Why yes, it IS all about WE

Monday marked the 26th anniversary of me and Splenda Daddy's wedding (is that correct grammer or should it be Splenda and I?  - I never know, but I bet Cheeseboy or Teaching Fourth will enlighten me!)

We spent Sunday evening in Park City enjoying the mountains that we both love so much.  Monday was spent purchasing Splenda a new bike and then cruising main street.  Dinner at our favorite haunt in town, browsing a few shops and then making ourselves come back to the valley and real life again.

TWENTY-SIX years.  That's like a whole lifetime in today's world.  I think of all the couples that we knew who also got married that year or soon thereafter and are no longer married.  Those that were in our circle of friends at the time anyway.  I guess, I can sort of understand why.  Marriage is certainly not all rainbows, kitten whiskers, and unicorns pooping butterflies.  It's hard sometimes.  Money, children, extended family, friends, work, church, hobbies - can all creep into your relationship in unhealthy ways. 

There are disagreements.  Sometimes out and out fights.  Differing views on everything from raising the children, to how to hang a picture.  But me and Splenda?  We've  faired pretty well I would say. We agree on most things.  At least the ones that we deem important.  We disagree on things that don't matter, thus we don't care.  We are committed to our relationship - there is no escape hatch or exit strategy.  We talk about, dream out, and envision growing old together.  We make plans for retirement and what we will do.  We play, we eat, we sleep, we talk, we discuss, we debate, we counsel, we worship, we lead, we laugh, we cry, we amuse, we, we, we.......it's all about we.  And it always has been.  From day one to day......whatever it is now.

I suppose if I were to take the WE out of our relationship, it would be a much different picture.  Maybe that is what is so hard about marriage.  Sometimes we forget the WE part.  Instead, the focus becomes ME or I.  When that happens, it's hard to keep the true vision of what a marriage relationship is all about.  Heaven knows there is many a soul out there in the world, who is doing their best to make a marriage work, but without the other half pulling their weight.  You can't do it all by yourself.  That's the cold brutal fact.  And for those, my heart aches.  I have found nothing to compare to the happiness in a successful, healthy relationship.

Lest anyone who stumbles on this and is reading with the thought that our marriage is the epitome of perfection, I say, push that thought out of your head NOW.  Perfect, no.  Near perfect?  Yep! 

I am one lucky, blessed girl to get the remarkable man I have.  Who knew that when I first met him and his mullet lo these many years ago, that I would love him more today, than I could ever have imagined possible.  That life could throw us so many curveballs, and yet we still find the fun in it all.  That even with unfulfilled expectations, plans averted, snags in our game plan, that we are still holding out strong and immovable.

I take it all back to that little two letter word...... WE

I am grateful for my Splenda who sees that vision too.  He treats me like a queen.  He loves me, he loves our children and our granddaughter.  He respects me.  Most importantly, he knows that WE has to exist or failure is a reality.

Happy 26 years Splenda!  It's been a fun ride, and I can't wait to see what the next 26 bring us!