Happy Anniversary!

{Amana, IA, 2013}

It's so nice to be married to the one that you love.  My husband came home the other day and shared some interesting facts about relationships.  He loves sharing tidbits with me and this time he'd drummed up some frightening facts about marriage.  Did you know that 73% of long-term married couples are not with their true love!  Can you imagine?  And that if given the chance they would leave their partner to get back to their true love.  To me, that's a little like, love the one you're with...

We were married 12 years ago in a beautiful ceremony in Galena, IL.  At the reception at the picnic shelter my husband with some musician friends sang an original composition to me.  It was lovely and made me cry.  We've had an incredible journey and hope for many more years together.  Yesterday at church an older woman that we keep in touch with said to us "12!  Try 61 years!"  She was smiling as she said it but there was a wistfulness as her husband of 61 years died two years ago.  How sweet love is, whether you have it for 2 years, 12 years, or 61 years.

If you find someone that you can live with, that brings you joy and laughter, make them yours.  It isn't about all the sexy stuff-it's about eating breakfast together morning after morning, listening to them slurp their huge bowl of cereal and still rubbing your foot next to his before you head off to work.  It's about being a good listener even when you've heard the story before.  We should treat our companions with the same respect we give our co-workers and friends.

My parents were divorced when I was a young adult.  No matter what age it happens it tears you a part. My parents hadn't been compatible for years.  There was strife and anger about who knows what-and frankly I don't want to know.  I think my mom realizes now that they both could have tried a little harder, been more sympathetic, patient, or thoughtful.  However you look at it; marriage is a lot of work and it takes being aware of that everyday and yet everyday needs a little fun.  It's up to you to remember to bring the joy in; maybe a smile, a game of cards, a movie to share together or just a hug in the kitchen.  Don't wait for the other person to provide your happiness.

{In Virginia, 2013}

Today we've enjoyed working in the kitchen together as I made three new batches of pesto with basil from my mom's garden and he cooked a hearty breakfast with biscuits, bacon, eggs, and fruit AND then as I started on the 3rd batch he cleaned the kitchen right around me!  As we cooked, blended, scraped, and wiped we played a whole slew of old country favorites like Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty and this other one by Conway Twitty that my husband sings me all the time.  We are not actual fans of country music yet there are some classic songs that speak to us. Like this one by George Jones and Tammy Wynette.  Classic.  This one by Otis Redding also makes us happy, which then led us to this interesting reinterpretation of Otis' song. 

And yes, there was a little dancing going on in the kitchen.  And a lot of smiling.  So much so our daughter had to leave the room.

As Maya says:  "We need just three things in life: something to do, something to look forward to, and someone to love."  We heard Maya Angelou speak for our very first date together and we hold her words close to our heart.