15 years of fighting for each other

This month in front of the kids we shared some deep unintentional hurts we each have caused the other. In the middle of our conversation, while the kids sat quiet in the back seat, we told the kids we loved each other and were committed to each other. They said they knew and it was good to share hurts. Smart kids. A humbling moment.

Two years ago I would encourage you to sleep in the guest room but you wanted to be near me in case I stopped breathing. I would tell you that after you mourned my death to find a mother for our boys. We were pretty sure I would die before the doctors figured out what was making me so sick.

Five years ago you worked a job that required all of your time, a 16 hour day was nothing. The boys and I picked up as much of your chores as we could so that we could rest as a family when you were home.

Eight years ago you went part time so I could take a restaurant general manager’s position, one more thing marked off my bucket list. While I worked you loved on the boys. On my long days you always made sure they called the restaurant to say goodnight. You waited up for me every single night, no matter how late I worked.

10 years ago we both were a mess. I was going through a mental break down and you were working 70 hours a week. No matter what our week looked like we always set one day aside for the family. We shut our phones off, locked our house door, got in the car and adventured as a family. It’s where our EPIC Family Adventures came from.

12 years ago we had our second born. As he grew in my belly I was on two medications to keep food down while you took our first born to the park after work everyday so I could rest. When our boy was finally born I intently watched the nurses save his life oblivious to the fact that you were watching the midwife work to save mine.

15 years ago we fought nonstop. Rather you fought and I went to sleep. Communication was clearly not a skill we had mastered yet. Out of sheer determination and our fierce loyalty to the idea of commitment our marriage survived that year, and most importantly we learned how to communicate with the other. 

15 years of fighting for each other.

15 years of working side by side to battle whatever life handed us.

15 years making memories, trusting Jesus, and staying committed to that promise of forever we publicly made on December 9.

15 years today, since you slipped a little dimond on my finger with the question of always and forever together? 

There is nobody I would rather fight for than you.   I’m thankful that even when we share hurts we do it in a way that honors the other and teaches the children. I’m thankful for with all the uncertainty life hands us we can rest on the fact that as long as God allows we can walk it together. Thanks for asking.