We Choose





I wanted to post this in July. But I was still working on it. And then school started, and anything unrelated to lesson planning and grading and tutoring schedules and analyzing SOL scores vanished from my to-do list.
 
So, even though it's over a month late...happy anniversary to us :)

You still look at me like this, like you did on our honeymoon...like I'm freaking weirdo.

Dear husband,

It's been four years of marriage. That's an entire high school or college career. That's how long George H.W. Bush was president. That's how long we have to wait between summer Olympic games.

Wow.

Are we still this creepy, even eight years later? Probably.

I have a lot of favorite things about us.
It's adorable that we are high school sweethearts.
It's challenging that we like rival NFL teams (go Cowboys!).
It's awesome that we are best friends.
It's inspiring that we survived a long distance relationship.

Our first picture as a couple, watching fireworks on New Year's Eve, 2005.
Photo cred: Lauren Lupfer Collins

But my absolutely favorite part about this past year of marriage is that it was full of laughter.

Babe, you know that you married a Type A overachiever caffeine addict who (maybe sometimes) freaks out over little things, especially when life gets stressful. Examples of aforementioned little things: crumbs on the counter, towels folded wrong, excessive mouse clicking while you play League of Legends, dirty dishes in the sink- I'll stop there.

You know that sometimes I take out my frustration on you, even though I shouldn't. And you choose to laugh it off. Because you are gracious, and kind, and patient, patient, patient with me.


I can't even begin the count the number of times you've diffused tension by making a joke.
Me: UGH! Why are there crumbs on the counter?!?! *stomp stomp, mutter mutter, wipe crumbs aggressively*
You [with a goofy grin]: I think Minion put them there.
Me [rolling my eyes, then glaring, or perhaps doing both simultaneously]: She doesn't even like bread. She only likes cat food.
You: And tuna...and popcorn...and peanut butter...
Me: [giggling] Stop making me laugh! I'm supposed to be mad at you.
You: And toilet paper... and ear wax...and salt...
We both dissolve into a fit of laughter, and I forget that I was annoyed about the crumbs.

Doesn't this look like a still from a chick flick?
Photo credit: Monika Burkholder.

This is real life, not a cute Hollywood chick flick. We're not always happy with each other.

But a lot of times, we choose to laugh, long and loud and clear. And you have taught me to put my energy into laughter and acceptance instead of grumbling and complaining. That I have a choice in my response to life's negativity.

I know we say we don't believe in soulmates, because we've discussed it many times... but I'm becoming more and more convinced that you truly are my soulmate, because, to borrow Matthew Crawley's words (Downton Abbey, babe. Your favorite show), "I will never be happy with anyone else as long as you walk the earth."



Disappointed in the geyser behind us this
past summer, 2014, in North Carolina.

Happy (belated) four years of marriage (and almost NINE years of being a couple)! I hope and pray there are many, many more in store for us.