Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Our anniversary trip to Palm Springs.

Once upon a time, there was a girl who had a crush on a boy. It all started when they were in the same carpool. Since he drove mutual friends from the neighborhood to school, she joined in. Consequently, she began to be tardy to first period because someone was late picking her up for school, and her mom had to write a note to excuse her, so she wouldn't get detention. Her friends did the behind the scenes work, so he thought, why not, I guess I'll ask her to prom. Prom was their first date, and so began their epic love story.

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What a privilege and honor is it to get to grow up and grow old together. Not because it’s easy; in fact, it’s hard work, but because through all the seasons we have experienced, our relationship has been a constant. 

What a beautiful thing to have a partner who is supportive of me as I am, for who I am, on any given day in any given moment.  

Some people need to find themselves outside of marriage, and I get that, but I am grateful for a partner who encourages me to change and evolve and be who I need to be, to seek out and be my truest self in different seasons. 

I am grateful to have married someone who has encouraged me to dream big and who is also eager to follow his own dreams. Someone who has traveled the world with me, but is also happy having a boring night at home on the couch. Someone who appreciates the effort I put into my appearance, but also tells me I'm beautiful when I just wake up with a mascara-smeared face and teeth that haven’t been brushed yet. Someone who loves me wholly and completely, but also knows we can’t make each other whole or complete. Someone who has seen me through the best of times and the worst of times and has stuck by my side. Because new love is sexy and appealing, but it’s actually old love that carries you through the ups and downs of life, and actually, it’s pretty damn sexy, too.

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On our anniversary trip, I really wanted a photo of just the two of us, because it so rarely happens these days. 

We awkwardly and precariously set up the camera on a stool and set the self timer.

Then, we got carried away and just kept taking ridiculous photos for fun.

On the list of things that make me feel uncomfortable: being in photos, especially by myself. 

On the list of things that make me laugh out loud: acting like dorks taking absurd photos.

Here’s to doing more of what makes us uncomfortable and make us laugh out loud.

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We are in a season of life where there are many nights that by the time the kids are finally asleep in bed, we are so exhausted it is hard to have a meaningful conversation. When the kids are awake, they constantly interrupt us and demand our attention. Yet, I feel like this is the most important our relationship has ever been. We are building a family, hopefully setting a positive foundation for our kids for the rest of their lives. That is a lot of pressure, and never have I been more grateful for a partner to live this life with. 

Matt is much better at me than making time away from the kids a priority in our relationship, and I am grateful for that. It’s easy in this season for our default to be having our relationship be all about the kids, but we have found it so life giving and absolutely necessary to get away from the kids, relax, focus on each other, and actually have uninterrupted conversations. 

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