Wednesday, November 5, 2014

The Best 5 Years

5 years ago today was one of the most beautiful, spiritual, and incredible days of my life. I was married to my husband for all of time and for the vast, incomprehensible span of eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. My best friend became my husband, and on that day we promised to devote our lives and very existence to one another. Thank the heavens I chose so well. Literally, I thank God every day. I know he led me to Sam, and this love has been the best gift I've ever received.

Although our wedding day was special--surreal and sweet in every sense of the word, I'm not sure I understood the implications of what was taking place. Star-eyed and twitter-pated beyond belief I couldn't foresee the true meaning of two people promising complete loyalty and fidelity to one another before God himself. I'm sure I still don't, because the promises made and blessings to come are beyond my capacity to understand--but I've learned a thing or two about marriage in the past half decade. It can be hard. Well, loving Sam is easy, but life gets hard. It's often messy and complicated and can be a huge distraction when you allow it to be-- currents pulling you apart, sometimes subtly drifting and other times more forcefully dragging. In times like these it takes extra effort to reunite, but it's always worth it. Coming together, finding each other again and again--it's always exactly what we need. He is my strength, and my light.

Take today for instance. I always imagined that our 5th anniversary would include romantic gestures of the common variety: flowers, a date night, long and loving gazes across a candlelit table... yet, I find myself in my pajamas. We just got home from our Disneyland trip and we're all sick. It's not exactly what I would plan for an occasion such as this, but I'm okay with it. Instead of flowers, our romantic gestures include taking turns caring for each other and our daughter. Right now Sam is cuddled up with Klair, and our long, loving gazes are replaced with an occasional glance and reassuring smile. We can celebrate later. Right now, we're in survival mode--but we're in it together, and that's more wonderful than any flower. In the past five years we've been up and down, sideways and completely turned over at times on this roller coaster, but through it all we've been side by side.

FIVE years. It's a pretty significant amount of my life so far--1/5 to be exact. 2 tiny apartments, 1 ancient rental, 2 beautiful houses, too many college courses to count, 2 pets, several jobs, 1 perfect daughter and a son on the way-- we have been blessed beyond belief. Yet, our time spent thus far is nothing more than a tiny blip on the spectrum of eternity. We literally have forever together. And while the thought makes my brain hurt if I think about it too long, it's a comfort to know that I will always have Sam by my side. Come what may, I know he is mine and I am his. And, we are both God's. This knowledge is enough to help me weather any storm. It gives a deeper meaning and heightened appreciation for most beautiful moments past, present, and yet to come.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Samuel, you are the love of my existence. I thank God daily for the love that we have. I owe every good thing in my life to the decision I made to marry you!

Although I'm not happy about the sickness ravaging our household, I honestly have no room for anything but gratitude in my heart today. I am blessed beyond belief.

Seriously. As I was looking through photos trying to find a good one of the two of us, I found this gem. What guy does a green face mask with his wife and then agrees to a silly-faced selfie to post on Facebook?  A very special one indeed.

10 comments:

  1. So well written! Agreed. Happy anniversary! Hope you all get feeling better soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jessie! And we are starting to get over it, yay!

      Delete
  2. Happy 5 years Autumn!!

    xoxo
    Lauren
    www.dressingdallas.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. You guys are the cutest, happy five!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy 5th Anniversary. You guys make a lovely couple.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I sure love you guys!!! Happy anniversary :)

    www.lesdedrickson.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And we love you! Thanks for being such a good friend Fati :)

      Delete

Thanks for stopping by! I read and appreciate every comment. Look back for a reply.