Friday, June 15, 2012

10 years with the ball and chain


Ready for the good ole ball and chain.

I feel bad for whoever described being married to the analogy the ball and chain.

That would just suck.

Seeing marriages struggle is never an easy thing.

As a minister and coming from a multiple divorce family, I have seen where marriage can be like a prison and struggle.

Where selfish desires can take over and people just think of themselves over the other or the family.

I am proud to say I am on the other side of the spectrum.

No matter the fact that someone once told Hailee and I to our faces our marriage would only last 3 months, I am here 10 years later to say I love my marriage and my wife even more than I did 10 years ago.

I didn’t think that was possible.

Marriage is not always easy.

It takes love and sacrifice beyond just saying I love you.

Love is not a word it’s an action.

You show you love someone with what you do with your life for that other person.

A good marriage is about sacrifice for a greater cause.

Yet I am a screw up.

I have messed up plenty of times in my marriage.

I am not perfect.

Yet I have a loving wife who is graceful and forgiving.

She honestly has made me a better person and I cherish her for that.

As I sit here writing this from a dorm room at CIY with my wife 100 miles away, I can honestly say I miss her and wish I were there but there is a greater purpose then just our marriage.

When Hailee and I got married, we said God would be first in our relationship.

He has been.

Part of the reason Hailee and I can move forward together has been our ability to forgive one another.

I wouldn’t have that forgiveness without knowing that no matter what Christ forgave us and we need to forgive each other.

I am gone taking students on an amazing trip where they grow closer to God.

It has been a great week watching these amazing individuals grow closer to God and that takes precedence over my own selfish desires.

I look forward to tonight when I get to spend time with my wife.

Hailee is the most amazing women I have even met (Sorry mom).

She is beautiful on the inside and the outside.

She has always made me laugh.

There was a Facebook post about marriage and be like having a sleep over every night with your best friend, I can honestly say that is correct.

Hailee is my best friend.

My Jason’s are a close second, but Hailee trumps them.

She knows my insecurities and strengthens me rather than tearing me apart.

She lifts me up when I am down.

She is smoking hot!

She has given me three wonderful children and a soon to be fourth.

She has dealt with where I felt I was called.

“I married a sports writer not a minister, I didn’t sign up for this,” she would say while joking.

Hailee never stood in my way.

She always wanted me to pursue my goals and help me accomplish them.

I don’t know if I would have a college degree more or less a master’s degree without Hailee.

She is truly my better half and I believe that everyday.

I have done many stupid things and Hailee has put up with me.

Before we were dating Hailee was dating someone else and we were just friends.

She broke up with him and I tried to take our friendship to the next level.

Soon she invited me to dinner.

At this dinner she was going to tell me that she was going to get back with her ex.

We were talking and having a good conversation but soon she told me her plan.

People, I have never done this before and still can’t believe I said this then…

I said that’s ok, because I think we are meant to be together and I know it’s not going to workout out between you guys.

Then sticking my foot into my mouth further…

I said, “I think God wants us to be together and I will wait for your relationship to end because I know we are supposed to be together.”

I couldn’t believe the words that just came from my mouth.

I knew I found my wife, she thought I was crazy (Little did she know I was crazy J).

Weeks later, we start dating.

We started dating on Super Bowl Sunday.

Three weeks later in the most romantic way, I asked Hailee to marry me while watching a commercial to Ally McBeal.

She said yes and we haven’t been apart since.

Hailee is the most amazing person I have met.

I cherish all our time together through the good and the bad, til death do us part, I still to love you with every piece of my heart (God bless you All 4 One for coming up with the song I Swear).

I thank God for him putting you in my life and can’t wait to see my wife later on today!

Have a great day (I know I will!)