Marriage Secret "Work harder and hope for the best."

Yesterday was the five year anniversary of our first date.  Jason says, “How do you keep all those dates in your head?”  I don’t do it on purpose.  I think it’s because we had such a world wind romance.  In three weeks, we will “celebrate” the five year anniversary of our engagement.  That’s right, three weeks between our first date and our engagement.  And no, we weren’t friends before.  Three weeks.  I wouldn’t necessarily recommend jumping in so quickly, but that’s how our love story is written. 

Of course, like any couple, we’ve had our ups and downs.  Our first eighteen months or so was a steady decline into*you know where*.  Ok, maybe that’s a little dramatic, but here’s a true story.

 When we had been married seven months, a co-worker asked me, “How do like being married?”

            “I don’t like it very much.”  I replied nonchalantly.

 “What are you going to do?” she asked and walked away.

When I think back on this exchange, I realize how lucky I am to be in a marriage where “What are you going to do?” is always answered with “Work harder and hope for the best.”   

Three weeks is certainly not long enough to get to know someone, it’s not even long enough to fall in love with someone, but for us it was long enough to “just know.”  My mom gave me some really good advice at the beginning of my engagement.  She told me to really feel and remember the moment when I knew Jason was the one.  She told me to plant a stake in the ground of my heart for that moment of knowing, because there would be a day I would need to find that feeling again.  And so I did.  And I’m glad I listened.