Tuesday, July 10, 2012

7 years of marital bliss and 2 perfect offspring...


Yes, Alan and I know everything about marriage and everyday is perfect in our little home!
We never have disagreements, our home always looks spectacular, and our children are sugar and spice and everything nice! No discipline problems. In fact, I've heard of children that talk back to their parents and throw fits and demand things and yell no. I just cannot imagine. Ours always use their perfect little manners. Even Fulton, who can't even talk yet says yes ma'am and no ma'am.Nothing short of amazing parenting. Perfect children, I know.

The dishwasher is always empty and/or loaded with dirty dishes ready to wash.The shower is gleaming from top to bottom and there is no sign of soap scum or weird pink slimy stuff growing in the corners. There are no rings in my toilets. The bathtub is free of rings from dirty little boys/dads. The laundry room is always in pristine condition. The baskets are empty and put away. People leave clothes in the dryer? How terrible! There are no dust bunnies hiding in the corners of my room to be swiffered up. And, the kitchen sink looks like it stepped out of a page from Southern Living!  Fulton's diaper pail is always empty and his room smells like fresh roses and not poopy diapers fermenting in the corner. The lawn is always perfectly mowed and edged and free of weeds. Oh, and yes, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are always ready on time and presented as if we were living in food network land.
After 7 years of marriage, we have it all together and our life is perfect. Actually, when you come to our house, there is a glow that can only be described as perfect harmony.
In fact, yes, we should lead seminars and write books so we can share our secrets!

UMMMM, QUITE THE CONTRARY.

Yesterday, Monday July 9th, 2012 was our 7th wedding anniversary.
We celebrated as only parents of 2 small children know how. We stayed at home and took care of 2 feverish boys coughing all night long and took turns throughout the night waking up with Ridge and his ear infection cries.  Happy Anniversary honey! So romantic.

7 years ago if you would've asked me what life would've looked like, I'm not sure if I would've told you this was exactly how we would've spent our anniversary. It's the first time we weren't able to celebrate on the actual date.

But, as I think about our situation, I can't wish for life any differently.

I'm thankful and so humbled to have a sweet loving husband who adores his wife and works so hard to provide for his family. I'm thankful for the man of God he is and his surrender to the Lord early in his life. I'm thankful for two healthy boys that can walk, talk (or working on it) and can perform appropriate functions for their age.

Why me? Lord, why do I deserve this? I don't. I don't deserve anything the Lord has given us. But, I'm humbled by his grace. Oh, his sweet sweet grace.

Lord, use our family to glorify you.

Ephesians 5: 22-27, 33
"Wives, submit to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing., that she might be holy and without blemish... Let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."

Wives, submit to your husband and respect him.
Husbands, love your wife just as Christ loves us.

Something so simple, but yet so hard... if we try on our own.
We can only love and respect our spouse like this if our life is totally surrendered to Him.
Lord, continue to teach me through these verses. I have so far to go.

 Lord, lead me to be a better wife, respect my husband, and let our marriage glorify You always.

I love you Alan! I hope we celebrate 700 more together ;)

don't laugh...

2 comments:

Lauren said...

Oh I love this!!!!! Such a good writer! I also love the part of the slimy pink stuff hahaha!
Love you guys! So happy you are in our lives!

Sandahlyn said...

hahaha! I put that in there for you! I knew you would understand!