Until we are old and wrinkled.

Mark and I started dating when we were young, practically babies.

We were married before either of us turned 25.

But deep down inside, we have always been old souls.

Our dating life consisted of grocery shopping, Jeopardy watching, and too many board games to count. We read the paper and talk about the price of orange juice. We both have incredible relationships with our grandparents, and look to their generation to set an example for our marriage.

When we do take an occasional date night, we both secretly hope to be seated near a more established couple. We love seeing the spark of love in experienced eyes, wrinkled hand holding across the table, and the ease in which two bodies move in harmony, even if the pace has slowed.

We like to take a peek inside the lives of a generation that came before us and hope that we can live up to their example. So when I saw this Time magazine special featuring Lauren Fleishman's work, I was smitten.

"Little by little we change but we don't change in our hearts. Love gets stronger. That is the way I feel. I believe he feels the same way. Yes, he was my first love. My first love and my last."  - Leila Ramos

I am not sure which I appreciate more, the photos or their wise words on life, love, and marriage.

Valentine's Day is just a week away.

What are the examples of love in your life?

R & R

Now that the New Year is officially underway {I may be a bit behind on my resolutions} and Valentine's Day is around the corner, I have been reflecting on loving my husband and serving my family well. Back in October, I wrote this post for :: the neesby lookbook :: sharing a bit about what makes marriage work for us. It has been at the forefront of my mind, so I decided to repost and share with you today. I hope you enjoy!

Marriage has been a journey of learning, but nothing has left a greater mark than a message we learned during pre-marital counseling. Honestly, I am not sure we really understood how important this simple message was until over a year into marriage. It is just two words, but made an incredible impact.

As arguments and disagreements arose in our marriage we have been subtly reminded by how important these words and what they entail are to maintaining a solid foundation.

marriage is not just about the clichés:

moving onward and upward

don’t sweat the small stuff

saying “it’s okay”

brushing it under the rug

never going to bed without saying “sorry”

In fact, if you live by any number of these mantras, you are likely to harbor resentment or let incidents slowly chip away at the joy of marriage.  That is where these two words come into play.

For even the most minor infraction, Mark and I hash things out. Sometimes this is simple, and other times it gets pretty ugly. We make an effort to reconcile the situation.

But that is not the only step. The key is the restoration of the relationship. We try our best to follow up our reconciliation with a simple question posed by the offender: Relationship restored?

To be honest, arguments can be painful, so the answer is not always yes. I am stubborn, so I like to hold on to my hurt. When I say “No” I am making Mark work for it. I hope and pray that this is for the betterment of our marriage, not out of my sinful heart. But either way we always come back around to a place when we both can nod and hug in agreement that the relationship has been restored.

This sounds like heavy stuff, I know. But during times when communication was difficult or stress levels were high, this made the world of a difference.

During the first year “honeymoon stage” of our marriage, we practiced this process over simple things:

Changing the channel on tv

Breaking a glass vase

Forgetting to pick up something from the grocery store

Not making the bed

Shrinking a favorite sweater in the laundry

Leaving the gas stove on and almost killing us with fumes…

*some of these hypothetical examples may have actually occurred

Our practice proved fruitful. When harder times came, it was natural for us to reconcile the difference and proactively restore our relationship. We are a stronger family unit today because of these two words. I could never be grateful enough for this simple lesson.

Sunday Special Thank You

Over the past three weeks, members of my blogging family have taken time to share their life with you.  They gave me time to spend with Mark as we celebrated our fifth anniversary, traveled to Boston, and juggled Behr solo while Mark went off to his {second to last!} grad school residency.  Phew.  So glad you were in trusted hands.  In case you missed any of the posts in the marriage series, here they all are:

Thanks Ladies!  

...and send my thanks to your husbands, they are pretty great too...

::All About Marriage:: Six Years

The final post of our marriage series is brought to you by the fabulous Jessi of Naptime Diaries. She is an incredible momma and an inspiration of Goldy Womanhood. She is currently on an internet fast as she practices choosing the good portion. The letter to her husband below was originally posted in July as she celebrated her 6th anniversary, but it is worth refreshing! I hope you enjoy her words as much as I do.

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Saturday is Nick and I's sixth anniversary. 
If I don't say it explicitly enough, he is my absolute best friend. 
I think he's the best man in the whole world. 
I think God absolutely gave me an incredible gift in Him. 


BUT since I like this blog to be more real and less trophy case, there is no point in denying that this has been an incredibly hard year for us. Really an incredibly hard set of years, but this one - she's been a doozy. So I thought I'd share with ya'll and with you, nc, six snapshots of how he'd loved me through the hard in the most Christlike way imaginable. 


Nick, 

#1. This first one came early in the sixth year when we were at Edisto on that mini vacation. I think it was the first glimpse either of us had that the Lord might be postponing Boston. Things had been catapulting forward in Seattle and when we arrived on the East Coast, everything moved to a standstill. And we were discouraged. And one morning, you got up early with the kids and swooped one of them up and went out to the porch and just sat. And I knew you were crying out to Him and resigning yourself to His will. And because you did, I could too. 


#2. It makes me laugh to think about it now, how ornery we both were on Christmas day for a million different reasons. Just bickering and not loving each other well. And in the midst of it all, you just said, "stop! this isn't who we are and it isn't what we're going to do." And we didn't. And I think our little family received a lot of joy from that Christmas because of that. 


#3. I'll never forget the day of my half marathon when I called you so upset because I couldn't find you guys cheering for me. And I was being irrational and emotional and you chose to use the sweetest voice ever with me and I could hear the kids screaming in the background and I'm sure it was so hard for you, but spoke so sweetly to me instead of letting me hear the sacrifice you'd made for me to run that thing in your voice. And if you read that incredibly long sentence, that should really be reason #3. 


#4. On the day we found Glory seizing, I've never felt so thankful for you. Thankful that you were screaming and crying to the Lord louder than I was - but in the midst of begging Him for her life, you packed the car, got the boys up and dressed, and arranged childcare. All I could do was hold her and cry, but you could cry out to Him and run the world at once. I think that's the definition of "my better half". 


#5. On the night a few days after we found out we lost Arrow and you found me crying by myself while I watched that stupid movie, you smiled at me so big. And you told me you were proud of me for loving him so hard and missing him so hard. And you said it made you love me more. You were like Christ to me, seeing my absolute weakness and calling it a strength. That meant more to me than I'll ever be able to express. 


#6. This week when I stood at the sink washing dishes (duh, always) and asked you over the phone what you thought about us praying for more victory in Christ, for more freedom, for NOT a hard year. When I expressed that I was so glad He'd met us in all of the hard and that we'd known Him more, but what if we had asked Him for the faith to ask for blessing instead of just healing from more hurt. And you said yes, you wanted to lead us in that kind of faith. And I knew, if our seventh year is the hardest yet - it doesn't matter. 
Because you'll be there and He'll be there. 
And there will be victory. 


I love you Nick. 
Jess

::All About Marriage:: Crazy

I am so excited to have Bridget of Tales of Me and The Husband guest post today, and conclude our little marriage series.  Have you read her blog yet?  You should.  She is a super funny girl and writes just like she talks.  She is a rl (real life) friend and take my word, she is a hoot!  Bridget, thanks so much for joining my marriage series.  

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Marriage is crazy.

That's not a very promising beginning to a post on marriage, huh?

Wait, wait, wait.  Marriage is awesome too.

I'm approaching my five-year anniversary this December.  My marriage has been a particularly crazy one--hence my first line.  If you've read my love story, then you'll understand.  But anyway, moving on.

Marriage is crazy.  Why do I say that?  You're two people who come from entirely different backgrounds, places, locations... with different assumptions, expectations... who happened to fall in love... and are now expected to be roommates, share everything, and eventually, maybe, make babies.  Oh, and live together basically forever until death do you part.

WHAT?!

That's some crazy sh*t right there.

I remember going to my Mom for some marital advice before I tied the knot.  

"Mom, how do you know when it's right?"

"Bridget, marriage is a crapshoot.  I'm not sure you ever know beyond the shadow of a doubt."

Again, I say, WHAT?!

What I think she meant is that there's not going to be a sign-in-the-sky moment that reads: YOU ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING.  CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH FOR A PROSPEROUS AND HAPPY MARRIAGE.  You may not have an "a-ha!" moment (but you may).  You may not have one hundred percent clarity that this is what God (the universe, Allah, your destiny... you get the drift) had in the cards for you.  

But, a wise man once told me (that wise man is my husband), that sometimes it's a choice.  You're not always going to feel loving.  You're not always going to feel like sharing or serving (and the serving goes for the husband AND wife).  The honeymoon stage will end.  You're going to be pissed sometimes.  Frustrated.  Angry as hell.  Those are the times when you have to choose to love.  Choose to serve.  Choose to be committed.  Choose to stay.

I thought it was genius.  And I'm glad he's mine (most of the time).

::All About Marriage:: Cooking Skills

Molly aka "the Mrs." of Mr. & Mrs. Rogoloso in detail has become one of those blog friends who you think of during the day and go to call...before you realize that duh, you don't have her number because we are "just" blog friends.  Well, we are working on changing that.  In the mean time, here she is sharing about how she is so much like me marriage.  p.s. I can't wait for Mark to read this post because he might think I secretly wrote it.

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Hello all!

My name is Molly and I have a little blog called Mr. & Mrs. Rigoloso in detail.

I am honored that Shannon asked me to hang out with you guys today while she and Mark celebrate their looove!

Here's my man and me, young and in love, as a brand new engaged couple.

And here we are making it official...

 in the same church where my parents and maternal grandparents each married.

And here's the time I attempted to make my husband a nice, homemade meal and nearly burned our house down.

I could tell you that marriage is dreamy and sexy and beautiful.

And I would not be lying to you. It is dreamy and sexy and beautiful.

It is also hard and taxing and intense...

Because sometimes even the best intentions produce arguments and hurt feelings and even grease fires.

I don't know if Shannon has ever burned dinner so badly that she nearly took the house down with it, but I know she'd agree that marriage is hard work.

And five years later, I think she and Mark would both say it is worth it.

Happy 5 years, Shannon + Mark!

Justin and I send you wishes for many more sweet years of marriage.

And we'll throw in this little jewel because we like you guys so much...

Oil in a cast iron skillet takes very little time to heat and consequently ignite.

::All About Marriage:: Tips for Success

Beth blogs over at dot...in the city and is an absolute doll.  She lives in Boston, which gives her major bonus points.  Beth knows how to be honest and funny and personable in print.  I couldn't ask for more!  Love her and her blog.  So thrilled she is joining this little marriage series.
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Hi, I'm Beth and I blog regularly at dot...in the city.  I was thrilled when Shannon asked me to guest post about my marriage in celebration of her own five year anniversary!  Let's hear it for wedding anniversaries!  Marriage is not always be easy, but there is a lot to celebrate.  Here's to Shannon and Mark!

Brandon and I have been married since May 15, 2010.  It was a beautiful spring day in Massachusetts and I was so thankful we didn't have to use our "Plan B" and move the wedding ceremony inside.  I will always remember it as a picture perfect day and felt so blessed to be surrounded by so many of our family and friends.

As I already mentioned, we quickly learned marriage isn't always easy and carries with it great responsibility.   One wise thing I was told while we were getting ready for "the big day" was that we "were not preparing for a wedding, but a marriage."  In the midst of today's overly saturated wedding market, it is a challenge for any bride (and groom) to keep the idea of marriage rather than wedding day at the forefront of their mind.  Now I tell my friends when they get engaged, to keep this idea in mind when they go to any wedding vendor.  Pause for a moment and pray about it.

Having over a year of marriage experience, there are several things that allow us to celebrate our marriage:

1. Prayer - we do our best to pray together every night before going to sleep and at other times (at the start of our day, before each meal eaten together).  We also pray on our own, but praying together has become a really great habit...just in the last month or so. Matthew 18:20 was my parent's marriage verse and taught me a lot about prayer.
2. Date night - since we don't have kids yet, we try to do this once a week and it doesn't always mean going out to eat.  We do something just the two of us, often leaving our cell phones at home.  Once we got a flat tire (in our driveway) but still walked to the grocery store to get ice cream and have a fun night.
3. Community - when we got married we had a really solid community of friends who lived close by, but we moved last spring and have struggled to find new friends.  The period of searching for that new community brought us closer together and sparked conversations about what we value most in other friends and one another. 

Those are just a few of the many things we're learning about marriage, and not to mention one another.  Marriage is a gift and I am so grateful to be be sharing it with Brandon.  I probably would not have believed it if someone told me just three years ago when I took a job in Massachusetts that in 2011 I would be a wife and homeowner.  Marriage is a blessing and I am so glad Shannon asked me to reflect on it.  Happy Anniversary, Shannon and Mark!

all photos taken by Meaghan Elliott and used by permission

::All About Marriage:: Celebrating Marriage

Diane is my neighbor, a friend, a fantastic cook, and one of the most incredible women of God I know.  She is also on this wild journey of marriage and motherhood, and documents her own observation on her blog, Home on the Hill.

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Celebrating a Mannina Marriage

Hello to Shannon’s Blog Readers!

When Shannon asked me to help celebrate marriage on her blog, I was so honored.  Mike and I have benefited so much from Mark and Shannon’s marriage over these past two years of being neighbors.  From dinners, to game nights, to shared pregnancies, to swapping our day’s stories, it has been such a privilege to see how God has grown them in their love and commitment to one another. Another fun tidbit: Mike and I actually share our anniversary weekend with Mark and Shannon!  They just have a little more experience under their belts.  So it’s fun to get this assignment just as we are celebrating our anniversary, too!

Now on to the task at hand: What one thing would I celebrate about my marriage to encourage all you readers out there?  Well, I have a few things I’ll share.  Things that have surprised me since Mike and I started our journey two years ago.  Things you may not have thought of before (especially if you’re not yet married).  I'm also going to sneak in some photos from our wedding for all of you ladies that like to hunt for fun wedding ideas (photos by Rebekah J Murray).  Here goes!

 Mike and I had a DC wedding.

 Here's our Southern Red Barn Reception on a beautiful fall day!

We celebrate marriage because it calls us to sacrifice.

Funny thing to celebrate, huh?  When Mike and I said our marriage vows two years ago, we promised to give our lives to each other.  On the surface, it sounds sweet and romantic.  But the reality is that in our Christian marriage, God calls us to make sacrifices on a daily basis that require us giving up our wants and desires in order to serve the other.  The world might tell you that such sacrifice sounds like we’re giving up our personal dreams.  But for us, our sacrifice points to a greater picture—the picture of the gospel that has saved us.  Sacrifice is hard, but we've found that we understand what Christ has done for us more deeply and we love each other more genuinely when we are making the hard sacrifices.  And for us, that’s what life is all about.  So even though the process of sacrifice can be difficult, the end result is always worth celebrating.

 Reception flowers of dahlias, roses, berries, and wheat 

were set low so people could see each other.

I loved my fall bouquets and the wire cage on my bridal bouquet.

We celebrate marriage because it is redemptive.

Many people in our circle talk about how marriage is difficult and how it reveals all your sin. Yuck. Well, it does do that. But sometimes what people forget to say is that it’s a kindness of God to reveal the sin in our hearts.  He only does it so He can deal with it.  And in marriage, I’ve found that I wouldn’t have known many of my sins but for that friction between me and Mike.  On top of that, I don’t have the option of dealing with them over in my little corner all by myself.  I have to—no, I get to—share all of me with Mike.  Mike walks with me and comforts me through it all, similar to how God does.  What a gift!  I think that constant process of sin, brokenness, and redemption is truly what makes marriage worth celebrating.

Mason jar candles hanging from the roof of the barn.

 We lined the aisles with wheat!

We celebrate marriage because it is an adventure.

I believe God has begun a good work in Mike and will carry it to completion.  I have what I believe is the beginning and the end in view. But the middle is the unknown. It’s the adventure!  To see how God works out his plan for Mike—how he refines and readies him for that final day—it’s a gift and an adventure.  I get a front row seat to it all.  In fact, I’m the only one in the front row.  And it’s been a pretty amazing show so far.

 

Wedding menu on a chalk board.

Monogrammed wedding cake.  Loved!

And yes, even the CFA cow came and fed our wedding party 

before we said our "I Do's"! We're big fans. :)

Happy anniversary, Mark and Shannon!  Keep enjoying the adventure!

Love,

Diane Mannina

::All About Marriage:: Enjoy

My favorite part of  all of these guest posts is seeing the love that is shared by others. Julie here, of Green Eggs and Hammes is one of my bestest friends from high school. She has taught me to laugh, let loose, enjoy life, and love Jesus. Reading this post, I realized how much our husbands are alike..."sexy socks" and all.  Go on now, I know you want to understand "sexy socks." Enjoy!

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hey scribble pad readers :) 

i'm julie from green eggs & hammes & i'm super happy to be posting for shannon today!

first of all... 

happy five year anniversary to shannon & mark!

yours is a marriage i highly respect and admire & i'm super excited for y'all.

i hope you both thoroughly enjoy your internet-fast! ;)

when shannon asked me to blog on marriage, i was super excited initially!

if you were to ask me something that i'm extremely passionate about, 

i would say that marriage is way, way, way up there on that list.

but then when it actually came to writing it... i blanked.

i mean, there's so much to say & i don't know how to condense it in to a small post like this.

but i can always try.

so here's me & my love, eric

and here's the cute kid we made... levi

juuuuuust kidding.... do you really think i'd post that picture of my son?

c'mon.

there he is ;) 

so... i had this whole post written out... and then e walked by to go mow the lawn & said
"check me out in my sexy socks"
because {and i honestly have no idea why} but when he pulls his socks half way up his legs...
i seriously think it's sexy in a weird way. don't judge.

all that to say... this little interaction made me change my post.

here's a little tribute to my marriage... while also encouraging all of you other wives who are reading this:
enjoy marriage.

marriage is tough, yes? let's just be honest.
i could tell you stories that would make you cringe in horror and judge me horrifically.
and i could tell you stories that would make you laugh so loud you might pee your pants.
but you still might judge me.
because both of those would be about our arguments.
{and we've had lots of those in our 4 1/2 years, y'all}
so please don't misunderstand me when i say "enjoy marriage" and post cute photos of me & the hubs.
marriage.is.hard.
one of the hardest things i'll ever do is try to to communicate with a man who is so not like me.
on issues where we just don't see eye to eye.
or issues where we do see eye to eye - but we don't talk the same way so it takes us an hour to figure out
"oh hey, we're on the same team here, huh?"


life hasn't exactly been a simple one for me & eric the past year... but God has been faithful.
and i can honestly say that there's nobody else i'd rather be walking through life with.

because y'all...
marriage is the greatest reward.
life with the person you chose to do this thing with.
for me - it's life with my very best friend.
*
laughing at the stupid.
crying at the difficult.
having a candlelit datenight in your living room just because.
reading books together on the front porch.
doing everyday mundane tasks.
and then doing something crazy to break the mold of the ordinary.
having a "my kind of date" where we dress up a little, do dinner out & talk the night away.
and having a "his kind of date" where we work together, side by side, on a project.
taking a family walk around the neighborhood at night.
laying in bed with our kiddo in the morning and laughing at the silly things he does.
going to get dunkin donuts coffee because it's just yummy!
having someone to encourage you in the best parts of you, that you might not be fully aware of yet.

marriage is just a sweet thing in my eyes.
not always pretty. but oh, so definitely sweet.

i really married a top-notch man.
he was not what i had expected for myself, i'll be totally honest in that.
but i am so very much in love with him, it's a little ridiculous.
and not because he does all the romantic things right.
but because he loves Jesus.
because he loves our son.
and because he loves me.
and that means that he chooses to love me... even when i'm at my ugliest point.
and that's just a beautiful picture to me.

so ... happy anniversary shannon & mark.
thank you for letting me be reminded why i love my marriage so very much.
may you thoroughly enjoy each other today and this whole week.
whatever it might bring :)
{which could seriously be a lot of lovin' without any internets to distract you. yee-haw} ;)

::All About Marriage:: He Chose Me

My favorite part of  all of these guest posts is seeing the love that is shared by others.  Taking a tiny step into someones love story makes me weak in the knees.  Today, we are graced with a post by the lovely Sarah of Fairy Tales are True.  She is the sweetest of sweet hearts.  Enjoy! 

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Happy 5 year Anniversary Shannon & Mark!!

I felt honored when Shannon asked me to celebrate my marriage as they are celebrating theirs this week.

Gosh, i love -LOVE.
annnnnd 5 years - go y'all!!  

Hi there!

I'm Sarah and JB is my husband. 

::: photo courtesy of jessicalorren:::

The thing that has always excited me most about marriage

was that one day

a man that I adored would choose

 me. 

enough to lock me down for life.

It thrilled me to no end.  

It still makes my heart beat faster.  Knowing that he chose me.  That he will always choose me!

It's an incredible feeling that is both humbling and exhilarating.  

Knowing that you have someone in your corner for life!

It has also given me a sense of freedom to be exactly who I was made me to be.

i did not understand it at first.  it was like ...

so you are telling me I can be a hormonal holy terror and he's still going to love me?

naw-uhhhh!

but amazingly so, it was true.

When I was dating other guys prior to JB,   I always concealed a part of me, and hid it away.  But the difference with JB was that I almost immediately felt at ease to just be me!  

oh and isn't that an amazing feeling when you are comfortable enough with someone 

to just tear down walls?  yes. yes, it is.

It has given me another glimpse at how God must love us.  unconditionally. no matter what.

{and oh my stars and garters,

 when we have kids  I'm pretty certain my heart is going to leap out of my chest!}

Bottom line, when its with the right person,

 marriage is the best gift!

::All About Marriage:: Ten Things

Have you guys met Lauren of with two cats yet?  Go, go, go.  You will love her style boards, her nursery inspiration, and her style picks.  Girl has guy a refined eye for all things style.  If you haven't seen her blog, certainly you have seen her daughter Violet's nursery.  It is all over the interwebs.  Lauren is the blogger that kept me sane throughout my pregnancy.  It is an honor have her here sharing about marriage.  Thanks Lauren!
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Ten Things I've Learned about Marriage

I met my husband, Kevin, nine years ago in college. It was love at first sight. You know the scene in the movie Sleepless in Seattle where Meg Ryan's 'mom' talks about meeting her husband?

At one point I looked down, at our hands, and I couldn't tell which fingers were mine and which were his. And I knew. Magic. It was magic. I knew we would be together forever...

Well it was just like that. Magic.

And then we got married. And I found out that marriage isn't magic. And it isn't a movie. It's real, hard work. But you know what? I wouldn't change a thing.

Here are a few things I've learned in the five years that we've been married:

1. The first year is the hardest.

2. Don't over-analyze. If he doesn't look happy, he's probably just hungry, tired, or maybe his team just lost. It's got nothing to do with you. Even though you might be thinking about your relationship 24/7, he's not. If he's actually upset with you he'll let you know.

3. You're stuck with each other (if you meant your wedding vows anyway), so there's no point in staying mad. Forgive and move on, but learn from your mistakes.

4. Don't be afraid to say you're sorry. It's not a competition. It doesn't matter who's right and who's wrong because you're a team.

5. Show your appreciation. Find your partner's strengths and praise him for them: Kevin is an amazing cook, great gardener, loving father, and I've never once had to mow the lawn.

6. It's the little things. I never felt more loved than when Kevin painted my toenails for me when I was so pregnant that I couldn't see my feet.

7. Laugh. If you can laugh together, and better yet, make each other laugh, you're golden. Laugh in the face of adversity. Laugh at his bad jokes. Just laugh.

8. Don't expect more than he can give. Kevin isn't a romantic, but for so long I would watch a good chick flick and think, why doesn't my guy do that? And that just leads you to a bad place. Instead I remember the things that are great about him: He's incredibly intelligent, crazy handsome, handy around the house, makes me laugh, and always tells me that he loves me. (Not to mention the things I already listed above).

9. Love your partner how they need to be loved, not how you want to be. I love kisses, a gentle touch here, a compliment there. Kevin doesn't want or need any of those things. He needs words of affirmation, (ahem) physical intimacy, and someone to listen to him. It took me a while to figure this one out, but it's so important.

10. And lastly (and maybe most importantly) be happy with YOU. If you're confident in your worth as a person, have your own interests, and respect yourself, your partner will respect you. And mutual respect = a solid foundation for marriage.

The butterflies, the romance, the excitement may fade, but if you respect each other, love each other, and laugh together, your marriage will be lasting.

Happy anniversary to Shannon and Mark! I wish you many more years of happiness.

http://www.withtwocats.com/

::All About Marriage:: A Love Story

Casey Wiegand sharing her love story today.  You might have read it before, but it is too good not to share again over here.  Casey writes seemlessly and beautifully about her life, faith, kids, and adventures.  Warning, once you start reading her blog, you will get sucked in.  It is a gem of read, and this love story is just the tip of the iceberg!

 

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I will begin at my highschool graduation 

(where it all began....sort of).

Chris is 4 years older than me so he was at my highschool graduation with his current girlfriend at the time (they were watching her little sis graduate). I am not sure how this came about but he asked who I was. smiley face. She told him... that is Casey Jones and she'll be at Baylor next year. I graduate, make it to Baylor and Chris can name countless times that we were at the same places... always remembering who I was from that initial sighting. My sophomore year he sat behind me at a concert and tried to get the courage to talk to me the whole time and never said a word. Fast forward time....(he is older) so he graduates, moves back to Dallas. I still don't know he exists and we have still never officially met.

*Another funny sidenote. Some of Chris' friends from college live right near my parent's house so he would always drive past hoping to see me. :)

I graduate college in August. One night Chris was at a highschool football game with a bunch of guys and my little brother, Travis, walks up to the group. Chris asks who that is..."Casey Jones' little brother" (so I am back on his mind)...then later that evening we both randomly wind up at a Kanakuk reunion. He waited at the bottom of the elevators to talk to me and I took the stairs!

So finally he decided just to get my number and call me. What was supposed to be a phonecall for a "sort-of blind"date turned into hours of conversation. I didn't even know what he looked like at the time. He took me out on a date on October 21. I remember thinking I was in serious trouble because there was such an instant connection. We are both artists, see the world very uniquely, have interesting personalities with very specific needs. 

Three months later he told me he loved me and wanted to spend his life with me. 

(he didnt tell me he had been "eyeing" me for awhile until we had been together for a month or so).

We went to Hawaii after 5 months of dating and he proposed to me on our one year anniversary. 

We had an 8 month engagement, married on June 16... 

I was 23 years old. 

We started our business/studio when I was 24.

We had Aiden when I was 25 and Ainsleigh at 27. 

And here we are today.

There is obviously a lot that has happened in the middle. We have had some messy patches, hard patches, ups & downs. I have let him down a zillion times and he has done the same.

But at the end of the day... Christopher has always said 

"There was only one girl I could spend my life with...and that's you." 

And I believe it. Through better or worse. He has made all my dreams come true. He has changed my life. He has loved me well. He has made me a better me.Through day in and day out. 

He chose me. And I am thankful.

Our story :).

::All About Marriage:: Three Keys to Failproof

I am so excited to have Jenni from Story of My Life here talking about her relationship with her husband Matthew.  I read their love story in the car on a road trip and it had me laughing and crying and "ummm...hummm'ing" the entire time.  Mark looked at me in the passenger seat like I was crazy!  Jenni has a gift with words and is sweet as pie.  After you read this post, run over to her blog to read their love story.  It is a must!
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Hello new and old friends!  My name is Jenni (from the blog Story of My Life), and I'm so glad to be here with you at the Scribble Pad today! 

As you can see above, I'm a married lady--and not just married--happily married!  I don't pretend my marriage is perfect or that everything is always unicorns and roses in our life, but I do think that we have something great. 

Matthew and I have a pretty cool and unusual love story if you'd like to check it out, but that's not what I'm here to talk about today.  I just want to tell you about three of the most important factors in a failproof marriage, according to me. :)  Now none of these things are terribly original--you may have heard all this before--but only because it's the TRUTH!

So here goes.  For a great marriage, or relationship in general, you need...

1. A good sense of humor. Seriously.  You absolutely HAVE to be able to laugh at yourself.  Life is weird sometimes.  Turn it into something to smile about.  LOOK for the good and the humor.  It's there, I promise!

2. A+++ communication.  Don't pout or mope or whine.  Men don't understand that stuff and nothing will get done if you aren't clear about what you want and how you're feeling.  Men are very simple creatures, for the most part, and are usually happy to do what makes YOU happy if you're clear about that and aren't a crabby, nit-picky you-know-what.  The secret to getting what you want is knowing how to ask for it. ;)

3. Quality time.  Spending QUALITY time together covers a multitude of sins.  Meaning, perhaps work/school/other responsibilities keep you from spending as much time together as you'd like, but when you set aside QUALITY time together doing something you both enjoy, it will leave you feeling reconnected and refreshed.  Take it from me--someone who spent almost every waking hour with her husband for the first year and a half of their marriage (because we were both working from home): spending lots of time together does not equal awesome togetherness.  The quality of the time is what matters most!

So that's my two cents.  Thanks for having me Shannon! And the rest of you, come visit anytime! :)