The lucky one.

Here we are. 9 years into marriage – and as I write this, I am still scratching my head wondering how it seemed to have gone by so quickly! You see, today we are celebrating N-I-N-E years of marriage!

9 years ago, we walked into a courthouse – err, well, Cumberland County Detention Center – to be exact – with two of our friends as witness and committed the rest of forever, to each other.

Shot on our friends cell phone -9 years ago!

3 months following, we had a small ceremony thrown together in the course of a month on the windiest day of the year out on the beach with a small reception following in my father in law’s front yard. Was it perfect? No. Was it anything like the weddings we shoot now, today? Of course not! But, it was perfect for us at the time – and that’s what matters.

9 years ago, if you would have asked me who was the lucky one – I would have very honestly admitted, me. (You thought I was going to say Chris, didn’t you? 😉 )And here, 9 years later, I still consider myself the lucky one – but 9 years ago, I didn’t realize how lucky I was. I had chased Chris for years (and those of you who really know us, know just how long we are talking here – middle school.)

middle school!

So, when the day came when he asked for us to get married – umm, yes!? I couldn’t believe that this guy, with all of his gorgeousness would ever choose me for a wife. But oh how wrong I was. God had much bigger plans for us than we had ever thought. I knew Chris was sweet, and caring, but it wasn’t until much later in our marriage did I really start to see what a heart this man has.  He works tirelessly to maintain our home, and support our – now family of 4’s- needs. Though he sometimes cringes at my ridiculous requests for doing crazy things – he graciously does them anyway. He puts up with my frustrations, short comings, tough spots, and all of my ugliness on days that aren’t the merriest. He has walked with me through the darkest, ugliest points in our marriage, and carried me to the place of safety on the other side.

No, I’M still the lucky one. I’m the one who has the most to be grateful for. And with every day, I see that more and more clearly. He is my redemption story, my knight in shining armor, my saving grace, my best friend and my favorite person in the world. I am for lack of better words, blessed beyond belief, to be his wife. How I ever managed to trick him into marrying me – is beyond me!
We have learned over 9 years; love is a choice. Each day you have to wake up and *choose* to love your spouse.  And this thing called marriage? It’s not a fairytale – it’s hard work. It’s work spent a lot of the time in prayer, and in the trenches and looking at the not so pretty – But, trust me when I say- it’s work that has the sweetest reward – a solid marriage that can withstand anything that life may try to put in your path. A spouse who is your partner, and can walk the fine path of life with you – with trust, and real love.
And that, right there. Makes everything worth it.

Christopher, I am so thankful, and so glad that God chose you for me. There is no one else I would want to take this journey with.
Here’s to many more years of laughter, tears, trials, faith building, and carrying each other every step of the way.