Blessed

It was a fairy tale wedding.... As the sun broke the horizon welcoming a new day you could feel the magic in the air. The birds were singing, bells were ringing, in a perfect little church on a glorious summery-fall day. I married the man of my dreams, literally.... The one who occupied my mind, my heart for so long. The one I thought out of my reach who somehow managed to wait for me, to find me, and to love me back.... I wore a dress that made me feel like a princess and picked out so many love songs you might have mistaken the ceremony for a concert (including a serenade by the groom.) I remember being surrounded by tulle (probably the last year tulle was still "in") and purple hydrangeas, and despite all the many people who came to celebrate with us, I can barely remember anybody but him..... We danced, we laughed, we cried, we dreamed.... It was a fairy tale wedding, and a fairy tale beginning... We were embarking on the rest of our life where unseen wonders awaited us. Maybe challenges too, but we could take them. Together we could face anything life could throw at us. You couldn't break a love like ours.

Fast forward ten years... We hit the snooze on the iphone a few more times than we should have... I groggily rolled over to wake my sleepy first grader and persuade her to get dressed. I dragged myself to the bathroom to wash my face and marveled at my disheveled appearance. My favorite tee shirt, fifteen years old, sweat pants, remnants of yesterdays mascara beneath my eyes... Hair that needs doing, not just fixing, but doing! And the fifteen extra pounds left over from my seven week old. Yep. I'm a hottie.... "Happy Anniversary, Baby" Brian greeted me. Oh yeah. That's today... What did I give my prince charming? A head cold...

Over breakfast making, pony tail doing, lunch packing, I thought about our wedding day. I thought about our honey moon. I thought about all we dreamed about, and all we've achieved. In spite of the sweats, (Which I don't wear every day, just for the record.)the pounds,and the craziness.... our life is my dream come true.

We've been blessed with a beautiful home that fits our family perfectly. We're surrounded by friends and neighbors we enjoy relationship with... We have filled our home, our hearts and lives with the laughter of our children, smiles and coos of a newborn, a psycotic Australian Shepherd with whom we have a love/hate relationship. A finicky feline, and a bored chinchilla who is currently entertaining herself by eating her wheel. He spends his days challenging, inspiring and supporting tomorrow's leaders. I spend my days shuttling kids to school, swimming, soccer and ballet (yes in my sexy swagger waggon). And I occasionally work in a house sale here and there :) We spend our evenings bathing babies, reading stories, packing lunches and passing out on the couch over books.... And you know what, we are exactly where I wanted us to be ten years ago.

Sometimes I get so busy surviving my life, and making it through each day that I forget how much I love it. I love the crazy, chaotic existence that is ours. I love the smiles that come with the spit up, and the the mess.... I love the laughter that comes from my kids when they are playing. I love our home even spite of all the repairs it's had and still needs. I even love, really love the minivan.

And we were right, we've had challenges. Difficulties and hardships, and loss that threatened us to our very core. We we have faced them together, stayed committed to our family, to each other, and to our vows. And we have been blessed. Blessed by a God who has honored our commitment. Blessed beyond our expectations. Blessed in spite of our challenges...

Thank you Brian for the last ten years... for all you've given me. For encouraging me, challenging me and loving me unconditionally. I can't wait for the rest of our unforeseen wonders, and watching the rest of our story unfold....

This song probably says it best...

Blessed By Martina McBride


I get kissed by the sun
Each morning
Put my feet on a hardwood floor
I get to hear my children laughing
Down the hall through the
Bedroom door
Sometimes I sit on my
Front porch swing
Just soaking up the day
I think to myself, I think to myself
This world is a beautiful place

I have been blessed
And I feel like I’ve found my way
I thank God for all I’ve been given

At the end of every day
I have been blessed
With so much more than I deserve
To be here with the ones
That love me
To love them so much it hurts
I have been blessed

Across a crowded room,
I know you know what I’m thinking
By the way I look at you
And when we’re lying in the quiet and
No words have to be said
I think to myself, I think to myself
This love is a beautiful gift


When I’m singing my kids to sleep
When I feel you holding me
I know

I have been blessed...