This year feels extra special in the sweetest kind of way. My husband and I are celebrating 25 years of marriage, and somehow, beautifully, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is also celebrating 25 years. As a longtime Tolkien fan, that little overlap feels so meaningful to me. It’s one of those small life moments that makes me stop, smile, and just sit in the wonder of time passing.

Twenty-five years is such a big milestone. When I think about it, it honestly feels a little surreal. So much life has happened in those years, so many ordinary days, hard seasons, happy memories, laughter, stress, growth, and quiet little moments that ended up meaning everything. Marriage isn’t made up only of grand milestones. Most of it is found in the everyday things, showing up for each other, building a life together, weathering the hard parts, and still finding reasons to laugh along the way. There’s something so comforting about having someone beside you through all of it.

Maybe that’s one reason The Fellowship of the Ring has always meant so much to me. Beyond the beauty of Middle-earth and the epic adventure, there’s something deeply comforting about its heart. Friendship, loyalty, courage, hope, and continuing forward even when the road feels long, it all feels so timeless. There’s a warmth to it that never fades for me. It’s a story about companionship in so many ways, and that feels especially fitting during a year like this.

We were sad to miss the Lord of the Rings festivities at MegaCon this year. It would have been such a fun and meaningful way to celebrate both this movie milestone and our anniversary. I definitely had that little pang of disappointment, especially knowing how much I would have loved soaking in all the Tolkien joy around other fans. But sometimes life just works out that way, and not every celebration happens in the moment we imagined it would.

Still, I love the thought that celebrations don’t have to be limited to one event or one day. There are so many small ways to make a year feel special. So even though we missed MegaCon, I’m hoping we can still find little Lord of the Rings-inspired ways to celebrate throughout the year. Maybe that means a cozy trilogy rewatch, a themed dinner, a special outing, or just leaning into the comfort and magic of a world that has meant so much to us for so long. Sometimes the most meaningful celebrations are the quiet ones, the ones that happen at home, wrapped in warmth and memory.

There’s something really lovely about honoring 25 years of marriage while also celebrating a story that has lasted in my heart for just as long. Both feel tied to love in different ways, love of story, love of home, love of shared memories, and love of the people who walk beside us through life. And when I think about that, it all feels very fitting. A little nostalgic. A little emotional. And very, very precious.

So here’s to 25 years of marriage, 25 years of The Fellowship of the Ring, and all the beautiful little ways we keep celebrating the things we love. The road goes ever on, after all.

I’ll be sharing more along the way as we mark the little celebrations throughout the year.