Oh, that man o’ mine…Since we just celebrated six years of wedded bliss (eight years together), it has been stirring in me a bit to write about my true north, the man who always helps me keep perspective, who encourages me to grow in all areas of my life, who saves the curly tortilla chips and the almost-popped kernels for me because he knows they’re my favorite. The man who laughs at the fact that I leave the cordless phone on top of the trashcan in the garage, who is my biggest cheerleader, who never, ever says “no” to anything I want to do, and makes fun of the fact that I have no spatial abilities whatsoever (never ask me to pack a car or solve a geometry proof. Uck.). Yes. That man.
When we met, I was a little bit raw but learning to stand on my own two feet. In fact, I think we could safely say that I had indeed learned to do so but there were days I was still a bit wobbly. I was a colt – I had just gone through a very painful divorce in which deception and pain ripped me to my core. I was 27.
He was also newly-divorced and a little raw as well. His ex-wife had been unfaithful. He had also been deceived and yes, he was 27.
Coincidence? I think not.
There were so many reasons why our relationship should not have worked – we were both wounded birds, we still weren’t COMPLETELY sure who we really were but yet we believed wholeheartedly in Jesus, and unfortunately, second marriages have a higher divorce rate than firsts. The odds were not in our favor with the exception of the one that was the most important.
On this Multitude Monday, I am thanking God so much for the gift He gave me when he sent my husband to me on that spring evening back in 2002. I knew as soon as I opened the door for our first date that he was the one I was going to marry.
We dated for two years then I did indeed marry that scruffy dentist that was, and continues to be, a study of contradictions – he loves NASCAR yet reads Freud and C.S.Lewis. He loves to go hunting but enjoys cycling just as much. He recently bought a Ford F-150 (LOUD!) pick-up truck but also enjoys the niceness of a good sedan. I will never have this man completely figured out.
We married on July 16, 2004 but we had a happy engagement gift along the way…I was eight weeks pregnant on our wedding day. Oops.
We decided to get a puppy to break us into new parenthood. Not sure if that was a smart decision or not but we love our sweet Ellie Rose so I will venture to say it was smart…Most of the time.
We had that sweet baby on Feburary 11, 2005. We were thrilled and scared beyond belief at the same time. Somehow, she survived her inept parents and continues to thrive today as girl about to go to Kindergarten.
Then we moved to a completely new city/community/no support system, and ten days later welcomed our second child…
15 months later we welcomed another…
Three children within five years, a move to a different city in which we knew not-a-soul, several peaks and valleys, and good days and bad later, I would do it all over again.
Happy Anniversary, Baby. I always got you on my mind.* (See footnote below)
And now I continue my list as I write towards the gratitude of 1,000 things….
21. My husband’s love for Jesus
22. My husband’s hysterical wit that has caused me to wet my pants more times than I care to admit
23. My husband’s wisdom
24. My husband’s patient and loving manner in which he parents our children
25. My husband’s amazing generosity
26. My husband’s inclination to be a Renaissance Man who is interested in almost everything (Latin, German, Classical Guitar, Cigars – the list goes on…)
27. My husband’s smile, yes, but oh my…those dimples. I am certain they are responsible for the conception of all three of our children.
28. My husband’s desire to always be better than he is at any given moment
29. My husband’s passion for helping people
30. My husband. Just the whole package. And the fact that he warms my feet in bed.
* For those of you too young to know, this is a song. I was terrified some would believe I actually wrote this horrid grammar without knowing it’s horrid grammar and well, while I can’t do geometry, I know my prepositional phrases and sentence diagramming…
Congratulations! Isn’t God great to take you both from where you were and give you this amazing post to write about? I love how He works things for the good.
Your babies are way too precious!!
:)Erin
.-= Erin´s last blog ..My Vintage Barn Finds =-.
Stopping by from SITS! Happy Anniversary and thank you for sharing this wonderful post. Having weathered a very painful divorce myself, stories like yours give me hope that the right man for me is out there somewhere…now just to find him! :)
What a sweet post! Thanks for reminding me in the ups and downs of life to be thankful for my funny, patient man.
.-= Maggie S.´s last blog ..Two Boatloads of Filthy Talk =-.
lol….i would have felt the need to explain the grammar of that song as well! i can’t complete a simple math problem to save my life…but, by golly, don’t go after my grammar! ;) i love this post….it sounds like both of you have come through on the other side for the better. and God has blessed your marriage with those three gorgeous children! happy anniversary!!!
.-= Alison´s last blog ..i heart faces week 29- over my head =-.
Another wonderful post! You are such a blessed family!
Aww, congrats, congrats! God is sooo good!! I love to hear a woman praise her man!!
.-= partialemptynester´s last blog ..Miscellany Monday =-.
Happy Anniversary! It’s so good to be able to celebrate and give thanks for marriage . . . we are blessed to enjoy good ones. May God grant a lifetime more to celebrate!
.-= GlowinGirl´s last blog ..Love Packaged in a Day for Eternity =-.
Congrats on your anniversary and your lovely family! (Stopping by from SITS). I was reading your about me page and I did lots of head nodding especially on #7 and (your first) #9.
My kids are 7 and 14 months. I want another (if the Lord convinces my husband) but I’m thinking a 3 year gap would be nice. I know you are one busy lady!
God bless!
http://www.surrender2survive.blogspot.com
What a great day to visit your blog! This was just a precious and beautiful post. When I see stories like this, that come from deep hurt and pain, to wonderful new joyful life. I always like to say, “God wins”.
God bless you and your beautiful family for many, many more years!
.-= Angelia Sims´s last blog ..The Cross Dressing Elvis makes a Move =-.
This is a beautiful post and from what I can tell you are very blessed. Stopping by from SITS, Happy Tuesday!
i truly believe that God finds a way to make people meet at exactly the right time in their lives. you are blessed, indeed. after all, how often do you find a God-fearing hottie who looks like a college quarterback?
very lucky indeed :)
.-= cheri´s last blog ..everyone had a story that day =-.
Natalie, sorry it’s been so long. For some reason, when I pull your blog up on my laptop, it warns me of a potential virus on your site. My laptop crashed this time last year, so I am wary of warnings :)
I am at work, and there’s no warning here…I’ve missed you! LOVE this post! What a blessing to have such a wonderful husband, marriage, family. Your saucer overflows!
Congrats and what a sweet post!
Sadie at heyMamas
.-= Sadie at heyMamas´s last blog ..The Beach =-.