Ten Years Ago Today...

...The Attorney and I were married. It was bitterly cold and there was an ice storm that kept many guests from being able to attend. The electricity had been out at my house for 2 days, but thankfully, was on at the church (a mere 2 blocks away). The Wonder Child had just been diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and had undergone her first round of chemo before coming to town for the wedding. She didn't make it down the aisle, but she did make it into her flower girl dress and into several pictures. We were too busy at the reception to eat anything other than the cake we fed each other!

In spite of those things, it was a lovely day. Friends from all aspects of our lives were there. The core members of our families made it. Our favorite minister from college married us. Good friends from Austin provided the music. Everyone else had a great time at the reception and said the food was good! I didn't cry until it was time to "go away."

I think having that mix on our wedding day has served us well in our ten years of marriage. We started our life together knowing that life is not perfect. Bad things happen. But good things happen, too, and you can find joy in the midst of sorrow. I am thankful to have a life partner who recognizes this and is along for the ride with me through it all.

"Something That We Do" was one our wedding songs. It means as much (or more!) to me today than it did then. I think the songwriter hits so many things on the head about what love really is, but mostly the idea that love is a verb.

I remember well the day we wed, I can see that picture in my head

I still believe the words we said forever will ring true

Love is certain, love is kind, love is yours and love is mine

But it isn't something that we find - it's something that we do

It's holding tight, letting go, it's flying high and laying low

Let your strongest feelings show and your weakness, too

It's a little and a lot to ask, an endless and a welcome task

Love isn't something that we have - it's something that we do

We help to make each other all that we can be

Though we can find our strength and inspiration independently

The way we work together is what sets our love apart

So closely that I can't tell where I end and where you start

It gives me heart remembering how we started with a simple vow

There's so much to look back on now, still it feels brand-new

We're on a road that has no end and each day we begin again

Love's not just something that were in - it's something that we do

Love is wide, love is long, love is deep and love is strong

Love is why I love this song and I hope you love it too

I remember well the day we wed, I can see that picture in my head

Love isn't just those words we said -it's something that we do

There's no request too big or small, we give ourselves, we give our all

Love isn't someplace that we fall - it's something that we do

Here's Clint Black's video: