Yesterday, Stuart and I celebrated our 4th anniversary. Whoop whoop! Four years, my friends. A good celebration, indeed!
The irony was, however, that we really didn't celebrate it.
Because he had to work, the day began as mostly any other – a quick breakfast together before the kids woke up, a hustle past each other in the bathroom as we got ready, and a romantic smooch when he left for work.
He went about his day teaching and preparing for spring break.
And I went about my day changing diapers, doing dishes, sweeping floors, and all the other extremely important tasks I tend to in a day.
We made our way to the school at about 3:30 to jump the van (oh, I haven't told you about the van yet, have I?) and helped him sweep up and clean his room to prepare for the school's auction that was held last night.
Someone got us tickets to go even – can you imagine? A fancy night away full of adults and food and conversation?
We couldn't find a sitter.
Dang.
So we meandered on home (after said cleaning & van jumping), arriving at a slightly messy/lived in home.
Dangit. I totally forgot about dinner.
The irony! A food blogger forgetting about dinner!
I quickly reheated some leftover soup and threw together a chopped cabbage salad. Then, I made a new Family Rule that doesn't allow cooking on anniversaries. Should have made it up yesterday. Could've saved myself some heartache.
I served the less-than-impressive dinner to Stuart, who only ate a few bites. He wasn't hungry. Or rather, he wasn't very enthusiastic about eating this soup for the fourth time this week and cabbage, well, it just ain't his favorite. Georgia, however, was happily eating soup and beans in her booster seat.
And then…
She totally tipped the chair over, soup flew up the curtains, beans ended up all over the floor, the chair was splattered with limp pieces of mustard greens, and Georgia lay in a heap on the floor, crying, still strapped into the booster seat.
It's funny now. But at the time, it really wasn't.
Stuart cleaned up the mess while I attempted to eat my plate of cabbage salad with one hand (the other was supporting the hobbit on my lap). Georgia stood by my side the rest of the meal in tears and completely naked (she'd been stripped of her soup-covered-clothes).
We then grabbed both munckins and piled 'em into the bath to wash the sins of the day away for good.
My, how four years can change things!
Four years ago, we were just two crazy kids in love. And now we just have two crazy kids.
Though we are still deeply in love, it certainly has morphed into a different love than it was on our wedding day. The anticipation, anxiousness, mystery, and romance of it all subsides.
But as that fades, it is replaced with deep companionship, practiced forgiveness, a hefty sense of humor, and a deep appreciation for one another.
It's wonderful.
And even when soup is flying across the kitchen table, and dinner is leftovers, and floors are dirty, and babies are crying – there is beauty in knowing that by God's grace, Stu and I have build this madness together.
Georgia
This is such a beautiful post!
Chassie
Love it
Teresa Getter Messick
Happy 4th anniversary! My sweetheart and I celebrate 22 years tomorrow! We won’t be together either…he is fishing his first big tournament in 3 hours north of here all weekend and I will be shoveling super soil and trying to get this house in order before Easter guests arrive late next week. You are spot-on about what fades and what comes into focus after the wedding. Sometimes I miss the anticipation, mystery, and romance, but I will take comfort, familiarity, trust, and security any day. Thanks for your post!
Noël McNeil
I’ve had those kinds of anniversaries. 🙂 My hubby and I are approaching our 8th…yikes! I’m sure it will be filled with all sorts of ‘fun’ since we now have three munchkins. Thanks for sharing and maybe you can do a re-do this weekend?
Olivia Scott
Beautiful!!! Beautifully written and you guys also look ridiculously beautiful in that wedding photo. God Bless you guys!
Jaimie Ramsey
Ah, what a great post. The realities of life, marriage, and parenthood– and it’s wonderful to see God’s grace in all of it. 🙂
I hope you and Stu got to enjoy some alone time once the crazy kids were in bed! You sure deserve it. 🙂 Thanks for making me smile today!
Nikki
I definitely laughed out loud about this (sorry Georgia!). Happy Anniversary! We’re just a few months ahead of you. A good friend and my SILs have been enjoying your blog so much. It’s like having a mutual, internet friend (in a non-creepy way!) 🙂
Courtney Polivka
Happy anniversary you two!! 🙂
Heather Anderson
Thanks for sharing this story. What could have been disappointing was actually beautiful. I have been married almost 22 years and have seven children. While it is true that the romance of it all is a little faded, the depth of love that comes is astounding. I may not have believed someone if they said that my husband and I could love each other this much. Best friend, lover, chief counselor, confidant, companion are just a few of the roles we fill for one another. But it takes work and as you said, a hefty dose of humor, and the Lord.
Susan E
Thanks for sharing and hope you can make up a dinner date when it’s not so crazy. Happy Anniversary! I feel so old that we had “soup flying” for 18 1/2 yrs.:-)
Christiana
My husband and I celebrated our 5th on the 21st. We didn’t really “celebrate” that day either]…. And we had some not-so-yummy cabbage soup that evening too, funny thing… Happy Anniversary anyway!
Manuela Liebelt
So funny. We got married the same day, also in 2009. I have been reading your blog for a while now. I
Manuela Liebelt
So funny. We got married the same day, also in 2009. I have been reading your blog for a while now but never subscribed (shame on me 😛 ). I tried your Traditional Soaked Whole Wheat Bread. It was “heavenly”… my husband never really liked the whole wheat bread I used to make. but he enjoyed this one. This means a lot!
Emily
I don’t have much to contribute, but your wedding photo is gorgeous! Congratulations on your anniversary.