Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Vows

5 years ago tonight, this great guy I now call my hubby and I were preparing for our wedding vows.  We had such a fun rehearsal.  Our silly groomsmen found the closet full of costumes for church plays and sported all kinds of wigs....even a blue one!  We made had home made soups for dinner in the foyer of the church and played games while we waited on everyone to get there who had to travel. 

Then, 5 years ago tomorrow, we made our vows.  The mood was just as joyful then.  We laughed at my hubby when about 2 hours before the wedding realized he didn't bring his shoes and had to run to the store and buy some.  We giggled as we talked on our cell phones in the church making sure we wouldn't dodge around a corner and (gasp!) see each other!  I mean, who wouldn't be excited?  We were about to get married!  But, even while we felt the joy and excitement of this time, we also knew the seriousness of the vows were preparing to make.  We studied them together and did our pre-marital counseling lessons.  But.  There is no way we could really imagine what our marriage would withstand in just the first five years.

How could we know the depth of the vows ..."in sickness and in health....in good times and in bad....in joy as well as sorrow...until death does us part?"

The deaths we have experienced have not been our own, but the deaths of two of our children.  If any pain can separate a couple, it could be this.  Men and women grieve so differently.  We have had to guard our marriage, protect it as something precious.  Because that is what it is.  Precious.  While we grieve differently (which is very, very hard at times...I'm not going to lie) we both know we love each other and we love our babies.  Period.  Bottom line. 

If I haven't said it before, (prepare to get mushy) I love him so much.  He is my rock.  The amazing things he does is a whole post in itself!  But for now, I will just say...



In
Sickness
Health
Good
Bad
Joy
Sorrow

Death.

I love this man.

11 comments:

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Wishing you a Happy Anniversary. I pray that you will receive beautiful blessing from God in 2011

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. ((HUGS))

Carissa Wix said...

You two are so stinking cute! I'm so happy that God made the two of you for each other! You're family is such an inspiration and your love is so pure! Congratulations on 5 years and many more to come! Love you both!

Jennifer said...

Awwww! Happy Anniversary! May God bless you with many, many more years! I just love how God works and gives us just the one!

Sarita Boyette said...

You two make a lovely couple! I love your beautiful gown, Mattie. Happy anniversary!

Caroline said...

Happy Anniversary !!!

May you have many more blessed yrs together. Praying for you always and have a wonderful blessed 2011.

Jamie said...

Happy Anniversary!

Also, I love your wedding dress!!

Jamie

Melissa said...

Happy Anniversary Mattie, I am so glad you have such a wonderful husband to support you and uphold those vows during the difficult times. =)

Lynn said...

Happy Anniversary, Mattie! I pray that 2011 will be a blessed year for you and that you'll find comfort and joy in all God has in store for you in the coming months!

Gottjoy! said...

Happy belated Anniversary. You are so beautiful in this picture. And you haven't changed a bit!

Melissa said...

I love this post :)

Andrea said...

I had some very similar thoughts while attending a wedding this past summer. I cried at the wedding and not out of happiness for the bride and groom... My hubby and I grieve very differently as well and I totally agree with what you said.

Happy Anniversary :)