary (and we’ve been together for 30 years!), so it seemed like the perfect excuse to build a playlist filled with heart!

Some songs become part of the soundtrack of our lives, and this has always been one of those songs for me. On the surface, it’s a beautiful love song about finding the person you’re meant to be with. But for many listeners—including me—it means so much more. It’s about trusting that even life’s most difficult detours can eventually lead us exactly where we’re supposed to be.

Looking back, my own road had more than a few unexpected twists and turns. My first marriage ended in heartbreak, and the next chapter wasn’t the one I’d hoped for either. It took finding the courage to walk away and start over before life finally led me to the incredible man I’ve now been blessed to share nearly 30 years with—23 of those as husband and wife.

As our anniversary arrives this week, I can’t help but smile and think that every bump, every wrong turn, and every broken road somehow led me to him. I wouldn’t wish those difficult chapters on anyone, but I also wouldn’t trade where they ultimately brought me. Sometimes the road really does know where it’s going long before we do.

Get ready for more goosebumps; here’s Rascal Flatts with “Bless the Broken Road”:

Sometimes the most meaningful songs come from the happiest moments in life. This beautiful ballad has an especially touching origin—frontman Steve Garrigan wrote it as a surprise for his wife on their wedding day.

Rather than giving a traditional speech, he expressed his feelings through music, and the song became the couple’s first dance. Afterward, he realized the moment was too special to keep to themselves, so the band decided to share it with the world as part of their upcoming—and final—studio album.

Knowing the story behind the song makes every lyric feel even more heartfelt. It’s a celebration of gratitude, enduring love, and finding that one person who makes every challenge a little easier to face.

As my husband and I celebrate another anniversary this week, I couldn’t think of a more fitting reminder that life’s greatest gift isn’t simply finding someone to love—it’s finding someone you can’t imagine walking through life without.

Get ready for some goosebumps; here’s Kodaline with “Without You”:

Some songs don’t become popular because they’re played on the radio—they become favorites because people discover them exactly when they need them most. This song is one of those rare songs.

Written as a message of hope during life’s uncertain seasons, it encourages listeners to hold tightly to love, faith, and the people who matter most, even when the road ahead feels unclear. Over the years, its quiet encouragement has made it a favorite at weddings, in films, and during life’s milestone moments.

What I love most about this song is its gentle reminder that love isn’t measured only by the easy days. It’s built through the ordinary moments, the unexpected challenges, and the decision to keep choosing one another every single day. After 30 years together, that message resonates more than ever.

Life isn’t always perfect, but walking through it hand in hand makes every step worthwhile.

Here’s Fort Atlantic with “Let Your Heart Hold Fast”:

Whether you’ve been with your special someone for decades, are just beginning your own love story, or simply enjoy a great song with a meaningful story behind it, I hope you’ll find something here that speaks to you. So grab your favorite snack (a sandwich would be especially appropriate 😄), turn up the volume, and let’s get this week’s music party started!

Every couple has a wedding day they’ll never forget, but the strongest relationships are built in all the ordinary days that follow. Inspired by the idea that true love continues to grow long after the vows have been spoken, this heartfelt song imagines falling in love with the same person over and over again. It’s not about reliving the wedding—it’s about celebrating everything that’s happened since and realizing you’d gladly make the very same choice all over again.

As our anniversary arrives this week, this song couldn’t be more perfect. Looking back over nearly three decades together, we’ve celebrated countless milestones, weathered life’s challenges, shared more laughter than I can count, and built a life I’m incredibly grateful for. If I had the chance to do it all again, I’d still choose the same wonderful man in a heartbeat. Some love stories only get better with time, and I’m thankful ours is one of them.

Give a listen to Dan + Shay with “Marry You Again”:

Hope you enjoyed your love sandwich! 😅 That’s a wrap for this week – have a great Monday! See you on the dance floor!

Now, onto the particulars of Monday’s Music Moves Me:

I have the supreme honor and privilege of being a co-host with the inimitable Xmas Dolly and our musical cohort, the awesome Cathy from Curious as a CAThy, and Alana of Ramblin’ with AM!

Want to join in the fun? It’s easy – just find a tune that rocks your boat, post it, and link up! Check out the other music lovahs and let’s jam!