13 Years Married

 April 10 marks the day of 13 years of Marriage!

We made it another glorious trip around the sun. Mostly ups, not very many downs. So much joy shared with one human for many years. 

Choice. We choose each other each and every day, to be there for each other, and to encourage or support the other in whatever choices the other makes in their life. Our life consists of a silent knowing of what the other person may be up to and an understanding of what may be needed. The hashtag married life (#marriedlife) is quoted daily in our household, where life experiences are shared at every level on the human side of feeling and sensing.

No complaints here. Being able to live, love, and just be with another person is comforting.

Each year, without fail, we journey to the place where we were married and we re-read our wedding vows. Feelings of excitement wash over me every year as we walk down the path to the center stage of our ceremony. I love that we are able to go to the exact location and share the moments that began our relationship as husband and wife.

This year marked an unforgettable time together that my husband asked me not to share with the world! It consisted of laughing hysterically till we were both crying. Then attempting to re-read the vows cause neither of us could hold in a burst of laughter. Laughter from the pure joy and happiness to the marked occasion of being there again, together. Special. We are special to have each other and to go with the flow of the moment and not be hung up on the oddity of the glee.

When the laughter subsided and the sincerity came through the tears of love sprang through the lashes as we were reminded of the unconditional love and the promises, we made to each other and year after year the vows hold true. The words we wrote to each other hold merit within our arrangement.

For me, the biggest piece of advice I could pass on to anyone is that household tasks don't need to be done immediately. The garbage can wait 10 minutes, the tidiness of the house can wait three to seven days, the cleanliness of the rooms can wait, and the paint on the exterior can wait a year or two. A house that is lived in is a house that has a mess, but that house is full of love and time spent together enjoying the comforts the house has to offer. Love and rich memories are built in the moments of living the day-to-day.

The best recommendation is to keep it spicy. Find adventures to go on together. Go out late, dance, jump in puddles or the lake, play on the playground, sleep in too small of a bed together, travel, drink coffee, and always find joy in the being and doing together.

And Choice. Choose each other each and every day. Choose to make the other person smile. Choose to chase the one you married. Choose to share the moments on the couch, at the dinner table, in the yard, washing the dishes, or venturing the shopping aisles. Choose love in your response. Choose love in your words. And above all choose your spouse each and every day.