week one
Just a week ago I married this man and I have come to the decision the I like being married. But, it’s not just about being married, it is about being married to Jerry. I really like being his wife. I love being able to introduce him as my husband - there is a joy and comfort in it that is hard to explain.
I’ve been asked a lot the past few days about if/how things have changed. Logistically, nothing has changed. We have lived together for the past year and a half so the change is not from learning to live together. And yet there is a change - a certainty I suppose ….We’ve made a commitment to each other. We’ve made promises to each other. We’ve chosen each other.
While we had, in a sense, already done these things by choosing to be with each other and living together, there was just something about taking a moment to say these things out loud. To choose the promises we wanted to make to each other, to choose the words, to say these things, not just to each other, but in front of our family and friends was powerful. I guess it has made the commitment more tangible. It is joyful and comforting. To know that this man who is so amazing has chosen me and does not just want to spend his life with me but has committed himself to me and our relationship is more than I feel I deserve at times.
While this last week we have ‘gotten back to normal’ with Jerry returning to work, an the kids and I to school, this last week has also been a lot fun. We tease each other and constantly find ourselves exclaiming for no real reason “We’re married!”. We had such a fabulous wedding - it was small and simple and everything we wanted it to be. It has been fun to look at the pictures and remember all the little details of the day and find ones that we want to share and print. My bestest best told me the other day that these first weeks and months are the ones in which we should remember how fabulous our wedding was and how happy we are to be married.
I suppose like many things, life gets busy and maybe the newness will wear off and more than likely others will become annoyed at out constant giddiness. That thought makes me a little sad but because I love looking at him and knowing he is my husband, knowing I am his wife, knowing that we have many many more years ahead of us. I love how happy I feel and I don’t ever want to get too busy to remember that or celebrate it.
Before our families and those so special to us here,
I, Jennifer, take you, Jerry, to be my husband and partner in life.
From this day forward I promise I will
Laugh with you in times of joy
and comfort you in times of sorrow.
Share in your dreams, and support you as you strive to achieve your goals.
Be honest with you and communicate my needs and feelings
Listen to you with compassion and understanding,
and speak to you with encouragement.
Help you when you need it, and step aside when you don’t.
Work with you to build a home that is full of love, honor, and respect.
Remain faithful to you for better or for worse and in times of sickness and in health.
You are my best friend. I will love you today and all of our tomorrows.
Congratulations!! What beautiful vows!! I love the pic too!!