This year (in November) marks ten years since Ben and I got married.
There's certain moments in your life, that seem as though they just
happened yesterday; and for me, walking down the aisle is definitely one
of them.
For some background, Ben and I had known each
other for three months before we were engaged, and only eleven months
before we were married. I was nineteen and I thought I knew everything.
Walking
down the aisle, I remember being so happy, excited, and hopeful. I
thought at that moment (as several of our cheesy centerpieces stated)
that love was all we would ever need. I thought life would be easy,
that we wouldn't ever argue, we'd spend every moment together, and that
each day would be better than the last. I thought I loved him more than
I could ever love anyone.
And, I was mostly wrong.
We
had a wonderful honeymoon. After having a long distance relationship,
every moment we were together was cherished. While out one evening, a
staff member at an attraction asked us if we were on our honeymoon - she
said it was obvious that we were newlyweds. I giggled, smiled, and
blushed constantly. Every second we were together, every time he
touched me, I had butterflies.
After our honeymoon, life wasn't all butterflies.
Within
seven months, my Grandma was diagnosed with cancer. Within a month of
her diagnosis, we said goodbye to her. It was the most difficult thing I
had ever been through. I cried constantly. Life wasn't easy.
Within our first two years of marriage, there were three deaths in our family. It still wasn't easy.
We
fought about everything. From religion, to politics, to household
chores, to where we wanted to go out to eat, it was a constant battle.
It wasn't easy. We argued.
We didn't want to spend every second together.
We
had a very sweet baby boy. It was the greatest moment we had
experienced (and he still is such a huge blessing to us). We were
shocked to find out about his clubfeet. I entered one of the darkest
times of my life. We went to weekly castings, and sat together while he
had surgeries. It wasn't easy.
We were blessed with a
precious little girl. She was (and still is) lovely and wonderful; but
I was terrified that I would go back to the dark place. I felt
overwhelmed - It wasn't easy.
It wasn't what I
expected. I thought we'd always be in the honeymoon phase. I thought
we'd never argue. I thought we'd only experience good news. I was so
wrong. But I am so glad that I was.
Once the butterfly
feeling wasn't constant, we worked harder on our marriage. We prayed
together. We prayed for each other. We got involved in ministry
together. We started cultivating a much deeper love. I liken it to a
tree, over years the roots grow deeper and deeper. The roots become
entangled, inseparable. One.
We constantly
communicate. We don't agree about everything, but we know where the
other one stands on nearly everything. We've both changed and have
become more compassionate. And I love that when my heart isn't where it
should be, that he lovingly tells me. He holds me accountable and
helps me be a better person.
When life was hard, he
was so supportive. He never once made me feel guilty about spending
every weekend in my hometown to be with my Grandma. He drove me back
and forth every weekend. He never whined about getting home late on
Sundays (I cried half the way home every week) and waking early for work
on Mondays. He didn't complain that he didn't get to hang out with his
friends on the weekends. He stayed by my side.
When
I was in my dark place, he never let me know that he was struggling
too. He was what kept us going. He was our strength, our backbone.
When I was at my weakest, he picked me up and held me up. Years later,
when I suggested driving back and forth to Iowa for our son's clubfoot treatment, (ten hours each way), he
never looked at me like I was crazy. He helped me pack, took off work,
and we went together. It ended up being some of the richest, most
memorable times in our lives.
When I was afraid of
being a mother of two children under the age of two (and returning to my
dark place), he reassured me that it would be okay. Having our sweet
daughter ended up being anything but dark. It was beautiful and
wonderful. He took off work for half the month to help me. He spent
so much time taking care of me, our son, and our home so that I could
focus on caring for our newborn.
When I told him that I
wanted to homeschool our children, he helped me gain enough faith to
try it. He has fully supported me in our curriculum choices (regardless
of cost). He is confident in me even when I'm not. He constantly
reassures me that I am enough.
He encourages me to have girls nights. He encourages me to take breaks and get out of the house. And I need that.
When
I walked down the aisle, I thought I would never be able to love anyone
more than I did in that moment. And I was wrong. I love him so much
more than I did then. And I know that I'll love him more in ten years
still.
He has supported me, forgiven me, encouraged
me, lifted me, led me, and loved me. Deeper than the ocean,
unconditional, indestructible loved
me. I was right about one thing on my wedding day - with that kinda love, love is all we need.
