Once upon a time, just two weeks into dating, a man said to a woman, "I hope this doesn't sound strange or doesn't scare you off, but I think you're the one I've been praying for my whole life." Then something even crazier happened. The woman replied, "You know, strangely, it doesn't. Actually, I feel the same way about you." And the rest was history. The foolish young couple had a fast and furious romance, hastily planned and had a wedding, got pregnant after one year of marriage, had a baby, bought a house, had a second child a year after that, and a third another few years after that. They … [Read more...]
House Hunting & Keeping Up With Them Joneses
Lost wedding bands. Fortune cookie fortunes. Schools. House hunting. Personal destinies. Faith. Contentment. These were what occupied my mind all yesterday morning. Summer's over and our eldest is starting his last year of elementary school. This year will be a big one for Son, and for DH and me too. It marks the end of a significant stage of Son’s life, and of ours. While we've loved our home of ten years (the first of our own and the only one our three kids have ever known), the neighborhood, the kids' elementary school, the weather, and the friends we've made and life we've built here, … [Read more...]
Evolution of Love: Addendum
I just had to share this. For those of you who followed my 3-part "Evolution of Love" series, you know our marriage had its share of ups and downs and is in large part a survival and renewal story. Well, earlier this evening, DH's heart and mine were deeply moved as our two eldest performed this beautiful voice/piano duet of our wedding (first dance) song, Ella Fitzgerald's "The Very Thought of You", at the school talent show, just days after our wedding anniversary. What a precious reminder of one of the most joyful days of our lives, and a reminder of the fruits of our love and commitment. … [Read more...]
The Evolution of Love, Part 3 – Reality Check: Marriage & that Damn 7-Year Itch
“I never expected us to stay in love. Being ‘in love’ is just an emotion. It comes and goes. But loving someone is a commitment, and if it's real, it lasts. That’s what I expected, and I love you.” Just shy of a year of marriage, hearing these words, however sincere and well-intended, come out of DH’s mouth, I was utterly stupefied, and my aching heart sank to a new low. What? He’d never expected we’d stay in love? Why? When? Wait, what?? There I stood, tear-streaked face and all, having just confessed my profound loneliness and disillusionment, lamenting euphoric dating and honeymoon … [Read more...]
The Evolution of Love, Part 2: Speed-Dating, the Engagement and…A Wedding?
Ours was not love at first sight or first meeting. I’d attended DH's church on-and-off for over a year before speaking to anyone there. Eventually, a cheerful girl on the welcoming committee got me to stop being timid and anti-social, stay and mingle after Sunday services, join the Christmas choir and even visit her small bible study group for post-grads living near one another. As chance would have it, DH was in that Christmas choir and the discussion leader of my small group. As I got to know the others in these intimate group settings, my impressions of DH were that he was kind, godly … [Read more...]