A Little Dose of Reality

Marriage is no fairytale. There. I said it. Marriage can be the most amazing, crazy wonderful thing. But sometimes it's just hard. Two people coming together (in my case--two very opposite people) makes for some interesting dynamics.

That's not to say I don't love my husband. It just means that sometimes we don't get along, don't see eye-to-eye. Sometimes we're not perfect and we struggle. And sometimes we're in complete harmony and work in sync.
I am grateful for staying power. I'm so happy that somehow we've both decided deep within us that no matter what we stick it out. That way when things are challenging or even really difficult we can see beyond the moment. Losing Joey was a test of our metal. I was pleased to see that in the darkest days we were more respectful and caring of one another. It would have been really easy to be selfish and think only of our own pain and our own desires for how Joey would be cared for, but somehow we knew that in order to put Joey first we had to put our needs second. The years after losing Joey have been rough. How could they not be? But we manage to push through on those most painful days.
And in other things we muddle through.
Does that sound unromantic? It might if I didn't believe that we're in it for the long haul and that if things are hard today (or maybe lots of todays) that things might be equally good for that long as well.

I'm not giving marriage advice. Good grief. That would be ridiculous and I'm obviously no expert.

But I will say that I love and respect my husband and want to be with him forever.

Do we have things to work on? Oh, heavens, yes!

But here's to "muddling through" and "fairytale moments" and "figuring it out" for 18 years. Who would have thought?
(Detail and supplies for creating this layout may be found here at www.twopeasinabucket.com)

11 comments

  1. I Love your work Jennifer! Every page you make is beautiful!

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  2. This is a beautiful layout and a great post. Thanks for keeping it real. :)

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  3. what a uniquely lovely layout. AMEN to the marriage talk--it's real!

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  4. Amen! My husband and I recently had to have a long talk and reconnect because he was working so much that I started to feel like a single parent and his room-mate. Now we are on the same page and I am so glad I said something! Congrats on your 18 years. You and your husband make a beautiful couple. :)

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  5. Great post and layout!!

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  6. My hubby and I are weathering one of the worst storms we've ever experienced in our marriage--the last month has been one stunningly stressful event after another, the worst of which is our best friends getting a divorce.

    Needless to say, we've been re-examining our own marriage, and although we felt we were already strong, it never hurts to recommit to working HARD on staying together.

    Thanks for your honest post... you know I love a mushy, real-life kinda post. :)

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  7. What an amazing post Jennifer. I am awed at the strength that I see in you on a daily basis and am inspired by you in so many ways...
    - April W

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  8. Such a nice post and beautiful layout! Love your honest take on marriage, my husband and I just celebrated 15 years, there are so many ups and downs, but like you said there is always a light at the end of the tunnel if there is respect for each other.

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  9. So true girlie. Lovin this lo! For real!!
    Happy 18 yrs.
    ~ danni

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  10. So very true! Congrats on 18 years and what a beautful layout.

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  11. Super enchanting job you did Jennifer. I find a huge inspiration in your sweet and thoughtful demonstration. Yeah, absolutely marriage can be an amazing and cray loving event for our life and pleased to see you made the term so so interesting and authentic. If both husband and wife can create a deep love and bondage, just they find their heaven in the world. Thanks a lot for your amazing work and of course I felt better after taking a visit here.

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