7.05.2010

this is forever

"looking forward to forever"
Joel and I on our engagement eight years ago


My honey and I celebrated seven years of marriage last weekend.  Life interrupted our anniversary plans and we ended up staying home sick with sick kids.  I made a grand attempt at a romantic meal of my husband's favorite pad thai.  It tasted like soggy wet rice noodles.  But he ate it and didn't say a word.  Wise man!  He's certainly learned a lot in seven years.  (smile)  I was the first one to mention how terrible it was and we shared a good laugh.  No use crying over wet noodles. We planned to watch a movie together after we put the kids to sleep, but Legend had other ideas and my poor man ended up falling asleep on the couch.  A couple years ago, I would have been hurt that he couldn't at least keep his eyes open for such an important day.  But four kids and seven years have taught me a lot about expectations! 

I have learned the one thing I can expect in life is that the unexpected really isn't so bad after all. 

So even though we didn't have a romantic rendezvous in tropical paradise, we enjoyed a day together at home with our favorite people.  I pulled out boxes of pictures and we reminisced about the day we met and how we've changed (or haven't).  We laughed at Joel's continuously evolving hairstyles and my tried and true.  We remembered how we fell in love... the sweet friendship...the love notes...the first date. 

And we were reminded that staying in love is just as beautiful as falling.

We fell in love, and because we've already fallen into it, it's not something we can fall out of.  We make a choice to stay, or we make the choice to climb out.  And sometimes we've climbed out before we ever realize we've taken the first step.  We may choose not to forgive...first step.   Or we can't overlook wrongs...second step.  We stop appreciating the little things...third step.  We lose respect...and we decide to walk the final steps away.  And we think the next time we fall in love it will be different.   But love doesn't change, we do.

And so often we change for the better when God's grace makes something beautiful out of our messy lives.  I can't withhold forgiveness when I've been given it so freely.  My baby forgave me for soggy wet rice noodles and I forgave him for falling asleep.  Such is the way of love.

Episode Seven:  The golden oldies




View last year's episode here.

25 comments:

Sarah said...

Rejoicing in forever. We celebrate our forever day this next month. 13 years for us.

Love the slide show, slides of family, love and always joye.

happy day,
Sara

Rachel~Wildflower Photography Studio and Wildflower Creative said...

Aw...Happy Anniversary, friend! My hubs and I will be married 7 years next weekend, been together 8! Sweet, sweet slideshow. :)

Smiles,
rachel

Lovely Little Nest said...

Too sweet! Congratulations! :)

Lisa said...

I love the slide show...the viewmaster cracks me up! We will be celebrating 15 yrs next month and you're right, expectations surely change over the years! Good stuff though. I'm glad we've grown and matured together.

Happy Anniversary!

Kristin said...

Joye,

I think this might just be my most favorite post of yours ever! I think that will be my new life motto...."the unexpected really isn't so bad after all." I have lived for way too many years being afraid of the unexpected. I thought your slide show was so precious!!! I love that song that you used and loved seeing your pictures!

Happy Anniversary!

Weza said...

I love love LOVE this post. So much truth is what you said.
Your slide show has me grinning from ear to ear!

PaisleyJade said...

Love what you wrote - 14 years married here and it is an adventure. Slide show is so cute too!!!

PaisleyJade said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Lisa Grace said...

Ours is 9 years in just a few weeks ... and forever is beautiful, isn't it? I love your engagement photo; so sweet!

Lauren said...

Happy Anniversary!!!! I'm so sorry you were sick with sick kiddos ... but it really sounds like you made the BEST out of a potentially not so good situation. :) Thanks for the excellent outlook shared here. I've been bummed that we can't take a trip for our anniversary at the end of the month. We've taken a week long vacation every other year - but now I m going to look at it this way... I still get to spend the day with the man I love! :)

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

Aww... beautiful post! Happy Anniversary! :) Enjoying the day together is all you can ask for... that is what matters after all! :)

~Jennifer

Mich said...

I celebrated my 17th anniversary last Sat. I spent mine surrounded by my family too. :)

Kelly @ Sufficient Grace Ministries said...

Oh, my word...Miss Joye...that was an amazing post and an awesome slide show. I have learned a great deal about expectations over the years, also. And, what you said was right on. Oh, what trouble those expectations cause. They are the root of all kinds of trouble and come between us when we allow them to. Better to pour grace and forgiveness on to one another...just as we have experienced grace and forgiveness ourselves.

And...your slide show tells your sweet love story beautifully. I lovvvved it!

Happy Anniversay, my beautiful friend...

Loren said...

Oh JOYE!! I LOVE your Slideshow! Happy Anniversary my friend ~ May the Lord bless you with 70 + more!!!

You have a beautiful family!!

Stephanie said...

Beautifully written, my friend! Happy anniversary...here's to many, many more! I just love how you wrote that we can't fall OUT of love once we've fallen IN love. It's all about STAYING in love and that's what makes the journey of marriage so special and sweet. Having kids has definitely made our "romantic moments" few and far between...but we've learned that sometimes romance can be found in the everyday routines and the joys of raising our family.

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary - what a gift, seeing the magic in every moment, even when it's not quite what you expected.

Lindy said...

Good lessons to learn. Happy Anniversary!

carissa said...

such a beautifully sweet post! you are a wise woman. happy 7 years! you have a gorgeous family! the Lord has blessed your lives! i love the slide photos - especially of your mr. playing guitar for you. it's lovely to see love that's going to last forever.

carissa said...
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Rebekah said...

Happy anniversary! It was 8 yrs for us, last month, I have some catching up to do on the baby front to keep up with you!
Loved the slide show!

Wylie @ Shout A Joyful Noise! said...

Awesome! Happy A!!!!!
Wylie

Abbey said...

Happy Anniversary! I remember your wedding! We just made 5 years married earlier this summer! Time flies doesnt it? So true about staying in love, sometimes I feel in love with my husband but sometimes i'm just too mad at him (even tho i dont always have the right to be)! Good reminder! the wrong choices really can steal alot of great times! I hope everyone is feeling better soon!

Sugar Mama said...

You are SO right when you say the staying in love is as great as the falling. My husband and I got married when I was 18, he 19... and a LOT of people didn't think it would last. Over 12 years later we're still in this. And plan to be forever. One day at a time.

Congrats to you both!

September said...

Joye of joys! Happy Anniversary to you and your love.
Your post reflects so much of the understanding of what makes a marriage tried, true and everlasting.
You've got the ticket my sweet friend!
Love and wishes to you both...
BTW- My hubby and I celebrate 22 years this week, and we will probably be home with our "brood," and tucking them in at night...

Love just grows stronger with understanding.

Holly said...

Happy Anniversary to you both!!!

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