Thirteen years ago today, Mike and I stood in front of hundreds of people and committed our lives to each other.  I can honestly say that I had no idea what I was getting into... I had no idea what the future would bring... and even if I had, I certainly wouldn't have ever guessed it would be what has happened over the years!  a;lksdjfa;lskdjfa;lskdfj;asldkfj

While our Anniversary is a special day, we had lived together for 2 years before getting married, and so it doesn't hold the same meaning that I pray for it to have for our children and their marriages.  While it's still a "special day", things have been tough lately and our marriage has not been untouched by some of those trials.  As I sat on the couch this morning thinking about our marriage, the verse spoke at our wedding came back to me...

"...Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me." Ruth 1:16-17 (NIV)

I didn't understand what that verse would hold for me in the future.  When I picked it, I thought it was "wonderfully romantic" and sweet.  But the Lord has shown me the depth of that verse over the years... and the verse today means so much more.  Marriage is about more than love and smiles... it's about a commitment to someone to never leave... to be there no matter what... always. 

I don't always see eye to eye with Mike...  I don't always like what he does (or doesn't do)...  sometimes I feel alone...  But... I will go wherever that man goes for as long as I live... I will stay wherever that man stays for as long as I live... and I will stand by that man through thick and thin fulfilling the call the Lord has on his life (and mine) as long as I live... and I know the only way that I've been able to do that so far, and the only way that I'll be able to continue doing it, is to keep the Lord at the center of my marriage in good times and in bad...

And so, even though today may not go down as the greatest anniversary ever... I still will thank the Lord for the gift of my husband and once again make the promise to "stand by my man" for the rest of my days on this earth for I know I have been blessed by the man I call "husband".

I am committed to you Michael... and I will never leave you.


UPDATE: My husband came home from work early and surprised me.  He had called my mom to take the kids and had bought dinner and cooked it... it was absolutely delicious and wonderful.  It was so thoughtful of him to make some time for us, as time alone has been hard to find.  I'm married to a wonderful man and I'm so thankful... even in the midst of the storms... there is no other I'd rather weather with.  Thank You God, for the man You gave me for the rest of my life.