How it went

So what exactly did 20 years of marriage bring to us yesterday? Hah. Here's the rundown!

It brought 3 children 10 and under with fevers. 4 children 10 and under with coughs that just wouldn't quit and yet another day home from school. Let me also mention that it also brought a hubby home early to change out of soaking wet clothes & a scratchy throat to boot. I'm almost positive that we're all going to be oinking at some point! Well, maybe not me because you know Moms aren't allowed to be sick.

On the phone with my bestie, it brought a clogged toilet which wouldn't have been so bad except that the little one decided to poop on top of it all. Gagging is always a treat, but even more so on your 20th wedding anniversary. Washing the plunger out is also a great treat. YAY!

It brought rain & damp, cold weather, a trip to J's high school around noon with the whole sick crew and a trip to R's high school at 4:45pm followed by a trip to the dance studio by myself. Of course, it brought a fire in the woodstove too...one that by dinner time had forced us to open up the windows in the dining room because we all were melting from the heat.

It brought a *delicious* dinner of angel hair, jarred sauce and a cake from a box. Very gourmet indeed. The kids did try to sing Happy Anniversary to us though which was pretty cool since no one really felt well. They told us we should have had 20 candles in the cake to blow out. When did anniversaries become like birthdays?

Basically the day was like any other with a little bit of extra crap (no pun intended) thrown in, BUT we gave each other some nice cards w/pretty words, had quite a few laughs in spite of the all the crap and promised that we'll celebrate it right some other day when things are less hectic.

It also brought so many thoughtful anniversary greetings - on FB, by text, email, phone & by snail mail. We are so blessed with wonderful family & friends and we know we are loved.

Mostly, yesterday cemented the fact that hubby is really the only person that I would want to have beside me when we're dealing with life. I still would choose him 23 years later.

10/28/86

The day Chris asked me to "go out" with him exclusively. 10/28/89 - The day we were joined in marriage.

23 years later and I am even more in love with him. Sure, there are days that I would like to throttle him and I'm sure the same holds true for him. There are days I rethink my choices I've made in my life thus far, but the constant is that he is my BEST friend. He always has been. I think is likely why we're still together. The butterflies in my tummy ebb and flow, but knowing I have another half is what keeps me going.

So happy anniversary to my best friend and hubby. Hope the next 20 bring as many blessings as the first 20. I love you the mostest, the bestest and all the muches...always & forever.

19 or 22 years

Today is my 19th wedding anniversary, however, it is also marks the 22nd year I've been with my hubby. 22 years is far more than 1/2 my life and by the time I was Jerm's age, I was with Chris. I can say with total honesty that I knew Chris was my soul mate by the time we were together for 4 months or so. It just felt right and we both felt it & talked about it frequently.

Things haven't always been easy or fun or wildly romantic. In fact, there are times that the only thing that has kept me here is the fact that I said a vow which I take very seriously and the fact that we have 6 kids. Of course, there is also the fact that while things aren't perfect, my hubby is comfortable. He knows me and I know him. I cannot for the life of me imagine being with any one else. I don't think I could open myself up to someone else in the way I have opened myself up to Chris in the last 22 years.

I think part of this comes from the fact that I was 16 year old when we first started dating. I was definitely more optimistic and starry eyed when it came to what life was going to hold for me. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine what it would really be like. And I don't mean it has been all bad. Many, many parts are even better than what I imagined. I just think that there is an innocence in being 16. You share more - you hold less back - your little girl dreams of marriage are still very much intact.

In all reality, Chris and I have grown up together. He knows me better than anyone else. I think this is the way it is supposed to be, but not having any good source to look to for marriage, I'm just guessing. You see, my parents were divorced by their 26th year of marriage. My siblings all have been divorced numerous times (in fact, my sister looks to be on her way to her 2nd divorce as I type). My mother's parents were divorced and although my father's parents were still together, we weren't close to them and there was plenty of dysfunction present there as well.

Chris' parents are still together - in fact, they will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in just 2 short years. While I think that is the coolest thing ever, I still don't look at their relationship as something I want to emulate. They are different from us and Chris and I are far more affectionate towards each other. It is almost as if they are married because that is what you do although I know they love each other...not sure if that makes sense or not. I guess I want more than what it looks like they have.

I'm proud to be married for 19 years. I think it's a pretty neat accomplishment and I hope that it sets a good example for my kiddos. They see that it isn't always easy, - they have friends whose parents are divorced or divorcing - but they see us hanging in there despite all the ups & downs. We might not have all the things other people have and we might not be able to take cool trips here and there, but we love each other and are committed to each other. I think that speaks volumes above anything else - at least I hope it does.

So happy anniversary to hubby and me...19 years ago today I was at my sister's house in Ellington having my pictures taken in my beautiful white gown and simple veil getting ready to say "I do." to the guy who was meant for me.

ETA - For those of you who are interested...19th wedding anniversaries gifts are supposed to be gifts of bronze (well, according the the "modern" train of thought). Me...I bought hubby a box of SHAMWOW at CVS. You know you're jealous.... ;)