We are celebrating our 10th year of marriage today. I feel so truly blessed and proud that we are still together. We were married in my mom's back yard. I let my mom arrange EVERYTHING (thanks Mom!!). We had a potluck and ate with paper plates and plastic silver ware. My cake was made by one of my mom's friends and my bouquet was made by her neighbor. My mom's uncle who was a minister (God rest his soul) married us. I wore a used $100 wedding dress (I was frugal even back then). I still have my original 1/4 carat princess cut engagement ring and $75 wedding band (I wear them on a chain around my neck because I had them sized up when I was 40 lbs. heavier and they fall off my finger now). It rained the morning of our wedding which is said to be good luck. Is it luck that we are still together after all we have been through in 10 short years?
No cake smooshing. That wouldn't be nice.
Look at the expression on Stephen's face. It like he is thinking,"Mom, Dad, you have no idea what you are getting yourselves into!"
We didn't jet off to some exotic location after the wedding reception. We went back to our day to day life of work and raising our son. Our son was diagnosed with Autism shortly after our wedding. He now has an additional diagnosis of Epilepsy. We've been through so much with our daughter as well. After birth she spent 10 days in the NICU with Pneumonia and was diagnosed with GERD. She has since been diagnosed with Asthma, Segmental Neurofibromatosis and ADHD. All this on top of everyday challenges, job changes, trying to make ends meet, normal getting to know you arguments that every couple has, horrible apartments run by horrible land lords and moving MANY times, car accidents, quitting smoking, our own health issues and health scares.....
They say you don't see the strength of a tree until there is snow on its branches.
I'm not a bible reader but this framed quote was given to us as a wedding gift and it still sits on the night stand on my side of the bed-
Love is patient.
Love is kind.
It does not envy,
it does not boast,
it is not proud.
It is not rude,
it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects,
always trusts,
always hopes,
always perseveres.
Love never fails.
-1 Corinthians 13:4-7
I really believe that all you need for a happy marriage is love. We just really love each other and our children.
Would I do it all over again if I could go back in time knowing all the challenges we would face? Yes, in a heart beat.
