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Married 10 years!

Over the long weekend, David and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary.  It's hard to believe, but I found the man of my dreams at 19 and married him at 21.  I consider myself lucky to have found him.  That said, staying married?  Is hard.  It's probably the hardest thing I've ever done, right up there with childbirth.  I can see why divorce rates are still so high - Dave and I have good communication, lots in common and we are happy with our life together and it's STILL hard.

A few things that have kept us married:

1.  Not every year is a banner year.  We've had our good ones and our bad ones.  The year after Alex was born was perhaps our best (at least it stands out in my memory that way).  This past year has been difficult.  It's funny, but even when things are going really well externally (new house, good job, happy kids!), that doesn't always mean we're getting along great.  We just do our best to power through the cranky phases.

2.  I stopped saying, "We'll be happy when [fill in the blank]."  If we aren't happy right now, no matter what's going on in our lives that might potentially make us unhappy, it means we need to work on it.  You can't always live for the future.  Right now matters most.

3.  We do the work.  If we're not getting along well, we ALWAYS discuss it.  In fact, I think one of the most common complaints most couples have is a lack of communication.  With Dave and I, it's the opposite.  In fact, sometimes I fear we talk too much. 

4.  We each have a strong sense of duty.  Even when I feel like I can't even stand to LOOK at my husband (or vice versa), I work through it.  I stay the course.  We have too much to lose and everything to gain from staying together.

5.  Love.  (duh!)

6.  I'm a good cook.  (This is what Dave said when I asked for his input!)