9 is Fine!

Happy Anniversary to us! Wow, I cannot believe I have been married for 9 years. There was a time when I didn't even think I would ever get married- Iwas about 22 years old- had just ended a 4-year relationship and was about to move to Charleston. That's when God put Brian in my path. We met at the hospital and ended up finally speaking to each other through my roommate- who was also a nurse there. I broke my policy of not dating physicians and the rest is history.... Now 9 years and 2 beautiful little girls later we are still going strong! There have been many ups and downs- we had an especially rough spot at the beginning of this year. I think at our stage in the game, we get so busy with work and trying to raise the children that we neglect our marriages and one day we look at each other and wonder "Who is this person?" I think marriage is like a video game. Each level is a little more difficult than the last, but if you can get through it, the reward is great. (I hear that it gets a lot better when the kids are grown. ) I have figured out that the mistake I made is that I put myself and my needs and wants ahead of Brian's. True love means putting the other person first and when you do that it is so fulfilling to your marriage. I also was not aware that the physical attraction would fade like it has. Don't get me wrong- I still find my husband very attractive- but my heart doesn't always flitter when he walks in the room or anything anymore. I did find that the relationship just becomes about so much more than that- it becomes deeper and more about the fact that this person is truly your other half. So many people make the mistake of giving up on marriage because the physical aspects aren't as intense as they were before. Then they get into a cycle of trying to find that with person after person and are never happy or fufilled because that always fades after a while and they completely miss the bigger picture of what marriage can be and should be about. I am so proud of all that God has accomplished through us. I picture myself and Brian in rocking chairs on a porch one day watching our grandkids play in the yard and thinking about everything we have been through together and all of the good times we have had. Benjamin Franklin once said "Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards." He was a wise man. This morning we exchanged cards and of course, the Disney trip is our gift for each other. I couldn't imagine having spent the past nine years with anyone else and I am looking forward to all that the future holds for us. I feel so lucky to have a husband who loves me like he does and thinks I am still beautiful- even with the "after-babies-body" and everything. Here's to year 10!