Fourteen years ago I said “I do” to this guy!
Today I am feeling grateful for things I often take for granted. The first two years we were married Keith lived in Austin and only came home on Wednesday night and the weekends. Honestly, I sometimes think it was this transition that made our marriage stronger. Once we upgraded to a new house he began making the daily commute to work and as I drove over to Austin last Thursday to meet him for a few date nights I realized I really take for granted the sacrifice he makes. Driving to Austin is a pretty easy drive every once in awhile but I cannot imagine doing this every single day for 12 years!
I am not an easy woman to love for sure. I am stubborn and really like my way and very often I think my way is the only way. When I ask for something I mean right now and patience is not very often my strongest quality (like maybe it’s not even a quality I possess). Keith is so laid back and I’m pretty sure most of the time he has tuned out the rambling but he definitely keeps me in check and will let me know when I have crossed a line. The biggest plus for our marriage is I am 100% sure we are both committed to stay. At dinner I actually asked Keith what is the one thing that has made him want to stay and he said “you’re my kind of crazy baby”.
I am usually in control of all the date planning, so I did ask Keith to take charge of planing our anniversary date this year. I was excited to find out he made reservations at Eddie V’s. The one thing that is always interesting in Austin is you can dine at a nice restaurant and dress up but there will always, always also be someone in the restaurant in flip flops!
My favorite part of our discussion came from me telling him I still carry around the two notes he has given me in the past on our anniversary. Since he leaves so early in the morning there have been two years when he left me a handwritten note and I tucked them away in my wallet because they are that special. On Thursday I actually pulled them out to read and I had to laugh because essentially they say the exact same thing and I never realized it. When I told him about it he said “I meant it”. This guy loves me and he makes me laugh at how simple he is. What did the notes say?
Today is the day that changed my life, I’m glad it was you.
We have come a long way from “has anyone ever told you that you are finer than frog hair” for sure! If that leaves you dying to know more about our dating relationship you can read more here.
One thing Keith and I share for sure is a love for food. This seafood trio did not disappoint although I always forget I am not a fan of lobster. No worries Keith loves it and was happy to swap a little steak.
The restaurant served us a blackberry cobbler still steaming from the oven to end our meal and it was so good.
Today I am feeling so grateful that God saw fit to send this man into my path. Things have not always been rosy and there have definitely been some times in our marriage when we have taken each other for granted long enough to cause some real friction. It’s easy to start comparing a marriage to everyone else’s but the truth is unless you live at that house day in and day out you really just don’t know if it is as perfect as it seems on the outside.
My biggest tip is to find a way to stay connected every single day. For us I think living apart our first two years caused us to communicate more on the phone and through text. The one thing I can almost always count on is receiving a text message from Keith around lunch asking me about my day. If I make it to 5 and that message hasn’t come I instantly call him and we are able to talk for a bit before I grab the kids and the crazy begins. I think just knowing that we are on each other’s minds even when it is busy and life is crazy is enough to get us to the next day and the next.
The second would be to add God as the center. This was definitely harder for the two of us. Although we both grew up going to church, neither of us have a super strong spiritual background. We started attending church together around the 7th year we were married and I know there are so many days I give a little extra grace because of it. Knowing God more fully has shown me how to be the wife I really need to be and learning to honor and respect Keith every single day was something I struggled with before.
Even with these things this man can drive me straight out of my mind! I am the oldest child and he is the baby and those two things in itself should tell you how daily life can be sometimes. We are also both Libras and love for life to be in balance so thank goodness I’m a little more high strung and he’s a lot more laid back as we balance each other out pretty perfectly.
Here’s to many more years of fancy dinners and kisses goodnight!
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My husband and I – EXACTLY like you two. Seriously. I am the crazy, inpatient, passionate, on fire all the time, he is Mr. Laid Back, go with the flow and I do think the two of us balance one another. It comes with its challenges, but all in all, we've been doing this marriage thing for 29 years now so I guess we got it down pat with one another. Love your love story! Happy Anniversary!
Isn't it crazy how it works out? God has a sense of humor for sure! 29 years!! That is amazing….seems like forever in our future but I know it will go quickly. Have a super week!
So sweet! Happy Anniversary! I can't believe you guys got married in the heat of summer, though! More similarities: Wayne calls me every morning at 9:00 before he begins his route to check on me and tell me he loves me. I'm the oldest in my family and he's the baby in his. I'm the crazy one and he's the laid back one.
Happy happy anniversary to you guys!! Looks like you had a beautiful dinner to celebrate. I love your tip about staying connected every day – it gets hard to not be just roommates and two ships passing in the night but you gotta date your spouse even when you're married 🙂 xo, Biana –BlovedBoston
Not always easy but always worth it! When we have time away I totally remember all the reasons he's my favorite!
Congratulations Shelly! Marriage is definitely something you have to work at everyday.
The is an absolutely beautiful post!! I love his quote!!! And the sweet love notes!! You got a great one Shelly!! Here to a million more years of loving, laughing and living together!!
Thank you Katie!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! I'm in the same boat. I'm bossy, independent, I like to have a plan, I stress and worry more than any person should and my husband is just so laid back and go with the flow. It is a great balance. I love those sweet notes he left you! I am glad yall had a good weekend. Enjoy your Anniversary!
Opposites definitely attract! Thankfully I'm not nearly as high strung as I use to be and have let go of a lot. You guys seem to be on the right track!
This is so precious and so similar to mine and my husbands personalities so I "get it!" Wishing you love and congrats as you celebrate the life you've made together. Faith, hope and fun and you're all set pretty lady! You're both adorable!
Thanks so much Andrea! It really is all you need.
I love this!!! Happy Anniversary 🙂 You 2 are so cute. Thank you for being so honest!!
Chelsea @thewilliamsjourney1.blogspot.com/
Thank you Chelsea! Hope you are soaking up the rest of your time off.
lol my hubby and I are the same! I'm all kinds of crazy and he's mr chill. It's a good balance and I think that's why it works so well.
Looks like he planned a lovely date and that food sure does look delish!
Communication is definitely where so many marriages struggle. I feel like my older kids have some struggles communicating sometimes because everything is via txt…and you just can't really grasp where someone is coming from sometimes. Thanks for stopping by!
Oh my goodness this is such a sweet post! Justin and I are very similar in the fact that I run around planning everything and have no patience and he is just the opposite, laid back and relaxed. There is definitely something to be said for opposites attracting. He balances me out for sure! I love that you carry around his notes and that you have specific times to talk each day. Happy anniversary to you both 🙂
Happy Anniversary! Tony and I will celebrate #14 in November and he is my BETTER half for sure. I am crazy and wild and over the top loud and when I want something I want it yesterday but he is for sure the more laid back easy going in our relationship and he has loved my daughters from Day 1 and there are NO steps in our blended family. God defintely knew what I needed in a mate and husband and he led me to Tony. Or as Tony says …….. God gave me you. Our wedding song is Keeper of the Stars and if you listen to the words……it is so true about us. Thank you for the beautiful post today and the reminder to keep each other #1 in our lives. Have a fabulous day! I am nursing my man back to health…..he was diagnosed with shingles !!!! last night in our local ER! Yikes! Poor man! Take care!!
That is so special Kim. It is such a blessing to find "the one". I love that he was leaving you notes everywhere!
SUCH a sweet post!!
Such a sweet post 🙂 I think you are right- if you don't work at your relationship, it is easy to be in the same house as each other 24/7 and be in less contact with one another than a couple like you who has had to live apart for periods of time. My husband and I sent emails for the first 6 months after we met, seeing each other in person only every few months. I think it was this intense communication period that established such a good foundation for the rest of our marriage 🙂
Communication is definitely where so many marriages struggle. I feel like my older kids have some struggles communicating sometimes because everything is via txt…and you just can't really grasp where someone is coming from sometimes. Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Anniversary, love birds!
Happy anniversary! Being in love and married the right man just makes the days so much better. I totally get you on that!!!
Happy Anniversary!!! What a sweet post!! It's not always easy but you make it look so!!
Some days are definitely easier than others….but every day is worth it! Thanks for reading Kaitlin.
Happy Anniversary! Thanks for the advice – we've been married almost 5 years and have SO much to learn. I'm the dependent, connected homebody married to the independent, disconnected social person! A commitment to stay sure helps those rough days! 🙂
Stopping by from Tuesday Talk!
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It isn't always easy but always worth it…..lots and lots of grace to keep the peace.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! 14 years is amazing. you and Keith are like Kyle and I, he's the laidback one. I love Keith's answer to your question. Y'all are made for each other. I definitely believe in the staying connected. Kyle and I have opposite schedules meaning we don't see each other hardly ever especially with a child. But it's so important to remember that even with the opposite schedule.
liz @ sundays with sophie
Finding ways to connect….even if it's just a sweet text at an unexpected time…is just so important especially once you add kids. It so easy to get so tied up in being a mom that we forget we are still someones wife.
🙂 I LOVE learning more about you & your man! I'm so sorry I'm late reading this, I hope you two had the best time celebrating (and that it lasted for awhile). His message in his two notes to you made me tear up and I love that you keep them on you 🙂
Such a sweet post and a great reminder of what all I take for granted, too! Glad y'all had such a special anniversary!