:: I’d Marry You All Over Again ::
This week marks our 16 years together and 11 years of marriage {whoo hoo}! I wish I could tell you that we have some spectacular plans to celebrate… but that’s surely not the case {not with a recent move, four kids, and the beginning of our homeschool journey}! It’s sort of fitting, however. I feel like we’ve passed the initial excitement of being freshly married, the tumultuous first years of getting into a groove, and even the “seven year itch!” We’re settling into a cozy, quieter type of love. The kind where you feel safe with the other person, and supported no matter what crazy ideas you may have. The type of love where you’re secure in the feeling that the other person is in it for the long haul…truly through sickness and in health, good times and in bad… in joy, as well as in sorrow. The kind of love where you are content and happy just having a peaceful date night at home {as long as there’s a happy ending involved… whether it’s ice cream or the steamier kind}! It’s a wonderful type of love….
Before you start feeling sorry for us {It does sound a little boring – haha!!}, I should mention that last year we did go all out for our 10 year anniversary! My extremely generous mom volunteered to watch our four little ones for eight solid days so that we could slip away on a romantic trip to Cancun! It was our first long trip away from the kids. Mr. Finn, our youngest, was only 14 months at the time, so it was super difficult to leave him. I had to stop nursing {earlier than I would have liked}, and let go of being in charge of the kids’ daily activities for over a week {a difficult feat for any mom}! So… Husby and I boarded the plane and had the most memorable week away!
Of course there were some bumps in the road! To start with… the night prior to our early departure, Husby and I stayed up almost all night writing the kids sweet notes and packaging up small daily gifts for them to unwrap. Unfortunately one of my lovely migraines struck and I ended up vomiting on the plane! No. Joke. Vomit. All over my darling husby and myself {sorry for the visual}! I will never forget when we stepped into our breathtakingly beautiful room with panoramic views of the ocean… Husby wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tightly exclaiming, “You need a shower! You smell like vomit!” Hahaha – Nice!! Since this post has suddenly become quite candid…. I might as well share with you that I also had a Brazillian wax that went WAY wrong a few days prior to our departure {I’ll spare you the details}! To top it off, three days into our romantic vacation, we both got the worst sunburns of our lives {even my cute Puerto Rican husby}, and couldn’t touch each other!! Thank goodness for a sense of humor! It still seriously CRACKS me up! Those three instances aside… it was an amazing trip! We swam in the turquoise waters, went to the Tulum ruins, golf carted around Isle Mujeres, ziplined for an entire day… and spent time chatting {uninterrupted!} over tasty dinners. I reminisce of our trip often… daydreaming of that carefree week we experienced together. I am so thankful that we were able to go on that dreamy vacation {I would absolutely recommend a trip away from the kids to reconnect if you have a trustworthy family member or friend that is willing to watch your sweet littles while you are away! It’s so important for our relationships!}…
To my husby, my doll face {aka dolly – sorry for revealing your embarrassing nickname from me!}…. I can’t thank you enough for marrying me 11 years ago…for standing by my side for endless graduate degree programs, and then allowing me to give it all up {despite my crazy student loans}, to stay at home with our four beautiful children. You totally get me… for which I am so grateful! You truly let me be myself, and love me as I grow and change. You inspire me daily with your faith in God, your endless energy, and the way that you teach and love our children. I am so excited to seek new life adventures with you, to experience the ups and downs that life will throw at us, to grow old with you…. and watch our children mature into adulthood. I love you… truly, truly… I LOVE YOU! I’d marry you all over again, Doll Face! Happy Anniversary!
You are my inspiration and my soul’s fire.
You are the magic of my days.
You help me laugh, you teach me love.
You provide a safe place for me, unlike I’ve ever known.
You free me to sing my own song.
You are more of an amazement to me, each day I rediscover you.
You are my greatest boon.
I am yours.
You are mine.
Of this we are certain.
You are lodged in my heart.
The small key is lost.
You must stay there forever.
{Frau Ava (circa 1160), translated by Willis Barnstone}
