As of this weekend, my parents have been married for 27 years. Their love story is one you would expect to find in a sappy romance novel or a Hallmark film—nearly unbelievable. But it’s all true, and I have seen and lived it for my entire life. It has been remarkable to see, especially as a girl obsessed with fairytales since before I could read.

Their marriage has taught me more about life and love than nearly anything else has. Here are just 27 of the many, many things their 27 years as a couple have taught me.

1. Just because a marriage is something magical doesn’t mean that it’s easy.

2. Faith is the most important thing in life.

3. Family is a close, close second.

4. You have to patiently wait for love to find you; don’t go chasing after it.

5. When it’s right, you won’t have to force it.

6. When it’s right, everything that’s come before will suddenly make sense.

7. Listen.

8. You can never say “I love you” too much.

9. You should never outgrow using pet names like “honey” and “dear.”

10. You should kiss in public sometimes, even when it embarrasses your kids—they secretly love to see their parents love each other openly.

11. You should spend a couple hours watching football or Gilmore Girls if it makes the other person happy.

12. It is better to do than to have.

13. It is better to give than to receive.

14. Always treat the other person’s family the same way you treat your own—with love, respect, sincerity and giving.

15. Sacrificing spending your anniversary at a Penguins game could pay off—you might just be gifted a pair of diamond earrings during the second period intermission.

16. You should dance together at weddings, even if one person isn’t the greatest dancer (I’m looking at you, Dad…and thanks for passing it down).

17. Be intentional with the time you dedicate to your spouse.

18. Being best friends as well as spouses makes for a happy home.

19. Always laugh together.

20. Sometimes it’s okay to laugh at each other, too.

21. Be patient.

22. Be kind.

23. Christ must always be at the center of a marriage.

24. Go to church together every Sunday.

25. The best security blanket little kids could ever have is two parents who love each other deeply.

26. Your grown kids are watching you to see what a marriage should look like.

27. You have one of the best they’ve ever seen, and they are so thankful for that.