the seven year itch and the weekend that changed our marriage.

We are currently on our seventh year of marriage. 

And guess what. We got the itch. There. I said it.

I said that it would never happen to us. That we would never allow work, finances, children, ministry, and life in general challenge what we have as a married couple. But we allowed, bit by bit, stressors from every side creep in to the stability of a union that we pledged before God seven years ago. 

And I would estimate with all confidence that ninety percent of our struggle was caused by this girl right here. 

I am manipulative. I am pushy. I have a habit of thinking I am right about most things. I struggle with submission. 

Who in their right mind would want to marry someone like me?? 

Thankfully, I know someone who did. And still does. And here's how he took a weekend and showed love and forgiveness toward a wife that was beyond contentious.

The Friday of Memorial Day weekend,  he watched the kids all day for me while I had to take care of a few things, if you will. All day. Three kids. Diapers, crying, whining. All day. But he did it without compliant, they were very well behaved, and he even got pizza for us that evening so I would not have to cook when I arrived back home.

Saturday we spent the entire day as a family. We went shopping for a suit that was supposedly on sale (it was not), we went to a restaurant where kids were supposed to eat free (they did not), and we went to trade in books at McKays (we left spending money instead of earning it). He even happily helped me at the grocery store. You've seen me at the grocery store with all the kids. Admit it. It ain't pretty. 

But the greatest day of all was Sunday. He arranged a date, just the two of us, to enjoy lunch at Mt McCloud Restaurant and just simply spend time together uninterrupted. We had planned to embark on a helicopter ride as well, but got so caught up in conversation that the time left us for that adventure. But that was fine by me. When he took my hand and we walked out on the chimney rocks together, just us, in an envelope of the warm summer breeze , I knew that we were being reminded of how amazing we are together. How when he, at age 21, got down on one knee and said "our marriage will be a ministry" that he was right.

We woke up on Sunday, went as a family to observe Memorial Day (post on that here.) and spent the entire day as a family once again. And what did he arrive home with Monday night for us to watch together? 

Seriously. And I would have been more than fine with a Liam Neeson or Bruce Willis film. But he thought it appropriate. So, I changed out of the stained police academy sweatshirt of his that I was wearing and put on a black dress and lipstick, which I rarely wear. (I mean, I know we were on an "at home date" here, but I was competing with Rachel McAdams for the next two hours. And competition is fierce.)

The movie was decent, but they could have followed us around for the past seven years and documented an amazing love story as well. Because it is not what he "did" that weekend that made it so special, it was that he loves me. As his wife. As Christ loved the church. As the mother of his children. No matter how rotten I am on the inside, he loves me right where I am each day.

And love never fails. 

(Missed today's daily photo? Click here.)