Blessed and Adored: 15th Wedding Anniversary

On this day, at this specific time 15 years ago, I was sitting with curlers in my hair and doing my make-up with my momma, my nana and my bridesmaids all around. I was about to walk with my daddy down the aisle to my future husband. Whom I affectionately still call Boy. All I knew was that I was as 'in love' as an 18 year old girl could be...and was very much ready to be a Mrs.

Our road has had mountains highs, hills, valleys, a few mudslides (and one or two sinkholes, haha)...never the less...he is my beloved and I am his. We do life together. We are messy at it, too! That makes the ride all the sweeter. I am so thankful that God has given me 15 years with this man of my dreams and humbly ask for another day, another week and another year.

In these 15 years of marriage, of being an "us" I have learned so much...mostly about myself and my hubby and his orneriness. In honor of our anniversary, I decided to journal a few things that stick out as what has made our marriage work. No advice here...just the things I cherish about him, us and our marriage. We chose each other in the beginning and we still choose each other every single day. That takes forgiveness and mercy...it's why neither of us has been on 20/20 as a suspect!

My Top 5 for 15 Years:

1. I love Jesus. So does Boy. That is the first and most important thing in our marriage. God is first for both of us...and sometimes we rely on the other to remind us of who we are and Who we belong to. I love praying for my husband and then seeing those prayers answered as I believe it is a faith builder for the both of us. With the life we live...God is the only way our marriage and family can survive. We make a mess of our lives and our walk with Christ all the time...but yet we always know where our foundation is found. I am thankful that in this journey we have the same common thread of Jesus and longing to please him with our lives.

2. Laughter. It comes in abundance in this house. There isn't a day that passes that Boy hasn't made me laugh. Almost every single argument is ended by one of us being heated and flubbing the pronunciation of a word...and then hysterically laughing. There isn't a joke about flatulence that he doesn't readily share or even a slightly off color joke that he laughs at the punch line before giving it away. Boy makes it his mission in life, to make me laugh. I can walk in a room and find him dressed in swim trunks, dress shoes and an afro...only to hear me laugh. (True Story). We often joke that we are Dan and Roseanne (an odd couple to be proud of I know) but we are so very sarcastic and it seems to be working for us! A little side note: for you 80's and 90's kids...when Boy laughs...he sounds just like Mr. Belding on Saved by the Bell. I encourage you to refresh your memory with that victorious laugh! I cherish it...and him.

3. Christmas. Boy forfeited the fight when it came to Christmas. He may not readily admit it...but I am for certain he may love it almost as much as me now. He willingly pulls down seven trees every year on November 1st like clockwork. (Sometimes even on the 31st of October...but that is a rare occasion as it confuses our trick or treaters). He enjoys the tradition of ordering pizza and listening to music and unwrapping each of the yearly ornaments...and reliving memories. He even lets it slide that I listen to Christmas music year round...even though he made a rule that it had to be a 'ber month. My greatest memories are sitting together around the fire, our tree and listening to music as our kids play or cuddle close by. It's these simple things that just melt my heart.

4. His heart is so kind. Boy loves me, inspite of who I am. I can be a fickle, grouchy, opinionated and snarky sucker...and he loves me anyway. I can't begin to express how kind his heart is. The way he lives each day and loves our family...our three girls. They are abundantly blessed with a daddy that loves them fiercely. He wears his emotions proudly...never afraid to spend an extra few minutes giving hugs and kisses or wiping away tears. Cuddles, dances, plays dress up, does awful and awkward cartwheels to hear giggles, spends copious amounts of time coloring...and most of all loves the heck out of his wife--right in front of three little girls--so hopefully one day they'll fall in love with a man just like their daddy. Our three girls are three of the best things that have come from the two of us falling in love and he makes it look easy making sure we know we are loved.

5. Mexican. It's silly but so true. I would gamble to say we eat Mexican food most weeks at least twice. Depending on how bad the day was...or how bad the week was...it has been up to three times a week...and even twice in one day before. Guacamole and salsa are like my two love languages. I'll repeat that for those of you who need to hear it a second time. Guacamole and salsa are like my two love languages. He speaks them well. We put our girls to bed and we pop in a movie or watch Friends on Netflix and enjoy ourselves while laughing at whatever Joey or Chandler just did. It's more than food. It's time to connect and enjoy just being a couple...just being us.

There are a vast many other things that I love about my Boy. We face a lot of hard in our marriage...but the hard is easier with this burning hunk of love by my side. I genuinely look forward to him walking in my front door every single day...and he longs to be home with me. He really is my best friend, as cliche as that may sound. I love you, Boy, beyond words. Happy 15th anniversary! (Can I just say that it appears that you have gotten more handsome each and every year? Have mercy!!!)

2002