On May 15, 2004 Steve and I began our married life together. We were babies at 20 and 24 years old. We had an idealistic image of what being a married couple would be like. How could it be THAT different from dating? How much could REALLY change?
It's different. It changes. You change.
I met Steve when I was 16 years old, well really 15 but we were only acquaintances then. I have known this man for half of my life. I have, literally, grown up next to him. He has seen me at my lowest lows, highest highs and everything in between.
During these 10 years of marriage we have been as thick as thieves and as far apart as strangers. There have been moments when I thought I could not breathe if he was not standing next to me coupled with moments when we both thought this was never going to work.
"I don't wanna be someone who walks away so easily
I'm here to stay and make the difference that I can make
Our differences they do a lot to teach us how to use
The tools and gifts we got, yeah, we got a lot at stake.
And in the end, you're still my friend at least we did intend
For us to work we didn't break, we didn't burn
We had to learn how to bend without the world caving in
I had to learn what I've got, and what I'm not and who I am."
When our marriage was in it's infancy we both made a lot of mistakes, as you do. Trying to navigate this world that we had not prepared ourselves for. Figuring each other out. There were bumps, we stumbled, but we got up and kept moving. That idealistic image we had once had was quickly replaced with a more realistic one. Cinderella's glass carriage had turned back into a pumpkin, but luckily, we both enjoy a piece of pumpkin pie every now and then.
We've grown, we've changed, we've fought, we've made up. We have moved six times. We have buried grandmothers, grandfathers and an uncle. We've welcomed two nieces and two nephews into this world. We bought a house. We became a Mom and a Dad.
We have learned a lot. A lot about each other and a lot about life. I guess 10 years will do that. One thing, though, remains the same. My hand still fits perfectly inside his.
It is really difficult for me to try to sum up what the last 10 years has meant in a few short paragraphs. This I do know, at the end of the day I am still that young girl standing in front of that young boy telling him that I will love him all the days of my life. I have and I will.
And that, my friends, is all that matters.
