When You Can't Help Falling in Love

I have heard people that have been married for fifty plus years say it quite often, "I fell more in love with him/her every day that we were together". I'd think to myself, "Yea right." How could I ever be more in love with him than on the day that we share our wedding vows. How can you fall more in love with someone?

Well, I once again have been proven wrong. I am more in love with Noah today than I was the day that we got married. They were right.

To say that there have been times that I didn’t feel so in love with Noah would be an understatement. I’m sure that he would have the same to say about me. We all have our “not so loveable” moments. I’ve started to understand however, what these wise couples have meant all this time. As you start sharing your lives together, the good, the bad, the ugly, the very humble moments, you start seeing how unconditionally you are loved. When you notice the simple, little things that your spouse does to make you smile, ahhhh….my heart melts all over again.

The other night, it was nothing special. I was turning onto our street and there was Noah in the Subaru on the corner. He had a grin from ear to ear and he waved, rolled down his window and said, “I am going to go double couponing now. See you soon. Love you.”

My heart skipped a beat. Not because he was going double couponing (although that was wonderful too), but it was just his smile. When Noah smiles, it’s like looking into the kindest of souls. I fell in love even more.

As I turned the corner and pulled into the driveway, I realized that they were right. You really can fall more in love with someone. I can only imagine the love I will have for him fifty years from now.

Just Another Year?

As I reflect on the year 2011 and our first year of marriage, I have to say that this past year was not just another year. There have been years that I've looked back and have noticed that not much had changed in a year. In previous years I had been working the same job, living in the same place, etc. Two-thousand eleven however, is a year that I will always remember. It was a year packed with challenges, adventures, and great lessons learned.

In January I married my best friend; someone that I will share the wonderful and not so wonderful moments with, but will love all the same. I learned what it means to love and to truly be loved.

In February I learned to NEVER use spreadable butter to make frosting for cupcakes, but also that I can not control everything and not everything can always be perfect. Life is meant to be lived freely and when we try to control every situation, life isn't fun anymore. There are things that we can control and things that we can’t. It’s important to know the difference, allow space for change, and try not to get bent out of shape when something happens that was outside of your original plan.








In March I started learning what's it's like to share space with someone. My townhome went from being "my" house to "our" house overnight. It took me a few months to get used to things (and I'm still working on it today) but sharing space became a bit easier three months in. I even learned how to stay on my side of the bed!!!

In April I once again learned that not all things go as planned after I lost my job due to a restructuring of staff. I learned how to hold my head up high and be graceful even when I didn't necessarily feel it all the time. Noah and I learned that support and encouragement are two pieces that hold a marriage together.

In May I learned to "dance" when things are not going right and to live in the simple and joyful moments.
I also learned how to budget well and even though we were only taking in one paycheck, we were able to make things happen and not fall behind on our financial goals.

In June I loved the show Extreme Couponing and learned how to get great deals on items when they are on sale!!! No, I didn't become crazy like some of the people on the show (I don't buy 47 bottles of mustard) but I did learn how to use my coupons at the right time. Since then, Noah and I have saved nearly a hundred dollars a month on groceries!!

In July hiked to the top of Mt. Elbert at 14,447 feet. I learned how to keep going when you really just want to quit and how to encourage someone else to the top of a mountain. July was also the month that we had to say goodbye (for now) to Noah's amazing grandpa Dewey.

In August I started a new job at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Apple Valley and I've loved every minute of being there. It's a wonderful fit for Noah and I. As I look back on my first six months there, I am surprised that it has only been that long. The friendships that we have built and the encouragement that we have received makes us feel like we have been there for much, much, longer.

In September I started classes again at Luther Seminary and took on one of my heaviest loads as a graduate student working full time in ministry. It was a challenge, but I got through it. The classes stretched me on so many levels and it has been exciting learning so many new things and thinking in new ways.

In October I learned that weekend get-aways really can rejuvenate your soul and help you reconnect with your husband. We didn't have to go far...all we needed was a little wine and eachothers company. Our get-away to Red Wing was a blast and we would highly recommend the Hungry Point Inn to anyone looking for a quick romantic getaway.

In Novemeber we started brewing our own beer!!! We picked up a kit at Midwest Brewing supplies and made our first batch of Irish Red!!! It was a great thing for us to do together and being able to enjoy the beer together a month later (that is how long the entire process takes) was also a huge plus.

In December we celebrated Christmas and the New Year for the first time as husband and wife. We look back on 2011 as one of the greatest years filled with so much joy, celebrations, laughter, and tears. We both have grown so much and in ways I don't think we would ever dream of. It' been exciting though and I am so looking forward to many more adventures.