8 Amazing Years (And More to Come)

Today my wife, Samantha, and I celebrate our eight wedding anniversary. I missed a perfect gift opportunity. I didn’t realize that the eight wedding anniversary is the “Bronze Anniversary.” Had I known that, I would have gotten my wife an extended tanning membership, so she could get a nice “bronze” tan.

Apparently, the eight-year wedding anniversary represents “a strong, lasting, and mature bond, often symbolized by bronze, reflecting durability and the merging of two lives into one—like copper and tin. It’s a time to celebrate growing together, highlighting resilience and enduring love with themes of comfort, connection, and ‘still going strong.'”

I also made the mistake of not taking the day off work. At my job, they ask for time off months in advance and you have to have the amount of time you are taking off in your “bank.” If you don’t, the request is denied. It is not that I didn’t remember our anniversary was today, it is that after I took time my week off in February, I hadn’t had enough time in the bank. Of course, I should have remembered that in a pay period or two, I would have. So I feel really bad that I have to work tonight.

Sam’s Thursdays are loaded with volunteering at our daughter’s school and appointments. Because I am working tonight, she knew I’d be sleeping through the day and that we probably wouldn’t see each other today. So when I got up for work yesterday, she had my card waiting on the coffee pot for me. Once we both had coffee in hand, we gave each other out cards. What made these cards extra special was that our daughter decided that she needed to read them to us. My son passed us out gifts to each other.

Sam never gets a second to herself. She very rarely gets to pamper herself. I gave her a gift certificate for a manicure and pedicure. Being the wonderful mom that she is, she even offered to use it to get both her and my daughter pedicures.

You may remember awhile back that I mentioned that hair care place for men where my son got his hair cut. While we were there, I had my head shaved and it was pretty awesome. It was the whole treatment – hot towel, manly smelling lotion after the shave, complimentary drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and more. They do everything there – eyebrow trim or wax, beard trimming and shaping, and (something I don’t need) haircuts and styles. My wife got me a gift certificate to go and treat myself to a “spa”-like day.

Reflecting on eight years of marriage, I can tell you that marriage isn’t easy, but it is something that is worth fighting for and working at. My wife is the main cog in the wheels of our house. Nothing can happen and happen properly without her. She keeps track of all of the schedules – who has to be where and when; what day is flannel or pajama day at school; where various prescriptions are and when they can be picked up; when the cars need oil changes and just about every other thing. Without her, we’d be a mess. It isn’t always easy, but we get through it together.

Communication is key. Thankfully, since my ADHD meds have helped me focus, I’m better at this. I’m not perfect and at times, I still mishear things and drive my wife crazy. Lord knows how often she wants to pull her hair out when I ask her something that she made clear to me the day before. I continue to work on active listening and retaining the things I am being told. Occasionally, though, I honestly drive her nuts.

I never stop praying for her.. I always have her in prayer. I pray that I will be exactly what she needs me to be. I pray to not be selfish. I pray that we would continue to grow in faith and that we are good examples for our kids. It is so important not to take God out of the equation. Marriage takes three for sure.

It has been eight years of ups and downs with happiness and sadness. Looking back, only makes me love her more.

Those pre-marriage dates and moments together bring many smiles.

The trip to Florida to get married and anniversary and other trips were full of laughs, adventures, and penguins.

We’ve also had plenty of doctor visits …

Special life changing moments …

…and a whole lot of fun along the way!

Thank you for eight amazing years, baby. I love you for ever and ever. As they say, “8 years down – forever to go!”

Happy Anniversary!