10 YEARS!

Today, I celebrate my 10th wedding anniversary.  10 years!  10 years, in this culture of "starter marriages" and self-serving and "irreconcilable differences" seems like forever.  I have been married for 10 years to the man who is not of my dreams.

Yes, you read that right.  Mr. P is not the man of my dreams.

He is super organized. I am not. (Understatement of the century, I know.  Quit snorting)

He says what he means and means what he says.  I err on the side of kindness.

He doesn't like spicy food.  I am totally fine with my mouth being on fire.

He would prefer meat and potatoes for every meal.  I get bored with the same meals and want variety.

He has had the same haircut for 12 years.  I change my hair every 6 months (at least!).

He was/is a jock.  I was/am a band nerd.

He doesn't read much, only educational materials.  I read a lot, and mostly fiction.

He doesn't like to travel.  I have a good case of wanderlust.

He is concrete sequential.  I am creative.

He is the epitome of the waffle.  I am the epitome of spaghetti.

He's the fun parent.  I'm the stern one.

He is detail oriented.  I look at the big picture.

I could go on and on and on about how Sam and I are polar opposites.  I dreamed of a man that would appreciate music with me, that would understand my creativity, that would encourage my need for change.

Instead, God sent me a man that played the bass drum in middle school because he had to enroll in band and had no musical sense at all.  He prefers functionality over form.  He needs stability and doesn't like change.

 I am so thankful that God didn't send me the man of my dreams.  God gave me a precious gift by sending the man who would perfectly compliment me.  He makes sure my dreams are grounded in reality, but instead of squashing them, helps me work through the details to make them happen. He indulges my crazy pursuits, like homesteading and having a larger-than-average family.  He is a Godly man that I am proud to call my husband.  He is a man that makes me grow and mature in ways that I didn't think I could.

He has shown me what unconditional love looks like.

10 years
9 years of being in small group
8 years as parents
7 Hovind videos
6 animal species
5 small groups
4 kids
3 houses
2 losses
1 incredible marriage

I am so blessed to be married to this man.