Monday, June 14, 2010

Has it been that long?

Did I ever mention that I don't feel old? At least, not on most days. Of course, there's the occassional day of rest needed here or there to get back into a groove, but not regularly. So how is it, with me being as exceptionally young as I am (no snickering please) that I will have been married TEN years this August? I mean, really? Has it really been ten years? That means that time is moving WAY faster than I ever dreamed it would. We've known each other since second semester of our freshman year in college (1996 to be exact.) We didn't start dating until second semester of our junior year... there are some vague details in there about me dating his roommate and all of that. That was 1998. We got engaged in 1999 and married in 2000. Jon said that a 2000 wedding would be easy to remember how long we've been married because it was an even number! :) That means we've been together for 12 years and married for 10!!! TEN!!!! In August, of course, but still!
I distinctly remember a guy who graduated from high school my freshman year who could grow facial hair and seemed to me like an OLD person. Those OLD college kids. Then, when I got to Messiah, those seniors were like... ancient. They were getting engaged and married and stuff. When we got engaged I figured that I had just "matured." I saw all of these young freshman at Messiah and they seemed so.... little. So young. Seriously! That was at least 10 years ago that I had those thoughts. And even looking back, I think, we must have been so crazy to get married at 22 & 23 years old! I know people now who are 22 & 23 and they seem WAY too young to be getting married or to even think about it. I mean, I have former students this age. Some are partying their life away, some are in serious relationships, and I even have a few former students who are married and have more children than I do! Holy moly!
Is it just that our perspective changes as we age? Surely it's not us. I mean, as I look back over the past 10 years I can, honestly, tell you that they have been the most amazing 10 years of my life. Heck, 12 years... if we're counting dating. I love Jon more now than I did when I said "Yes" to his proposal. Don't get me wrong. It has been work. That's what has made it so good. We've worked at learning more about each other every single day. Are there days when we didn't agree? Yep. Have we ever seen the other person act like a weenie? Yep. Have WE ever acted like a weenie? On more than one occassion. But, the thing is, it's a chance to change and make it better each and every time. That may be why there is such a high divorce rate in this country. We've forgotten how to WORK at things to make them better and we just expect the other person to "get" us. Not to mention it has taken a lot of prayer and long chats with God about our marriage and the direction/calling on our lives. *HINT* This is probably the biggest key!
So... if I was smart enough then to know a good thing when I saw it, maybe I wasn't as young and naive as I thought. Hoping that others have found the happiness that I've found. :)