This post is part of the Happy Wives Club Blog Tour which I am delighted to be a part of along with hundreds of inspiring bloggers. To learn more and join us, click here!
Marriage is on my mind lately (more than usual), for so many reasons. For one thing, our fifth anniversary is coming up in a couple days. It’s a bit surreal that soon we will have been married for half a decade! I am so excited to reach this milestone, as it’s the first really “big” anniversary milestone!
Another reason I’ve been thinking about marriage a lot lately, is because of this interview of mine that got picked up by Yahoo.com a couple weeks ago. The interview talked about how we got married 35 days after we met and there were lots of crazy comments on that post, many of them unkind. Many of the comments served to illustrate the way that our society views love and marriage. Sure, my husband and I don’t have your average love story, but we have lots of love, and that matters so much more!
The way our society (at large) views marriage is a bit depressing. Which is why I appreciate sites like Happy Wives Club so much! I met Fawn (online) several years ago, when both of our blogs were pretty tiny. I quickly fell in love with her site and admired her passionate, whole-hearted love for her husband. It was so inspiring to meet another person who was unashamedly a happy wife. Her words in her blog have encouraged me so much through the years, and she’s connected so many happy wives!
And now she’s written a book. I was super-honored to get an advance copy of the book to read, and let me tell you, it is STELLAR. I’ve already ordered extra copies for some of my friends, and the book isn’t even out yet. My friends, this message needs to be heard. Marriage is not miserable, it’s wonderful. The book is heartwarming, practical and real. It’s not all sunshine and roses. There are interviews with so many people from so many different situations. It provides So. Much. Hope. I absolutely love it!
Statistically, my husband and I have everything against us. We were married young, we wed after knowing each other for an extremely short time, we had kids pretty much right away and we don’t have lots of money. Our culture would say we don’t have a chance of making it (a quick peek at the comments on the yahoo.com article will tell you that…). But we know differently. We love each other, more than just the innocent “puppy love” or infatuation that comes in the beginning of a relationship. We’re committed to one another. Sometimes it’s hard, and sometimes it’s REALLY hard. But it’s always amazing. It’s always beautiful and it never stops being worth it.
Sometimes, we get frustrated with one another, but when we do, I always like to remember, that we have the rest of our lives to figure these things out. That perspective always makes me smile, and gives me more patience. We’re making it together. We’re finding ways to love each other more deeply, serve each other more effectively and have lots more fun.
We love our life. Not because it’s easy, or perfect. But because we have each other, we have our family and most of all we have Jesus. Together, we’re beating the statistics year by year. And we have fun doing it! Each anniversary I smile a little, because a lot of people thought we wouldn’t make it, some people still do. But we know better. I’m a happy wife, like so many others, and it’s fun.
Fawn’s book will be in stores in January! This is a MUST READ! It makes a fabulous wedding gift, anniversary gift or “just because” gift for any wife (or wife-to-be) that you know. It’s that stellar ladies. We NEED to get this message out there. It’s okay to be a happy wife!!! You don’t have to whine about your husband in order to be an adult with a normal marriage. If whining, fighting and complaining are normal, than I don’t want to be normal. I just want to be happy.
You can grab a copy (or 5) of the book here.
Ashley @ 3littlegreenwoods says
I am a happy wife too! Yes, marriage is hard. It takes constant work to connect with your husband. But providing a healthy, happy home for our children is so very important.
It is so good to hear positive views on marriage. Happy New Year to you and your Sweetheart!
Ashley
Amy says
I feel like there are so many things to say…
Your story gives me hope. People who say nasty things should keep their mouths shut. Keep fighting the good fight. It’s amazing the things that happen when Jesus is added to the equation. This scripture comes to mind:
John 16:33
New International Version (NIV)
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Amy @ {Life to the Full} says
The world does have a very depressing view of “love” (which they often mistake for lust) and marriage. My husband and I met, were engaged, and married all within a year and many thought we were crazy, too! We were expecting our first baby 3 months after the wedding :) Some people felt it necessary to predict us having a divorce before we even made it a year!
Marriage IS hard! Parenting IS hard! God uses them both to hardcore shape our character. Jesus is the reason my husband and I are married. And, I have to say, marriage (and parenting) really is awesome :) I’m just learning to let go of my selfish desires… daily…
Thank you for sharing your story and be encouraged! Marriage is truly God’s masterpiece :)
Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids says
I too don’t understand why society believes that there is no such things as people that are truly happy. It is like when you are with a group of people you are suppose to nit pick everything that your spouse does wrong. Why does it feel out of the norm to instead brag about them? But then again with the increase in divorces and people that feel or have the need to just “get out” whenever something gets hard is maybe why.
My husband and I always say that God is the third person and “third strand” that makes our marriage strong and complete.
Great post today!
Jelli says
Happy almost anniversary, Paula! I love that you’re sharing with the world that marriage doesn’t need a long dating “trial period” to work, that money isn’t that important, and that Jesus is key. Hope you both have the best year ever!
Fawn says
Happy early anniversary, Paula! Appreciate you. And thank you for joining the Happy Wives Club blog tour. You’re amazing.