5 years

Five years ago, at about 5:30 pm, Matthew and I said our "I-dos"in a small church in Lansing, IL. In all honesty, it is quite a miracle that we even got married with how screwed up our pasts were. God knew what He was doing when He allowed us to meet at Anderson University. He knew that even though we were quite sinful and living how we pleased, we were meant for each other. He knew that we would choose to use our marriage to glorify Him.

We took vows that day.

Vows that promised to be constant friends, faithful partners, and each other's great love from that day forward.

We promised to be faithful in sickness and in health. This may seem trivial and many marriage vows say that exact line, but when I honestly think about it, it can make or break a marriage. It's easy to be happy and joyful when you are both healthy, but it's a whole different scenario when some one is "sick". God knew Matthew and I were meant to be.  I don't know who I would have wanted to share the journey of infertility with besides him. God blessed me with such a patient, loyal, honorable, and loving husband. God knew this "sickness" that became our marriage would only make us love each other more.

We promised to be faithful in good times and in bad. Another make or break marriage-type-vow. In five years, I would say Matthew and I have had our share of good times and bad. We've have many great adventures together by going on many different trips to explore the world around us, we've ate good food, drank good wine, and just had those Friday nights were we just wanted to watch a movie and eat pizza. We've also endured fights, a house flooding, a dog dying, cars breaking down, and the obvious, not knowing if we could conceive. God has been there through it all. Five years later, I can honestly say I wouldn't change any of it.

We promised to be supportive in each other's goals. I am a goal oriented person. In fact, this may be a quality my husband gets annoyed with because my goal oriented personality also means I struggle to have patience when completing my goals in a timely matter. God knew Matthew was meant for me. Matthew has been there as I took on two years of Master courses, redecorated our house (and spent more money than I should have), needed things done "at this moment", and nesting this summer. Nesting could have pushed him over board, especially since I needed certain things done in a specific order, but being the patient husband that he is, our house is perfect for baby's arrival. God also knew Matthew needed me to be patient and supportive as he figured out what his purpose and career should look like. I think he's finally found his niche in landscaping, ponds, and plants. God has given him a career, he finally has a passion for and that is something you can't take for granted.

We promised to cherish each other for as long as we both shall live. In the first year of marriage, newly weds probably don't really know what it means to cherish some one. Life at that point is still rainbows and kittens, but as life gets "real", you learn what it means to cherish someone. I know that Matthew and I still have a lot a head of us and a lot of cherishing to learn. I am honored to have gone through what we did because after five years I can be cliche and say, I love Matthew more than the day I married him. I can only imagine what our next five years will bring on.

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:9-10 This was our wedding verse. It is most difficult to honor another before yourself, but if you try just a little a married life is worth it.