However, we were just babies when we got married. I mean that. We were so young and so naive in so many ways. And we were excited! Excited to be married, excited to take the world on together, excited to be grown ups together.
Of course, what's happened over the last 9 years is that we have grown up together. And that has been a very interesting journey. With growth comes growing pains. And we've had plenty of those. There have been plenty of moments in our marriage full of hard work and tears and angry words and tense silences. There have been arguments over small things- how to properly load a dishwasher (we're still working on this one, ha!) or whose turn it is to change a diaper- and over big things- job changes, finances, time management. There've been hours upon hours of laughter about ridiculous things no one else would ever understand and about the joyful things our children do. There've been hours upon hours of conversation about things as inane as what laundry detergent to use and about things as important as our faith and our family. There have been boring moments and exciting ones. As we've grown as individuals we've had to continue to learn not only about ourselves but about each other as well. Things that we used to find endearing in each other can now easily cause annoyance. Hobbies and interests have changed, blossomed, developed, disappeared altogether. We've been continually learning how to support each other not only in our weaknesses but also in our strengths, which sometimes can be harder. And we've had to learn when to accept those weaknesses as just that, weakness, and to let it go. We've been continually learning how to laugh with each other even when we might not be very happy with each other at the moment. In a lot of ways we aren't the same people we were when we took our vows 9 years ago.
But that's where the beauty of it all shows the most. Because while we aren't the same people we were 9 years ago, while our relationship has been a rollercoaster ride of happpiness, laughter, arguments, tears, growth and change, our love and respect for each other have changed too. They've grown and matured and ripened. The bubbly, youthful, on-top-of-the-world love we had when we married is still there... it is the seed that grew what I see now when I look at our marriage. A love that's been tested by change and pride and life and come thru stronger on the other side. A love that's created 2 amazing kids who test us and make us laugh everyday. A love that's been a compass when things have seemed lost, that's provided roots when there has been instability and that has been worth every growing pain, tear and laugh. A love that provides all the joy and contentment any girl could ever ask for.
The past nine years have been more amazing and beautiful than my 20-year-old self could have ever imagined. They fill me with excitement and anticipation for all that the next 9 years and more will bring.... growing pains and all.
3 comments:
Congratulations on nine years! I remember your wedding. Not like it was yesterday, but not like nine years ago either! What a sweet tribute to your relationship.
Marta, you are the best writer! I feel that about our marriage going on 11.5 years but could not have said it that eloquently! Congratulations to you! Enjoy each day for the gift it is.
I.love.this. Not sure why I'm just now reading it ... but I love it. I feel the same way and it was so nice to have it written down for me to read. :) I often think of all of those kids who got married 9 years ago and where life has taken us since. I pray our paths will never grow too far from one another, for you both hold such dear places in our hearts and our lives. We love you guys!
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