On marriage
A somewhat challenging pregnancy and the probability of a lot of change in the near future, as well as our 12th anniversary this week, has me thinking a lot about how very grateful I am for my husband. For the way we work together; the way we respect each other; the way we're best friends; the way he knows my very worst and loves me anyway, right along with my very best; the way he takes care of me but at the same time pushes me to be my best, and hopefully I do the same for him; the way we can laugh through even the hardest times.
It's easy to think that we've just always been this way because we were made for each other and we found our happily ever after. Not so. I do believe we were led to each other, because over the years and years before we met there are just too many things that put us both in the right place at the right time with the right person. But our happily ever after is an ongoing project that we're making together, day by day and year by year.
The beginning was a little rough. We're both kind of hard-headed and we were even more so then. Once we figured out that we were going to be together for a long time so we'd better figure this thing out, we figured out how to soften the edges. . . we found what worked for us to meet each others' needs as well as our own. I'm definitely not claiming perfection, but I think we've set a pretty good pattern to work the kinks out as they come along.
In short, we are happy because we choose to be, and we work at it.
I wish I could take credit for choosing a partner so well, but in truth he was this wonderful, gracious gift that was given to me. I didn't have a history of great choices when it came to romance, and my only experiences with love were fairly dysfunctional. All I know that I did was journal all the things I wished for in a husband: loyalty, stability, humor, wisdom, faith, ambition, tenacity, etc etc etc. . . and I probably prayed about those things and felt like it was a pipe dream. But I recently came across that journal entry- made at a very confusing and painful time in my life when I wasn't making super choices- and every single thing on that list is a perfect makeup of my Matt. Reading that was so humbling, and I am so grateful to a Father who helped me know at that moment what I really needed- even as I was praying at that time for someone who was almost the opposite- and prompted me to write it all down and ask for it, even though it wasn't a description of the one I thought I wanted more than anything.
I am thankful that my Father knows me, and loves me, and works for what is best for me even when I don't know what that is. I'm thankful for all of the hurt that meant losing something that would have probably meant an unhappy life, and that lead to what I can only imagine as the best kind of happiness that I could have ever hoped for.
I'm thankful for the rough patches Matt and I have walked through together, whether it was something one or both of us brought into the relationship, or something life threw at us unexpectedly. . . and I'm thankful for the strength and trust in each other that we've found on the other side. I'm thankful for the fun and joy and silliness, the faith and devotion, the constant effort to be better- things that I give most of the credit to Matt for.
He's my favorite subject and I could go on forever about all of his virtues, and the awesome blessing of being his wife, (maybe I have already), but I'll leave it at this: it is worth any pain, any time, any difficulty if you end up with someone who shares your ideals, wants for your happiness but even more wants for what is best for you both, loves you, cherishes you, and is faithful to your relationship. I agree with the sentiment that nothing will make or break your life more than the person you marry.
Thank you for making mine, sweetheart. It is my privilege and joy to share life with you, and I will be grateful forever and ever to our Heavenly Father for helping us find our way to each other, and for continuing to help us find our way together.
It's easy to think that we've just always been this way because we were made for each other and we found our happily ever after. Not so. I do believe we were led to each other, because over the years and years before we met there are just too many things that put us both in the right place at the right time with the right person. But our happily ever after is an ongoing project that we're making together, day by day and year by year.
The beginning was a little rough. We're both kind of hard-headed and we were even more so then. Once we figured out that we were going to be together for a long time so we'd better figure this thing out, we figured out how to soften the edges. . . we found what worked for us to meet each others' needs as well as our own. I'm definitely not claiming perfection, but I think we've set a pretty good pattern to work the kinks out as they come along.
In short, we are happy because we choose to be, and we work at it.
I wish I could take credit for choosing a partner so well, but in truth he was this wonderful, gracious gift that was given to me. I didn't have a history of great choices when it came to romance, and my only experiences with love were fairly dysfunctional. All I know that I did was journal all the things I wished for in a husband: loyalty, stability, humor, wisdom, faith, ambition, tenacity, etc etc etc. . . and I probably prayed about those things and felt like it was a pipe dream. But I recently came across that journal entry- made at a very confusing and painful time in my life when I wasn't making super choices- and every single thing on that list is a perfect makeup of my Matt. Reading that was so humbling, and I am so grateful to a Father who helped me know at that moment what I really needed- even as I was praying at that time for someone who was almost the opposite- and prompted me to write it all down and ask for it, even though it wasn't a description of the one I thought I wanted more than anything.
I am thankful that my Father knows me, and loves me, and works for what is best for me even when I don't know what that is. I'm thankful for all of the hurt that meant losing something that would have probably meant an unhappy life, and that lead to what I can only imagine as the best kind of happiness that I could have ever hoped for.
I'm thankful for the rough patches Matt and I have walked through together, whether it was something one or both of us brought into the relationship, or something life threw at us unexpectedly. . . and I'm thankful for the strength and trust in each other that we've found on the other side. I'm thankful for the fun and joy and silliness, the faith and devotion, the constant effort to be better- things that I give most of the credit to Matt for.
He's my favorite subject and I could go on forever about all of his virtues, and the awesome blessing of being his wife, (maybe I have already), but I'll leave it at this: it is worth any pain, any time, any difficulty if you end up with someone who shares your ideals, wants for your happiness but even more wants for what is best for you both, loves you, cherishes you, and is faithful to your relationship. I agree with the sentiment that nothing will make or break your life more than the person you marry.
Thank you for making mine, sweetheart. It is my privilege and joy to share life with you, and I will be grateful forever and ever to our Heavenly Father for helping us find our way to each other, and for continuing to help us find our way together.
posted by The Rummler Family at
6:01 PM
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