If the first year of marriage has taught me anything it might be this: practice tenacity, forgiveness, listening then talking, embrace the need for God, plan adventures, respect the need for space and time, cultivate dependence and independence.
It’s a longer list than I expected. It grows every day.
To have and to hold- that’s how it begins. But the rest of it is beautifully unwritten. The rest of it looks as different as each couple. You have to choose to deepen that relationship. It takes time. Marinating. It sounds like a properly grilled flank steak. You hold the ones you love close for the time you have them. You work on the friendship knowing that as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. For us this means:
He works on his novel, I revise poems.
He explores the edges of his guitar and I hum or sing along.
He creates new fantastical worlds and I bind books.
He washes dishes, I cook.
It works. And sometimes, on very special occasions, it involves oatmeal raisin cookies.
I love this. And those cookies look delicious.
…Recipe coming later this week. Thanks Rona!
Thanks Randy. They’re a bit of a variation on oatmeal raisin and were promptly gobbled up by all the tasters.
I love your view on marriage, and the cookies look incredible too.
Thanks Kenlie. It’s a friendship with benefits. the friendship is paramount.
Beautiful post! I am way overdue for wishing you a happy first anniversary, but definitely thought of you and Nathan on our matching special day. 🙂 Congrats!
Jenn! Thanks for your anniversary wishes, fellow anniversary celebrator. We love the idea of newlywed status extending on into the upcoming years. 🙂
A sweet and honest tribute to marriage—happy 1-year anniversary and oatmeal cookie cheers to many more!
Thanks Nikki. Oatmeal cookies are a great way to cheer in one year of marriage. 🙂