Worth the Wait!

Christmas, New Years, a visit to the states...it's been a whirlwind of busy here. Normally when Kyle and I are busy, we tend to miss each other in the midst of doing, and while there has been a bit of that- I've been reflecting on what a wonderful gift God has given me in the gift of Kyle. Kyle is kind, always trying to make sure I am good and taken care of, funny, affectionate, silly, smart, and real. Recently I was talking to a friend who said, "He loves you so much. He is still googly-eyed over you!" I have been relishing that statement for these past few days and it just fills my heart with joy.

We waited. We waited for a long time before we got married. We waited so long in fact, that both of us wondered if we would ever get married. Now, we both say, "It was worth the wait!". I think one of the most joyously overwhelming things for me to think about is that Kyle is a picture of how Christ loves me. It brings tears to my eyes to just think about how fully and completely my husband loves me (especially when I don't deserve it) and Christ loves me even more than that! How could I ever capture something so beautiful into words?

If you have been blessed with marriage- take some time today to thank the Lord for that precious gift. If you are single and waiting for that special someone- be reminded that the Lord is googly-eyed over YOU!

Thank you, Lord, for the wonderful gift of my husband and the many beautiful ways that he expresses Your love to me!

Marriage is to Love

Sometimes I just have a need to write. The thoughts and feelings are just nagging me as I declare to myself that I am just too busy to sit and write. Alas, after weeks of these thoughts, I have finally succumbed to the desire and I sit here at my computer, ready to divulge my heart.

As most of you know, I got married in September. Even today, my husband (Kyle) and I looked at each other and said, "We're married! It still doesn't seem real." Oh, don't get me wrong, there have been moments of reality all right...but, today we are relishing in the fresh life that we have discovered anew. I wish that I had been blogging during those first few months of marriage. All of the transitions and changes were blissful and gut-wrenching. We waited longer than most of our friends to get married, talked through the issues before hand, read the books with deep insight into a happy marriage and STILL, we were caught off-guard. How does one really prepare for sharing their heart, soul, life and laundry completely with another person? How does one prepare to become one?

Marriage is a wonderful institution. Kyle and I deeply love it. We love knowing there will be someone to share the days with, not having to worry about who to take to a party, someone to make you breakfast in the morning (that's one of my favorites), and yet- it is hard. Hard to truly die to self and to put the needs of someone else first, even someone you love dearly. We have learned that selfishness is so much more than just wanting your own way, it can truly suck the living breath right out of a marriage. All of the advice our wise and wonderful friends gave us generally amounted to "It's wonderful and it's hard." We thought we knew what that meant, but we had NO idea. :) All of the advice was correct, but somehow, it just did not communicate the depth of difficulty (or the depth of wonderful, for that matter). Perhaps it's just one of those things that you have to experience for yourself, or maybe it's one of those- everyone has a different experience things...I don't know.

Regardless, we love marriage. For better or for worse. For richer or for poorer. In sickness and in health.