15 years

Today is my 15th wedding anniversary. That sounds so weird to me. It sounds so old and grown up and I still feel like the teenage bride that I once was. Most of the time anyway.
What an adventure marriage has been, and adulthood for that matter. We have been through so many of life's ups and downs together already. Births (we have 6 kids) and deaths (our 3rd child as well as extended family); marriage and divorce (my parents, soon after our marriage, his dad's); sickness (his mom's breast cancer and others) and health; poorer (living on 1 small income, failed business) and richer (thank goodness we don't have to live on dried pasta and beans anymore!); depression (both of us) and joys (innumerable).
I would love to say that through each roller coaster ride, we clung to each other and supported each other without fail. But that would not be entirely true. There have been times when we have turned our backs to each other, times when we have failed each other, times when we have not chosen to love with God's perfect love. We, as individuals, are not perfect and therefore as a couple, are not perfect. But we have persevered and God has protected us. When one of us felt like giving up, the other was there holding tight and refusing to let go. Refusing to let us fail. When one of us wanted to run away(usually me), the other gently closed the door and held the runner in his arms (usually him). When one of us could not take another step in life, when we felt overwhelmed with grief and circumstance, the other carried us on their backs and prayed us through the darkness.
Regardless of our individual failures, we as a couple have held fast, and with God's grace we have come out the other side stronger and better for it.
Marriage has not been an easy road for either of us, and over the last few years we have struggled often. I knew that we could stay together with God's help, but I had no hope of better than that. I had no idea of the redemption God had in store for us. What it would look like when we both saw each other as God sees us, when we loved each other with His love.
We have a marriage redeemed and sanctified in God. Now that is something worth celebrating! I can barely comprehend the difference in our relationship. I am so thankful for our life together and the man I married. He makes me beautiful, he is dead sexy, he protects and cherishes me and his unconditional love is the greatest gift he could and does give. I hope that I have many more years to show him my love, to be his biggest cheerleader, to give him my greatest respect and to watch our family grow up together.
Honey, I love you, I thank God for you every day, I can't wait to see what the next 60 years have in store for us and how we will succeed as a team. You make me weak in the knees every. single. day. I can't wait to see you tonight, tell you of my love and to be held in your arms once more. Forever and ever, amen.

This post is supposed to have some lovely photos of us taken over the years, but I can't find my darn mini usb cord and the card reader on this thing is broke. So maybe later. Or just maybe I don't have to be humiliated by my nineties hair today.

Comments

  1. beautiful.
    I have only been married 8 years, but I can relate to this - the ups and downs and the good and bad.
    Congratulations! 15 years in an accomplishment.

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  2. Oh that is just beautiful and so real. I wish you nothing but sunshine and roses for the next 60 years, you deserve it.

    Happy anniversary!

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  3. Happy anniversary! I loved this post...it was beautifully written.

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  4. I completely appreciate your honest account of your marriage and believe that even the bad parts are part of the beauty of it. Happy Anniversary!

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  5. Marriage is hard.
    It just is.
    I don't think there is a single married couple out there who hasn't struggled at one time or another. {I could be wrong....but....}

    Have you ever heard a country song called "Remember When?" There's a part that makes me think "that's the truth about marriage" that goes: "we came together, we fell apart, and broke each others hearts, remember when"...
    Anyway---it's a fabulous song just about life, so if you haven't heard it, you need to google it or look for it on youtube.com.
    :)

    Happy Anniversary!

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  6. What a beautiful tribute! Our anniversaries are very close -- we're August 17th. Happy Anniversary!

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  7. What a beautiful, honest sentiment.

    Truly, I thank you for sharing that.

    And, Happy Anniversary!

    Lori

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  8. What a beautiful post! Happy Anniversary!

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  9. I hope you had a wonderful anniversary!!

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  10. Happy anniversary a week late! We will celebrate our 17 year in October, and yes, it seems impossible. I appreciated your honesty in this well-written post. I hope your husband got a chance to read it!

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  11. THis is absolutely beautiful. I'ma little late, but just had to say how touching this was. Congratulations to you both!

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  12. A wonderful post :)

    I hope your new school year is going well and you are having a wonderful 'Fall' so far!!

    Thinking of you!

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