Joanna Gaines Shares Her Parents' Sweet Love Story on Their 45th Anniversary: 'All the Odds Were Against Them, But They Fought Through'

The Fixer Upper star's Korean mother and American father met while he was stationed overseas

Published on June 21, 2017 12:52 PM

Turns out #relationshipgoals run in the family!

Chip and Joanna Gaines may be HGTV’s power couple now, but the mom of four had a pretty amazing example set for her growing up. The Fixer Upper star shared a sweet post on Instagram celebrating her mom and dad’s 45 years of marriage. And their love story had a fairy tale start just like Joanna’s own.

“My parents met in 1969 when my dad was stationed in Korea and their story is one you hear about in the movies,” she captions a photo collage of the couple. “All the odds were against them but they fought through and became an example of how to love, fight for, extend grace to, and honor each other amidst all their many differences.”

In another post of the pair in honor of Veterans Day, Joanna shares a photo that has “always been one of my favorite pictures of my dad” and reveals another aww-inducing tale.

“He’s in his VW bug on the way to pick up my mother in California just after he asked to marry her,” she writes. “Nearly 45 years later and they’ve never been stronger.”

As for her own 14-year marriage, Joanna and Chip credit hard work and weekly date nights as the key to their successful partnership.

WATCH THIS: Chip and Joanna Gaines Have Very Different Memories of Their First Meeting

“Jo and I both made a commitment pretty early on that the two of us are the most important variable,” Chip tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “If we can figure out how to be right as a couple, then obviously we a have a lot better opportunity to be right for our kids.”

Before signing off Joanna shares one last sentiment to her parents that fans can surely echo: “Here’s to many more years!”