Six Years and Counting...

The clock reads 10:58, and it's already been a busy Saturday morning. The boys have been going strong all morning, and I finally just got them settled down with a snack. I am sitting here, taking a quick break and a few minutes to reflect on the significance of today's date: June 25th- our wedding anniversary. Today marks six years of marriage that have flown by so much faster than I ever imagined. I can't help but laugh about the obvious differences between our wedding day, June 25, 2005, and today, June 25, 2011...

June 25, 2005
The actual wedding ceremony and reception are kind of a blur. It's funny that you spend hours agonizing over the invitations and the flowers and the punch flavor, and that maybe you even allow yourself to reach "Bridezilla" status over the petty details that you won't be able to remember six years down the road. I guess what I do remember about the day are the moments that mattered the most: spending time with Fernando's family for the first time, our two families joining together in celebration, my brother and sister singing during the wedding ceremony, Granny looking so pretty in her pink suit, and taking Fernando's hand for the first time as husband and wife. As we drove away from the crowd of waving well-wishers and picked bird seed out of our hair, we both felt so loved, not only by each other but by our families and friends. What a special day!

Fast forward a few years down the road to today, June 25, 2011:
The boys woke up shortly after Fernando left for work, and they have been going non-stop. I don't even think I've brushed my teeth yet today, but so far, I've changed two poopy diapers, wiped runny noses, given two baths, dressed the boys, swept up a box of Cheerios off the kitchen floor, washed a sink-load of bottles and cups, fixed breakfast and a snack, listened to a CD of kids' songs until I just can't take "Poor Old Michael Finnigan" one more time, taped the pages back into a book that Enzo ripped apart, made some phone calls and sent some emails for work, kissed a boo-boo, washed a load of laundry, and wished my honey was here...

Now I sit in front of the computer, trying to type over two little boys trying to crawl up in my lap (the snack trick only gave me about 2 minutes), and I just have to laugh at how life changes. The wrinkled t-shirt and stained shorts I'm wearing are a far cry from the spotless white wedding dress I wore six years ago. I wouldn't have been caught dead on my wedding day with the messy ponytail and makeup-less face that I'm sporting today. But that hot summer day back in 2005, with all of its fancy preparations and memorable ceremony, set the stage for the days, months, and years that would follow.

It's easy to say "I do" when life is wonderful and you're surrounded by candlelight and flowers and loving friends and family, when both husband and wife look their very best and can't contain the smiles stretched across their faces. But bring the couple home from the honeymoon, back to the "real world", and throw them some bills, a few kids, a stressful job, a batch of burnt biscuits, and a home and car to maintain. "I do" loses its luster real fast once you figure out that you can't spend the rest of your life honeymooning. Though you continue to nurture your relationship as husband and wife, you eventually have to learn how to live productive lives as individuals. And that's when those vows that you nervously whispered on your wedding day will be tested the most.

So as I reflect on our time as husband and wife, once we arrived home from the honeymoon and got down to the nitty-gritty of marriage, I realize that the moments that stand out the most in my mind are the good times we've shared. And just like I can't remember the food we had at our reception or what my bouquet looked like, I know I won't ever forget what matters most about our marriage. The not-so-good times and the tears take a backseat -actually, let's go ahead and stash them in the trunk- when I consider all the ways we've grown closer to each other and to the Lord. The inconveniences and misunderstandings just pale in comparison to the overwhelming blessings that God has showered down on us.

I'm happy to report that today, after six years, three states, several jobs, two PRECIOUS boys, I am more in love with my husband than ever before. Did we quickly discover that marriage isn't always a cakewalk? Yes. Are there times that I could wring his tan little neck? You better believe it. Have I ever let him down? Guilty. Do I love him with all my heart forever and always? Yes, I do........

Happy Anniversary to the man who makes it happy!!!