Reflections on being married for more than half my life...

The other day some of my co-workers witnessed my husband riding in on his motorcycle during my lunch hour just to bring me nachos. Afterwards, they suggested to me that my husband should hold a seminar teaching men how to treat a woman. Sometimes I forget how blessed I am. I take these things for granted and don't appreciate him nearly as often as I should.

Tomorrow we are celebrating our eighteenth wedding anniversary. Our marriage isn't perfect. We've had our ups and downs. My husband isn't perfect. Sometimes he can be really cranky. But I'm not perfect, either. Sometimes I am selfish and spoiled. Just this morning he made me breakfast and brought it to me while I was watching a sweet video he tagged me in on Facebook. Instead of thanking him for the breakfast that he didn't have to make me, I complained that he only made me one egg when I preferred to have two. He immediately took his second egg off his plate and gave it to me.

I suppose I could blame him for being so spoiled. He takes such good care of me that I tend to take him for granted. He goes out of his way every day to care for my needs, from making sure I have a clean towel when I take a shower to telling me every day that I am beautiful.  He treats me like a treasure, and I am so blessed to have him. And yet other times his health problems can make him a real pain.

See, the secret to being married for 18 years is not whether he is perfect or whether I am perfect. It's about decisions. We promised each other before God and witnesses to be faithful to each other until death do us part. And we figured that since we are stuck with each other, we might as well enjoy it. So we take steps to make it work. We hold hands and kiss in public like we are still dating and work to treat each other right. And despite his imperfections, I am blessed to have a husband who works so hard to make happy.

Tomorrow we are headed to Hannibal, Missouri on the motorcycle to celebrate 18 years of togetherness. And we plan to enjoy it. :) Happy Anniversary, Erick! I love you!