July/August is a big time for our family...it's how it all began really. Our anniversary is August 2nd, then our first children came home in July and one of our daughters has a birthday in July. CRAZY months...and crazy blessed.
Love stories can be so magical and make you all fluttery. I should know, I'm an expert of love stories. Since a young girl, I've watched every fairytale/romantic comedy, poured over pages of Jane Austin novels and memorized every line of the most famous love songs. It's something most girls do as they grow up. It's in our DNA, right?!?!? Longing for the one to come in and sweep you off your feet. But the reality of these love stories is just that...reality. After the sweet song fades over the dreamy couple kissing in the park...real life happens.
It's where the bills add up, arguments over dirty laundry and long days leave us feeling less than magical when we come home to our significant others.
That's where real love stories prevail. It's where the butterfly feelings that create that first magic develop roots into something that can last the fiercest storms. Don't get me wrong. I still love the romance and my husband still takes my breath away. But underneath that there is now more.
It's grown by the bearing together, talking through the hard moments and living life together through the seasons. When I think hard on what makes me love Scott, I see a very different reel of moments playing than I ever thought.
I see the long flight and bus ride to our resort on our honeymoon. Me terribly sick with a sinus headache, feeling much less like the blushing bride I was going for. He was patient, caring as he found me (crack laced) Mexican cold medicine and nursed me back to health. We spent our first night at our gorgeous resort not canoodling in the moonlight, but me passed out from the medicine and him watching tv as he rubbed my head.
Through tear stains, I see the image of late night talks where we worked through disappointed expectations and hurt feelings. I can see him holding me close...accepting me even though I made mistakes. Forgiving me when I said hurtful things. Though, these don't seem like moments you want to remember, the end results of resolution and knowing he will stick with you through it all is the best romantic high of all.
I can see him in the faint light of 3 in the morning changing a diaper of a newborn who doesn't want to let me sleep. This after he's worked all day, helped with the older children and still has to get up in a few hours. He sacrifices all the time to make my life a little easier. This dying to self to serve me is grander than the most expensive bouquets of roses.
The best moments in my highlight reel weren't as pretty or magical as the ones I pictured years ago. We are not gussied up in most of them (to be honest...I'm probably dirtied haired and in spit up covered pajamas). They aren't images of fancy dates or long walks on the beach. They are made up of late night laughter after children are sleeping, stolen kisses on last minute planned date nights and moments of sheer clarity where I know God has made this man to walk alongside me during this life.
I'm grateful for the wistful, romantic moments we've had, just as I am for the hard, real life grit that makes our relationship what it is. I'm blessed to have shared FIVE years with this amazing man and I would not write our love story any differently. It might not look like a Meg Ryan movie or be as dramatic as Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, but it's glorious. It's life-giving. It's passionate. And it's fun.
Happiest Anniversary to my love, best friend and partner in crime.
I love you.
This is my favorite recent love song...
Love stories can be so magical and make you all fluttery. I should know, I'm an expert of love stories. Since a young girl, I've watched every fairytale/romantic comedy, poured over pages of Jane Austin novels and memorized every line of the most famous love songs. It's something most girls do as they grow up. It's in our DNA, right?!?!? Longing for the one to come in and sweep you off your feet. But the reality of these love stories is just that...reality. After the sweet song fades over the dreamy couple kissing in the park...real life happens.
It's where the bills add up, arguments over dirty laundry and long days leave us feeling less than magical when we come home to our significant others.
That's where real love stories prevail. It's where the butterfly feelings that create that first magic develop roots into something that can last the fiercest storms. Don't get me wrong. I still love the romance and my husband still takes my breath away. But underneath that there is now more.
It's grown by the bearing together, talking through the hard moments and living life together through the seasons. When I think hard on what makes me love Scott, I see a very different reel of moments playing than I ever thought.
I see the long flight and bus ride to our resort on our honeymoon. Me terribly sick with a sinus headache, feeling much less like the blushing bride I was going for. He was patient, caring as he found me (crack laced) Mexican cold medicine and nursed me back to health. We spent our first night at our gorgeous resort not canoodling in the moonlight, but me passed out from the medicine and him watching tv as he rubbed my head.
Through tear stains, I see the image of late night talks where we worked through disappointed expectations and hurt feelings. I can see him holding me close...accepting me even though I made mistakes. Forgiving me when I said hurtful things. Though, these don't seem like moments you want to remember, the end results of resolution and knowing he will stick with you through it all is the best romantic high of all.
I can see him in the faint light of 3 in the morning changing a diaper of a newborn who doesn't want to let me sleep. This after he's worked all day, helped with the older children and still has to get up in a few hours. He sacrifices all the time to make my life a little easier. This dying to self to serve me is grander than the most expensive bouquets of roses.
The best moments in my highlight reel weren't as pretty or magical as the ones I pictured years ago. We are not gussied up in most of them (to be honest...I'm probably dirtied haired and in spit up covered pajamas). They aren't images of fancy dates or long walks on the beach. They are made up of late night laughter after children are sleeping, stolen kisses on last minute planned date nights and moments of sheer clarity where I know God has made this man to walk alongside me during this life.
I'm grateful for the wistful, romantic moments we've had, just as I am for the hard, real life grit that makes our relationship what it is. I'm blessed to have shared FIVE years with this amazing man and I would not write our love story any differently. It might not look like a Meg Ryan movie or be as dramatic as Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, but it's glorious. It's life-giving. It's passionate. And it's fun.
Happiest Anniversary to my love, best friend and partner in crime.
I love you.
This is my favorite recent love song...
Story of Love by Mandi Mapes
I see your smile And it’s so much sweeter After all that I’ve been through And when we laugh I get a glimpse of forever And I praise God that I found you And anytime someone asks me How it all unfolded I’ll tell them Such incredible chances Make for marvelous love. Just like the sun lights up the moon This love is a reflection Of more than just me and you Our lives were less than ordinary And while I couldn’t see past tomorrow God was making history Oh my, what a beautiful story of love. Unexpected mercy Is the greatest thing to find When you’ve been broken many times My soul found joy And for the first time in a while I felt singing
1 comments:
So beautiful. Your ability to express yourself in writing and your gratitude are amazing!
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