Michael and I got married 9 months after we met. I was 21 and he was 28. Trust me, it’s a good story – one I’ll get around to telling on here someday. Until then, here’s a recap of our past anniversaries. I decided on anniversary 1 that we should take a photo every year holding whatever number represented the anniversary.
Year 1 summary: moved out of an apartment, bought a house, and acquired two dogs.
Well, they ain’t gonna make a movie
About a couple of fools like us
No one’s gonna write a book
About our little love
You don’t get your picture on the local front page
For falling in love at a reckless age
Year 2, this happened. Lots of other things too.
Well, this Sunday’s sermon won’t mention
All the work we put into this love
They ain’t gonna hang a billboard
Congratulating us
For surviving every rise and fall
For being more hard headed than a wrecking ball
Year 3, we sold our house, briefly lived with my sister and her husband, then made our big move to a small town so Michael could pursue a masters in speech pathology. We moved into a tiny house in a scary neighborhood and moved out two short months later, into a house that was over 100 years old. It had lots of “character” (i.e. was drafty and didn’t have a dishwasher).
For letting me chase a hopeless dream
For giving up on trying to change me
…
But knowing the only thing harder than letting go is holding on
Year 4, I decided to go back to school for my masters in clinical mental health counseling. We bought a house and moved into the sixth place we’ve lived since our wedding. With both of us in school and working part-time, the last few months have been extremely challenging. Actually, the last four years have been challenging. We had a moment not too long ago where we looked at each other and realized that we weren’t doing what we should for the other person. We made the decision not only to keep trying, but to give it everything we have, because nothing means more to us than each other. When all the dust settles and the smoke clears, we can have our degrees and careers and whatever else we want out of life, but if we’re not constantly working towards a better marriage and putting each other first, all of those other things will mean nothing when we grow apart and our marriage fails.
I don’t think anyone works harder than my husband. He works 3 days a week with a 2 hour drive each way. He makes all A’s in an extremely difficult program. He impresses everyone he meets. He stays in fantastic shape by working out and staying healthy. He challenges me every day to be a better person. And still, at the end of all that, he takes the time to give me the love and attention I need, because he knows I can’t survive without it. It’s that kind of drive and determination that will make our marriage last.
While I don’t feel the need to air our dirty laundry on my blog, I want everyone to know that we are far from perfect. We do not have a fairy tale marriage. I’m pretty sure that’s not even a real thing. Marriage is one of the hardest things in life. It’s challenging, and it’s work. Not work like, oh, let me buy you flowers and tell you that you’re pretty. It’s roll up your sleeves and get down in the mud with me because this is going to be messy kind of work. It’s work every day. Not M-F with weekends off. Every day. It’s not always pretty. But at the end of those times – after the mud and the tears and the fighting and the screaming and the thinking maybe I’m not cut out for this – when you can fight through and look back, it is so worth it.
For letting your dreams fall into me
For being a man with a damn good heart
I’m gonna hold you through the hardest parts
For being a love that will last even after life is gone
You don’t get much
But you get a love song
Comments on November 18th, 2007
From Skye @ Neathering Our Fest:
This is a great post! Happy Anniversary to you two. You guys are precious together!
From Meg O.:
How sweet! Happy anniversary!
From Tabaitha:
Beautiful! Happy Anniversary!
From Cio:
‘member when you had bangs? I love them. Bring them back.
How could I forget about the appendix fiasco?! lol that was tough. I realize now that I can count how many years I’ve known you, by how many years you’ve been married {minus one}.
Sometimes you jokingly tell me “Don’t get married ::side eye::” , but it’s posts like this that remind me – it’s not so bad after all. ; )
I love you guys! Hope to visit soon! Tell Miguel i’m cravin’ one of his amazing burgers!
From Julie:
Are you going to take and post a picture with the number 4?!
:)
I love you guys; I’m glad that you aren’t going to let the “work” in your marriage scare you out of it!!!
From Chrissy (The New Me):
Happy anniversary! I love this post, and I appreciate your comments at the end – there is no such thing as a perfect marriage, but there are people who are perfect for each other (faults and all!) and it sounds like you’ve found your match. I wish you both many years of love and adventure!
From Marlena:
I love this, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Glad you are not injured or sick this year. The day is still young so seriously, be careful!!! :-)
Also, you have really fantastic eyebrows. True story.
From Liz:
I love you, and I love how we talked about this the other day. Happy Anniversary to one of the best couples I *know* <3
From KT:
Happy anniversary! I hope you guys have stopped moving for a while- that alone causes a lot of stress on a marriage- not to mention all of the other things going on in your lives!!
From San:
Happy anniversary, you guys!
From sarah cummings:
Great post :) happy (belated) anniversary!