Our Wedding...our marriage

We just celebrated our 14th Wedding Anniversary. My anniversary always makes me think back to that day, as it should. I loved that day. It was a dream come true! I wish I could do it again. It was a perfect day! Maybe we will do it again for one of our big anniversaries. Of course, on a much smaller scale!

Why am I blogging about our wedding that happened 14 years ago? I'm so glad you asked...er, what's that...you didn't ask? Oh well, I'm going to tell anyways. ha, ha! One day I plan to print off my blog and put it in a scrapbook. This is really where our journey began so I thought I should include it. Well, it began when we met actually, but who has the time (or memory) to go back another 2 1/2 years! :)  One of these days I'm going to write about the most amazing marriage proposal, complete with pictures and all. Since one other person knew Dave was going to propose, we have photos of the whole thing. I have never been so surprised in my life! That's for another day.

I have a few photos to post. My professional wedding photos are packed in a box (bummer) and since I can't lift anything yet, it'll have to wait. Not that my hubby hasn't tried to find the box, but it was at midnight and while he was amazing in trying to help me find it, he wasn't willing to stay up all night. So these are just a few of the pics from our day.

Our invitation

Getting ready

My mom and my friend Melissa

After we were married

At the Rose Gardens

My daughter and I

The girls with the groom

The guys with me

Me

Dave and I dancing to The Keeper of the Stars

Wedding cake

Those were just a few pics. And although it was one of the happiest days of my life, it's just one day. What I hope that my children understand when they one day get married is that it's just that...one day. It's not the marrige which is to last the rest of your life. So much planning goes into one day, but really don't you think a couple should focus more time on planning for the journey they are going on? It seems as though so much gets poured into this one day. Don't get me wrong...I LOVED my wedding day! I love watching our video and looking at our pictures. And one day...I look forward to helping to plan a wedding for each of our children. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wish I would've spent more time soaking up the how to's of marriage. :)

I always say...had I known then what I know now I would've done things differently. While that's partly true, what Dave and I have been through has shaped the couple we are today. It has shaped our family. It has built our character. We were not walking with Lord when we first got married. It's not that we didn't believe in God, but He was not the center of our lives. That has been the single most significant decision we've made. Our marriage isn't perfect...of course...but we have Christ (a triple braided cord) and it's stronger than it was when we were first married, that is for sure.

Things I wish I would've known then...

A marriage is not 50/50, it's 100/100

My husband is not my enemy (remember that when you're really mad at each other).

Love is not a feeling, but rather something you do.

Go on a date once a week.

Put each other second only to God...

YES, that means before your children

Don't sweat the small stuff.

With God...all things are possible!

Another thing I wish I would've done even before we got married was to attend a marriage conference. They have special sessions for engaged couples to many of them. If you have never been to a marriage conference, I would highly recommend it. There's nothing better than spending a weekend focusing just on your marriage. Some people think that you don't need to do that stuff unless your marriage is in trouble. They're mistaken. Our marriage was not in trouble when we attended our first marriage conference. A friend who had attended told us it was a great investment into a marriage, so we went. It was amazing. We hadn't even realized how much we needed it until after the weekend was done.  We've been to many conferences and taken courses and each one has been a blessing to us. Do this stuff to enrich your marriage. Do it now! We've attended several Weekend to Remember conferences. We've also taken the Marriage Course at our church. If you need a get away, there's nothing better than spending a weekend with your spouse. Well, I guess that's it...I didn't mean for this to sound like a commercial. :) I just believe that marriage is sacred. I have a magnet that says, "If you ever leave me, I'm coming with you!" I bought that right at the beginning of our marriage and it's true. I'm in this forever! Divorce is not an option. I can't imagine my life without Dave in it. He's my rock.

Marriage should be full of laughter! Don't forget to laugh! The thing about Dave is that he can make me laugh. I can be mad at him and he'll do something to make me laugh and then I'll get mad at him for making me laugh when I'm trying to be mad! Then we both have a good laugh together. :) Don't forget to have fun. One day I decided that I was going to throw a handful of scrambled eggs at Dave! He's usually the jokster...but on this morning...I got him. He was so surprised and we laughed until we cried. I might have to do something like that again! It sure was fun. :)

This is a passage that I carry close to my heart. As it is my desire to be a Proverbs 31 wife.

Proverbs 31:10-31

10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?

She is more precious than rubies.

11 Her husband can trust her,

and she will greatly enrich his life.

12 She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

13 She finds wool and flax

and busily spins it.

14 She is like a merchant’s ship,

bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household

and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;

with her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She is energetic and strong,

a hard worker.

18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;

her lamp burns late into the night.

19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,

her fingers twisting fiber.

20 She extends a helping hand to the poor

and opens her arms to the needy.

21 She has no fear of winter for her household,

for everyone has warm clothes.

22 She makes her own bedspreads.

She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.

23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.

24 She makes belted linen garments

and sashes to sell to the merchants.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,

and she laughs without fear of the future.

26 When she speaks, her words are wise,

and she gives instructions with kindness.

27 She carefully watches everything in her household

and suffers nothing from laziness.

28 Her children stand and bless her.

Her husband praises her:

29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,

but you surpass them all!”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;

but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.

31 Reward her for all she has done.

Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.