Taylor and Anne Cropper

We met the Croppers as newlyweds. We were newlyweds too, so it made sense for us to become friends! As we added children, served together, worked together, but mostly planned and had awesome parties together it was clear to see that the Croppers were magnificent in every way. They are educated, cultured, beautiful, loving, fun people. They are supportive of each other's dreams, and that's led them amazing places!

The dates and details!

What are your names? 

Anne and Taylor Cropper

When did you meet?

High school- 1998

In 8 words or less, describe where or how you met. 

A friend set us up

What was your first date? 

Bowling and Dairy Queen

When were you married? 

11/26/2004

Where were you married? 

Medford, Oregon

How many children do you share? 

5

Getting to Know You!

When and/or how did you know you wanted to marry each other?

I knew I wanted to marry Taylor when we were 18. We went through many years of back and forth and mostly just being best friends. It wasn't until we were both home from our missions that Taylor knew for sure.

What is something that your spouse does (something they may not even realize!) that makes your heart skip a beat and brings you joy.

I love the way he is with the kids. He is more fun, soft, and patient with them than I am and I learn so much from him.

What did you love about your spouse in the beginning that you still love about them now?

We just have so much fun together. Our conversations are still really interesting. He makes me think critically and ask questions. We laugh a lot. We just love being together as much as possible.

Other than your children, what is an accomplishment you are your spouse are proud of?

Taylor and I have both become consistent runners in the last two years. It's taken a lot of early mornings and working hard to each make time for the other to accomplish his/her goals.

What is one of your favorite dates you've been on as a couple?

Our favorite thing to do is trail run together. We did a 12 mile hike/run in Waterton National Park a couple of years ago that was epically beautiful and one of my favorite days ever.

What's the best gift you've received from your spouse?

A few Christmases ago he gave me concert tickets to my favorite band, the Dixie Chicks, who'd recently reunited. They were playing in NYC on my birthday so he got the tickets to see them and the plane tickets and hotel reservations. Best Christmas ever.

Why Marriage Rocks

What's one thing you love to talk about when you have nothing pressing to talk about?

We talk a lot about the things we are reading. We love to talk about his business and dream big.

Tell us about a trial you have faced together and how you feel you were successful in overcoming it, or what you have learned during it.

We've worked really hard to remain united as both of us have struggled with various weaknesses. It's so easy to become frustrated with a spouse and so many people just stop trying and call it quits. We've had to have a lot of hard conversations and have felt pretty broken at times, but we have made a concerted effort to keep communicating, and not let time or silence make something even bigger than it already is. And we believe in grace and mercy and forgiveness and continue to champion each other, though hopelessly flawed.

What makes your marriage unique?

Taylor and I spent several years geographically distant. Our emails and letters became the basis of our relationship. It's where we learned to share ourselves with each other. So, even now, some of our best conversations happen via email or text. Sounds strange, I know, and we definitely talk a lot in person, but we are both writers, and Taylor especially likes to choose his words very carefully. Written communication is the perfect way for him to express his feelings. It works beautifully for us.

What blessings have come into your life because of marriage?

Taylor and I are both co-dependent people, so just having a best friend to be with all the time is the best blessing! And I think we are truly different people because of each other's influence. Of course our five children are the greatest blessing of all and we feel so grateful (and also overwhelmed) to have our family.

Advice

What's a practice or routine you've established that keeps your marriage healthy?

We really believe in date night, once a week. Also, we really do spend almost every evening together. We watch the same shows, hang out and talk, etc. And we always go to bed together. Almost never does one of us go to sleep while the other stays up.

What's one principle you think is important in a healthy marriage?

COMMUNICATION!

If you need a little marriage recharge, what's your trick?

A little weekend away is the tops!

What's the secret of a happy marriage?

When both spouses are working hard to make the other one happy, it's magic.

"The idea of romantic love, so commonplace that it is touched upon in virtually every book or movie or magazine, is also at the very center of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is one of the greatest of God’s laws that a man shall “leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24)" (Bruce C. Hafen, The Gospel and Romantic Love, 1982).