A couple who got engaged within three months of meeting say their relationship is still going strong 30 years on because they 'put their marriage before their kids'.<br /><br />Sonya Heath, 52, met her partner, Al, 53, at a camp where she was working as a nurse, and they hit it off instantly.<br /><br />Sonya wanted to be sure he was the guy for her and on their first date she grilled him on his values, financial stability and family dynamics.<br /><br />Luckily for Al, he passed the “interview” with flying colours and Sonya came home to tell her family she could see herself marrying him.<br /><br />Three months later, Al proposed on Christmas Eve and the pair wed the following July.<br /><br />They’ve since had three children together – Summer, 27, Levi, 24, and Quinten, 22 – but insist they have always made their relationship "a priority".<br /><br />The parents even tell their children they love each other more than the three of them.<br /><br />As well as going on family holidays, the couple have always made sure they go on a trip once a year without the kids and have regular date nights.<br /><br />The loved up pair are celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary in July this year and Sonya said she is "more in love" with Al as time passes.<br /><br />Sonya, a music pastor, from Toronto, Canada, said: “I remember seeing him and thinking that guy is good looking. He is something else.<br /><br />“When we spoke, and I thought ‘he’s the sweetest’.<br /><br />“We swapped numbers and went on a date.<br /><br />“I interviewed him. I wanted to make sure we aligned.<br /><br />“I didn’t want to be with a playboy. I wanted to be a guy who adored me and loved me.<br /><br />“I came home and said to my mum ‘I think he’s a guy I could marry’.<br /><br />“We are celebrating 30 years in July.<br /><br />“I’m more in love with him.<br /><br />“We decided to put our marriage ahead of our children.”<br /><br />After meeting in July 1992, Soya and Al, a pastor, quickly hit it off and started dating in September of the same year.<br /><br />When Sonya was away on holiday with her family, Al packed a backpack full of letters for each day they spent apart – to remind her of him.<br /><br />After both knowing they were both “all in” Al got down on one knee on Christmas Eve 1992 and Sonya said 'yes'.<br /><br />They quickly planned the big day and tied the knot in July 1993 – and have been happy ever since.<br /><br />Sonya said: “We’ve always had boundaries with how we speak with each other.<br /><br />“We never call each other idiots for example.”<br /><br />After starting a family, the couple still wanted to prioritise their marriage and continued to have date nights and take holidays – just the two of them.<br /><br />Since their children all left home in 2019 the couple have been embracing their empty nest life – taking more holidays and adventures together.<br /><br />Over the years they have visited 36 counties together.
