5 years!

Yesterday my special lady and I celebrated 5 years of marriage.  I realize that for many people reading this, 5 years is nothing - we're still in our 'infancy' in our marriage life.  That being said, there are a lot of marriages that don't get to the 5 year mark...but that's not what I'm here to talk about.

It's been a great 5 years.  She is awesome, and I am blessed.  We're actually quite 'lucky' because we really don't argue all that often...we're generally on the same page with everything.  I guess that's what marrying the right person can do - you think the same way, laugh at the same jokes, and have the same beliefs, all of which are important and guiding factors in all of our lives.  Having someone on the same track as you makes life a whole lot simpler.

I've also learned that marriage - and fatherhood - is a lot of work.  Great, rewarding work, but work nonetheless.  It takes time.  Effort.  And perhaps hardest of all, self-sacrifice.  But that last point is huge.  I think part of the reason our marriage has been so smooth - among many other things of course - is that we always put each other first.  That means that when we're sitting on the couch downstairs and she mentions that she's thirsty, I go get her a glass of water.  Even if it means getting out of my comfortable, cozy position on a wonderfully warm couch, and walking all the way upstairs when I'm tired and all I want to do is sit and relax.  I do it because she's first.  And that means that when I did the morning shift for so many years (pre-kids), she would wake up with me at 4am everyday to fix me a breakfast and lunch.  It means you put the other person's needs above your own.  (This is biblically based stuff too - check out Philippians 2:3-4, and Mark 10:44-45.)

I know we're only at the 5 years mark, but I look forward to many more years of serving my wife.  And to any unfortunately immature guys out there who think that's me being "whipped", it's not.  It's the key to a happy marriage.  Try it.

4 years

This past Wednesday (May 22) was a very special day - my wife and I celebrated our 4th anniversary.  I have to take the opportunity to boast about how lucky I am.  My wife is a pretty spectacular person.  There are so many qualities to talk about, but I'll pick three.

1)  My wife is very thoughtful.  She always tries to think of what I like, and then does that for me.  This is just one tiny example, but case in point, remember the home-made Big Mac? (see post from April 26 if not) Feast your eyes on the home-made Crunchwrap Supreme.

I realize I should have taken a picture before I started eating it, but I couldn't wait...

2)  My wife is so creative.  She's one of those annoyingly talented people, that whatever she does, she does really well.  Drawing, painting, cooking, cleaning, baking, thinking of gifts, etc...  She outdoes me at all of it.  She leaves me uber impressed.  Regularly.

3)  5 months in, and she is an amazing mother.  She's so patient with our son, even in the middle of the night when all you want to do is sleep.  She always laughs and plays with him, and keeps him entertained. When she puts him down on his play mat, she never leaves him there by himself - she's always down there playing with him.  I love doing all that stuff too, but I get tired after a while!  She somehow, never does.

My new desktop background at work

What can I say, I'm a lucky guy.