*****Warning: Completely cheesy post below******
ZERO plans to post today, but I woke up this morning, laid in bed for a bit looking at my sleeping handsome hubs on what is the morning of our 21st anniversary, and I decided that we needed to celebrate MARRIAGE.
You see, when I met my HH so very long ago, I was of the mindset I would NOT be getting married. Having come off a 3 year relationship of which I was engaged for a year and a half of it, I just wasn’t sure it was for me.
It felt like you had to give up too much of yourself for someone else; that I would be lost while pursuing someone else’s dream.
And then there were my parents who set the bar high for wedded bliss. Their love for one another was evident to all and they had a deep PASSION that many marriages lose after several years (yes, I think my baby sis came to the realization that removing her carpet in high school down to the floorboards when her bedroom was directly above my parents’ probably was not the wisest decision).
So when this handsome cowboy walked into my life I was definitely unsettled. We had known each other for a long time and there was history. Long story short…
- I TOTALLY crushed on him in high school.
- He knew it and needed a date to senior prom.
- I read way more into that invite.
- We didn’t speak for 5 years after the dance until he transferred to my college.
- He was interested in going out with me.
- Master plan: date him, get him to fall in love, dump him in the most spectacular fashion imaginable and break his heart.
- To my horror, I fell in love. Master plan epic fail.
Soooo, after dating about 6 months, he goes to my daddy and asks for my hand in marriage and we tie the knot in 1995. YEAH!!!!!!
We were challenged very early in the beginning. Between jobs, finances (or lack of), my sweet daddy’s unexpected death and poor HH having to deal with me completely falling apart, let’s just say it was tough at times. But you know what? It was also good. So good, that it was worth sticking it out.
Why?
Because our parents raised us with the idea that marriage is a daily decision. It is a CHOICE you make every D@MN day. You have to WANT to FIGHT for it. There is no 50/50 in a marriage. It is 75/75. And when your spouse is falling short, you step in and make up the difference because Lord knows there will be days they do it for you.
I know the statistics and I know that is not the case for everyone. It is incredibly sad when one spouse makes that daily choice and the other doesn’t. Life happens. And we can’t control other’s emotions or intentions. I have seen the fallout that occurs when things go so terribly wrong. And my prayer for my friends who have gone through this is that they find someone who is willing to make that daily choice. I have faith in that special someone being out there.
As for us, despite all that is good, I will admit, there have been times when I would like to use all my ‘skills’ I’ve learned on NCIS on how to dispose of a body and not get caught. And I can honestly say, I’m KNOW there are times when HH wishes he watched NCIS so he could acquire those same skills!
But, at the end of the day, I can honestly say we have a great marriage. He is my best friend, my go to guy, the one I vent my frustrations to, and the one I want to celebrate with. We are each other’s greatest cheerleaders and most honest critics. We have 2 beautiful children together and have built a home based on faith, trust, and lots of love and laughter.
We said, “I do” to each other 7,665 days ago today. And through it all we have woken up most days (let’s be realistic here) choosing each other, choosing our marriage, and choosing our family. It’s not perfect. But it is ours.
So babe…..
Thank you for choosing me.
You are the love of my life.
You are my fairytale.
Happy 21st anniversary sweetheart.
*****Cheesy post has commenced*****
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