Ten Years

 

Ten years ago (and one month and 22 days), Kevin and I were married. I had good intentions of posting something on this blog the day of to commemorate the occasion. But ... life gets busy and full sometimes! Grandma and Grandpa took the kids for the night and we went out for dinner AND breakfast, and that felt very luxurious, but the day otherwise passed without a lot of fanfare.

Originally we were planning to take a big trip. We had scoured the internet, renewed passports, and contacted a travel agent about all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. It was fun to dream. But then a series of things happened where we decided we needed to postpone the trip. Maxing out two different high-deductibles for heath care needs basically sums it up. Plus, I think it will be more fun to snorkel, zipline, and go horseback riding on the beach if I am not seven months pregnant. Maybe when this child is weaned, we can go. Jamaica will always be there, right?

There is something symbolic about having the most trying year in our marriage so far happen on such a landmark year, I think. It has made me grateful that our marriage is strong.

Marriage is where you hang together when it's thick and when it's thin. We feel like we have been stretched very thin this year. Knee surgery, aside from the tremendous amount of pain Kevin experienced, has been really time consuming because of constant physical therapy. I try not to be the needy wife but, let's be real, when that man walks through the door, it means I'm not doing zone defense by myself anymore! Kevin and I both feel like we have been working double time. Pregnancy is also not my most shining moment, I must confess. Feeling sick or low on energy, coupled with the added responsibilities lately, makes me feel like surviving the day is a huge accomplishment in and of itself.

How can things be so overwhelming, yet so happy and so rich? Honestly, it was sad to give up the Caribbean, but not life-shattering. It's because I'm happy. I married the right man and I love him and we have made a good life together. I think this when life is easy and I also think this when it's hard.

Kevin and I respect each other. I think he is amazing in every way and I am so proud to be his wife. I know he loves me and respects me too. I never feel insecure in my stay-at-home mom role, because he supports me one hundred percent and thinks it's a tough and worthwhile job.

We also share a sense of humor, which I think is so important when life gets hard. He makes me laugh. I make him laugh. A day usually never goes by without laughter. I wouldn't want it any other way.

My favorite part of the day is when the kids are in bed and we purposefully push the rest of the work aside, trying to ignore it as best we can, and just chill together. The house is quiet, the conversation is good, and we laugh about the day. Lately we have been watching White Collar, pretty much the best TV series ever, on Netflix. When it's 10:45 p.m. and we know we should call it a night, it's really hard to not watch the next episode to see what other twists and turns of plot await us. Sometimes we give in. Yes, we are responsible adults ... but only to a degree!

That's my marriage. I love everything about it.