It seems like marriage has come into a lot of conversations as of late. This year hasn’t been entirely easy for us, with DH’s health sucking much more then in the past, and finances being a little less then ideal it has put a strain on both of us that has surfaced in our relationship. However there are moments, moments like today when I can completely know why I am in love with this guy. This guy that captured my heart has a teenager. It is interesting to look back on our relationship and realize how far we have come, look at the obstacles we have overcome and the ones we are still fighting. This July which seems to be coming at whirlwind speeds we will have been married for 9 years, that is almost a decade. A decade seems like a very long time. At my age most of my peers have just married, or are thinking about marriage and I am looking at nearly a decade of dedicated partnership.

I value the friendship we have built, the trust and respect. How we have both been capable of letting the other grown and change as we each approach aging, but that even with change we have been able to keep a common core of beliefs and love. For 9 years I have spent every night by his side, even the night he spent in the hospital. Never one night have we been separated and while many of my friends have wondered about this dedication to never spend a night apart it is my small belief that it has been one of the reasons we have been able to stay so close. I believe in our dreams and sleep our hearts and souls can meet, embrace and communicate unlike in our waking world. It is these moments of unconscious communication that a bond has been build and strengthened. It is through this that we have never allowed the other to drift to far away, that every evening the day can be shared the sadness and joy held by the other, and together sleep and repair can hold us.

Maybe you laugh or don’t believe. I don’t mind either reaction really. These thoughts are only my little inner girl beliefs that are shared here, the same inner girl that is still head over heels for my man almost 9 married years later regardless of the many ups and downs we have faced.