Couple waits 9 years to open wedding present from great-aunt

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WTXF) A Michigan couple waited nine years to open one of their wedding presents.

Kathy and Brandon Gunn told their story to 'Love What Matters'. According to the post, the couple finally decided to open the gift from Kathy's great-aunt in May while enjoying a glass of wine on the deck.

Kathy wrote in part, " Now, there had obviously been plenty of disagreements, arguments and slammed doors throughout our 9 years. There were even a couple of instances where we both considered giving up… but we never opened the box.

I honestly think that we both avoided turning to the box, because it would have symbolized our failure. To us, it would have meant that we didn't have what it takes to make our marriage work - and we're both too stubborn and determined for that. "

When the couple finally decided to open the box that night, they found two hand-written notes wrapped around some cash, wine glasses, a vase and some bath products inside. The note addressed to Kathy instructed her to use the money to buy a pizza and to get a bath ready. The note addressed to Brandon instructed him to use the cash to buy flowers and a bottle of wine.

"For 9 years (and three moves) that box sat high on a shelf in various closets gathering dust, yet it somehow taught us about tolerance, understanding, compromise and patience. Our marriage strengthened as we became best friends, partners, and teammates. Today, we decided to open that box, because I finally had a realization. I realized that the tools for creating and maintaining a strong, healthy marriage were never within that box - they were within us."

Read the full post below.