...UNDER WATER! Ha! ha! We both just love that joke (got it from a friend at church). December 31st, 2007 was our 5th Wedding Anniversary.When I think back to the last five years, I can't help from thinking of our first year of marriage. Like most couples (I think), during the engagement period all you can think about is when you are finally married and together. No more having to go to your own home after dinner. No more lugging stuff from one house to another. No more having to say goodbye when you want to stay.
Our first year of marriage was by far the most difficult year of our relationship. After a wonderful honeymoon in St. John then Hawaii...it was back to reality. That's when everything really changed. Not the love for him, but the idea of what our married life would be like. Bringing my stuff over to his already organized and decorated home was hard. There wasn't any room for me. Not that I had much stuff or had any desire to decorate any particular way, it was just that I had no MY PLACE for MY STUFF. Oh, and let's just touch on the subject of finances. What? Yes, I took out cash from the ATM. What? I don't know what I spent it on! Stuff. I bought stuff. Of course, I took the defensive position every time until I figured out that my fiance-husband keeps track of every dime spent for end of year tax purposes and wonderfully specific pie-charts. And I believe for the simple satisfaction of knowing where money had been spent. I actually got a kick out of his pie charts that actually showed where our money went, but at the time I wasn't a happy camper. I know there were times when he thought "What did I get myself into", it's not easy when a single guy becomes a step-dad overnight. But, we both can look back now and agree that the first year was definitely a time of transition and adjustment for the both of us.
Since then, I've had the wonderful opportunity to see God working in his life. He's become an awesome spiritual leader for our family, in our church, our family protector and for me often showing and giving me the grace that I need in our relationship. One of the greatest gifts I've observed - is the change that has occurred since the birth of our baby Anika. His eyes light up, tear up and speak to me in ways that I have never seen. I'm lost for words to describe what I continue to observe. Thank you Lord for blessing us with Anika.
It's been quite a bit of give and take over the past 5 years. I have more space for MY STUFF....we have a lavendar bedroom (for me) free from man-stuff (like the rest of the house). We have pretty candle holders and lots of bare wall space-just because that's the way I like it. The rest of the house, well, we've made some changes but, it's still mostly decorated with souvenirs from his travels. And due to his finance savvy-ness (is that a word?) we are able to live comfortably on one income even after taking a cut in pay to work for the church. Yes, we are living on one income in Silicon Valley. I have the luxury (and I do mean luxury) of staying home with Anika.
So, I think we would both agree that the first year of marriage definitely felt like being UNDER WATER. The other 4 years for me have been a time for growth, excitement, and a deeper love for the man I married. Always by his side, to trust, to support and follow God's calling upon us. I look forward to the future and what is brings, but most importantly...give all my praise and thanks to God. For without him, we wouldn't have come up out of the water.
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