Today I am celebrating 10 years of marriage with my husband. Let me put this into perspective for you…I can clearly remember what it felt like to be 10 years old. What I thought of, worried about, what made me laugh. And yet, somehow, here I am at 31 and celebrating 10 years of MARRIAGE. Whoa.
When I thought about what to write about this milestone, many things came to mind. I thought about how time has changed us. How our relationship has grown from an exciting, passionate, hormone-driven attraction into a deep, solid, intimate bond that I cherish deeply. Thinking about the time that has passed, I know I wouldn’t go back to that “exciting” time (well maybe for just a moment)…but truly I wouldn’t trade what we have today for anything, not for anything in the world.
I am filled with gratitude for the sheer fact that this man, my husband, has dedicated his entire life to me. To our marriage. To our life together. When I think about that idea, I am completely overwhelmed.
We don’t often take the time to think of what marriage really is. We look at our partners every single day. We know their eyes, their smiles (and frowns), we see the fine lines that have started to settle in, we know the way they move through our homes, through our days and through our lives together. We take them for granted without ever stopping to see what a miracle it is that this person has chosen to love us, only us, for their entire life. That they will spend every single day devoted to what we can accomplish together. What an amazing gift.
Marriage is so much more than being taken care of. More than having someone to spend your days with. It’s more than a promise. Marriage is gift, a blessing. It is something I’m not sure any of us are good enough to deserve. The idea that this other person, and not just any person, my husband, the man I admire and respect….the idea that he feels the same way as I do. There just are no words to express my gratitude for this bond, this love, this marriage.
So on my 10 year anniversary, I am grateful. I am filled with gratitude for 10 years of love, friendship, honesty. I am grateful also for the harder days, when I’m not at my best and neither is he…and we love each other anyway. I’m grateful for the ways we’ve grown and learned together. For our children and the blessing of being parents together. I am grateful for the future, for the memories to be made. Grateful that I’ll wake up tomorrow and we will still be in this marriage, ready for another day together, whatever may come.
Happy anniversary to my husband, the love of my life, my sweet baby. You make my life whole. I love you forever and always. Thanks for 10 amazing years.
NoLuckNecessary 