Lucky thirteen

Thirteen is suppose to be unlucky, right? Thirteen years ago, before I had even graduated college, I married my husband of thirteen years. Wow. That seems like a reeeeeally long time.

In those years, we've been through me finishing college and going to grad. school. Seeing my research partner more than my husband. Him going to night school, some more night school, yet more night school - and finally graduating with his Bachelor's degree. The first one in his family to even have gone to college.

We've been through 3 pregnancies and births, two of those pregnancies unexpected and ill-timed but looking back, perfectly timed in God's grace. Although, I wasn't thinking of that while crying in the bathroom and staring at a little stick saying "I can't do this!!" (he was still in night school and I had a toddler at home) or "WHO has THREE kids???" (I was in denial about my parenting abilities). But today, I couldn't imagine it any other way and would give nothing for the closeness my children share. (By the way, after #3 came along, for about two months I had the completely unfounded fear of, "we can't keep all these. I can't do this... We are going to have to send one of these back.." Go ahead, bring on that mother-of-the-year award.)

We've been through job changes where we chase money, layoffs, terminations, more than I could count. We've been through God transplanting us to Florida (I still think because I had prayed about how comfortable and happy I was a couple weeks earlier), sending me into an emotional break-down, and then picking us back up to move us again 6 months later.

We've been through the deaths of two of our closest friends. Trials that shook our marriage to the core. Family difficulties and ghosts that haunt us still.

And still - our foundation stood. Is it because we are two great people? No - both of us are severely flawed. My patience is lacking most days. His quest for "bigger" and "better" is always present. Is it because we are just alike? No - he loves music and sports. Didn't even take the SAT and has never met a stranger. I am artsy, love to read, and was originally suppose to be a doctor. I could go for weeks without reaching out to someone who wasn't related. Is it because we have been blessed with a silver spoon in our mouth and have been living on easy street? No - he grew up in Children's Homes and we started out in a small apartment, working our way through college.

So in a day and age when even 10 years of marriage is rare, when infidelity, pornography, addictions, money, and lies often put a premature end to many unions - we're still here. And I'm bragging about that. But just like all other things in our life - I stand on Ephesians 2:9-10
"it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

God designed this marriage and prepared it in advance for me to live. He has built our relationship, He has watered it and made it grow, even in the midst of the storms. We are His children and so thirteen, this year, is a very lucky year. As we are lucky enough to have a master designer to guide our paths, this year and every other year. Happy Anniversary to the man who is my gift from God... I love you.