Celebrating 15 Years of Marriage

Fifteen years married to this beautiful woman! I think that’s a big deal, right?! Isn’t 15 the “crystal” anniversary… or maybe it’s the Krystal’s anniversary? I don’t remember. But it is fun to imagine celebrating with 15 delicious little hamburgers in cardboard boxes! We spent the evening, which also happens to be “Twelfth Night” (last of the 12 days of Christmas), un-decorating our home and preparing it for new renters. That’s right! Home for the holidays was wonderful. But now it’s time to hit the road with our kids again, for at least 6 more months of Airstream adventures as we travel the USA! So with 15 years under our belts, what have we learned? Well, a lot. For one thing, that life is best measured not in fiscal quarters or even in years — but in seasons. How warmly the sun shines or how cold the wind blows during those seasons depends entirely on us. When we view love as a choice and fight for it, it is eternally spring. That is to put it poetically. Practically, it means marriage along with (related) parenthood is a daily challenge. It is no guaranteed source of joy. We have found it, however, to be a multiplier of joy when we first input that same raw ingredient. I’ve said quite a bit about marriage, haven’t I — and less about us individually as the members of that marriage? Truth is, Eileen and I are very different people now than when we got married; and we are also experienced enough now to realize we’ll keep changing throughout our lives. I guess that’s partly what makes marriage deeply sacred to us: If nothing else, marriage is after all a commitment to change together rather than apart. We love each other more today than ever before; but that’s not because we’ve grown more lovely. It’s simply that we’ve increased our capacity to love. I love you, Eileen. Thank you for your fierce love toward me and this family. God has blessed me richly! Happy anniversary. 📷: @paigeoverturfphotography