Here’s to Two!

If anyone of you know me, it should come as no surprise that I tend to be a traditionalist. Last year, the hubby and I celebrated year one of being married. With tradition, I purchased for him a print drawing of a tractor. Afterall, the first year is paper. This year I gifted him with some monogrammed hankies, made out of cotton. 

Second anniversary is cotton. It wasn’t until this year that I really thought about the meaning behind traditional anniversary gifts. But as I spent some time thinking back on the year we’ve just spent together, cotton makes sense. Like the interwoven fibers of cotton, the second year of marriage has brought us closer together as our lives become increasingly intertwined. This is especially true in this year we built a house, nothing says interwined like building a home together!  

If you look up some of the symbolism of anniversary gifts, cotton symbolizes the need for a marriage to remain strong and be able to adapt to changes. Cotton is at the same time both strong and soft, as a couple is learning how to be flexible and adapt to each other’s needs. And it is ironic I just purchased some cotton stems to put in our house. I guess they can forever be a representation of our second year. When I think about cotton being like a marraige my first thought went to my favorite pair of jeans. Year two is a lot like that pair of jeans.

You know that awkward stage when you’re trying to wear in a new pair of jeans? Yeah, that is the first year. There are fights, miscommunications, and lots of awkwardness as you try to wear into a life with one another. Trying to establish daily routines and finding out one another’s habits all while keeping your sanity isn’t the easiest thing. 

But eventually you find a happy medium and suddenly, it becomes comfortable. And like those new pair of jeans as the cotton has learned to adapt, form, and mold to your body, finally, the comfortable stage begins.

But the comfortable stage of jeans and the comfortable stage of marriage are a little different too. The second year… oh the second year brought all sorts of situations that I can only describe as “too comfortable”. I will spare you the gorey details but let’s just say that starting the year off with the stomach flu as well as having an extreme tick problem this wet spring… The hubs and I have seen all sides of each other, both good and bad. 

But the second year has also been a lot like that comfortable pair of jeans, you find solace in the comfort too. On days when you’re not feeling your best, how comforting is that favorite pair of jeans? On days when I am not feeling my best, I’ve got a partner in this life. One that stood up in front of our friends, our families, and more importantly our God and took a commitment. A commitment to me, to love me without reservation on days when I am feeling crabby, cranky, hurt, or not as beautiful. But also on the days when I am happy, loving, respectful, and feeling good. He took a commitment to me to love me through sickness and health and through joy and sorrow. He made a commitment to encourage me to achieve all my goals, grow with me in mind and spirit, and cherish me, just me, for as long as we both shall live. 

I don’t know about you, but I find the uptmost peace in that commitment. Holding up my end of it all, it may look like a whole lot of work. But the comforting part is I’ve got another person who is working just as hard to hold up his end of the bargain. And when we both work together on it, we grow and we become more interwined as a couple, just like that cotton that represents the second year. 

And eventually, like our old worn out jeans, someday we will have to replace them with another pair. While I won’t be replacing my husband, I will have to, at some point in our marriage, find a new comfortable. There will be times and situations that life throws at us that will put us back in that stage of wearing in those jeans. Until, once again, that cotton has learned to adapt, form, and mold to your body and our marriage. And the comfortable stage begins once again. 

To that handsome husband of mine… We’ve weathered the second year with grace and even more strength than I ever believed we would have. We built a home together and got through it seamlessly. Well, there were a few tears. While I don’t know what the next couple years hold for us, I do know that I find such relief, comfort, and peace knowing that I will be facing those years with your hand in mine. We may not be the most perfect or strong people by ourselves, but together, we can conquer whatever life brings us. I love you with all my heart. I never knew this love I felt for you could grow with time, but God has proven me wrong. And for that, I am so utterly thankful. Happy Anniversary! 

In celebrating our second anniversary and in memory of our Harley honeymoon, we’ve decided to go on another big hurrah. We will be taking the Harley on a two week trip West. So if you don’t hear or see anything from me in that time, please don’t be worried. I am just enjoying all the wild West has to offer with the love of my life! 🙂