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simplicity



this was us almost 10 years ago! it was the most perfect late fall day. nearly 70 and sunny, and the beginning of the best journey of my life!

this friday, hubby and i celebrate 10 incredible years of marriage. there are days that i'm sure we both wanted to walk away from it all, but we didn't and hear we stand today, crazy in love. a love that is deeper than i ever dreamed. a love that makes me whole. a love that is meant only for us.

in today's world, not many couples make it to 10 years. sad, isn't it? i was thinking about this the other day and thanked God for giving me a hubby that is patient and kind with me. that loves me everytime i ask him if i'm fat. that loves me even when the house is a mess. that loves me when i'm falling apart emotionally. that loves me when i am just sitting next to him.

so in honor of our 10th....i have the top 10 reasons why our marriage is so good.

1. HUMOR - he laughs at me and i laugh at him and we laugh at our kids and with our kids and we laugh at all the irony in our lives.

2. COUCH TIME - almost every night, after our kiddos are tucked in bed, we snuggle on the couch. sometimes we are watching tv, or reading books, or just sitting. but this time together is so worth it. it connects us deeply. we share our days and our thoughts. we snuggle and connect on deeper levels.

3. DINNER - i really believe eating dinner together everynight makes a huge difference. he even likes my cooking. and even when a new recipe is a total flop he is okay with it. this not only connects us, but it connects our family as we learn to share about our days and encourage each other.

4. PARENTS - both of our parents have been married for a long time. almost 45 and 50 years. their committment is something we have seen and share. they have experienced the same things we have and walked through it together. they are great models of marriage.

5. FRIENDS - yes, one of the best things in our marriage was each of us developing great friendships. my hubby can't be a girlfriend to me. he just can't....and i think we both agree that even though at times we may be frustrated at one being gone we both know coming back has made us a better partner.

6. KIDS - yes, i believe our kids have helped us grow together. they are a challenge, but they are so uniquely ours. what a blessing to see what God has chosen to bless us with. they delight us and frustrate us, but cause us to unite. to communicate and to have fun.

7. DATING - we love going on dates. and our kids will even remind us to go on dates from time to time. i think they sense our need. we do double dates or single dates, but getting away from it all and just being focused on each other is wonderful. it doesn't have to be fancy. some of my favorite dates are after bedtime in front of our fireplace with a candle light dinner for 2. we can sit in the dark and talk for hours.

8. TRIALS - we have had our fair share of these. but i have loved that in the midst of each one we knew what the other needed and allowed God to work in our hearts and minds to unite us. God has taken us on some incredible journeys that didn't always look pretty. but what a joy to walk through it hand and hand and come out on the other side more in love than before.

9. COMMITTMENT - we committed to a life together. one that would be simple. one that would be pure. one that would reflect who God created us to be. i believe we have clung to that committment. in that, we remain focused on the same goals and same ideals. the simple life doesn't allow for us to get caught up in other things. it leaves us clinging to each other.

10. CHRIST - it is obvious from how we met and fell in love to where we are today that Christ is our strength. A marriage without Christ in the center must be really hard to hold together. when we don't feel like we can hold on to each other we cling to Christ, and He holds us together. trust me, there have been a few times when that was how we survived.

i am incredibly blessed to have a life with this man. he honors me and loves me. i would never have guessed 10 years ago i could love this deeply. and i'm sure when i look back in another ten years my love will be even deeper.

when he proposed, and again in our vows, he told me that i held his heart in my hands and that my breath was his life. i pray that i have held it secure. that i have treasured his heart and that my breath truly was that of life. i know he has done that for me.....

Comments

the pastor's wife said…
that's very special. you have such a way with words. what a blessing to have a husband that you love and admire so deeply. thanks for sharing. i hope you have a wonderful time together this weekend. happy anniversary!! we love you guys and i'm soooooo thankful that this day happened:) call me selfish, but without you, life as a garner wouldn't be the same!
October 23, 2008 at 8:41 PM
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