Notice the Married Moments
What girl doesn’t enjoy a sojourn in 19th-century England with Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy?
We love romance and the epic drama of falling in love.
And then we get married and our “happily ever after” begins. And suddenly it’s about grocery shopping, and getting up with the baby on Saturday morning, and how to fit in a date night, and fixing a broken faucet, and the alarm clock on Monday morning… in other words, what’s known as “real life.”
When A.J. and I were engaged, I was always sad when we had to part ways for the day. I wanted to share even the insignificant moments like brushing our teeth, or eating a bowl of cereal in the morning, or ironing work clothes. Being with him was all that mattered, even in the most ordinary moments.
It’s easy to forget that now, and invest my emotions in overt gestures of romance and unhindered time together, but what’s really going to count through all these years are the mundane times and living them as one.
I’m the one he comes home to at night… we eat dinner together and play with Christian… I wash his clothes and put them away… I pack his lunch for him (usually) and I know what flavors of yogurt and granola bars he likes… we know each other’s idiosyncrasies and embarrassing habits… he makes me laugh like no one else can… he provides for my financial needs… he reads Scripture in the morning before work… he brings in the mail at the end of the day… he gives Christian a bath while I wash the dishes after dinner.
Yes, this is the stuff of life. This is the way we get to live together, and if God gives us fifty years most of them will be spent in the small married moments, not the grandiose ones. And I’m so happy he’s the one who’s living the everyday with me.
Oh, I love this! You put words to some things I’ve been thinking about as of late.
We celebrate 5 years of marriage on Friday, and just had a conversation about the “married moments” the other evening. I’m finding myself romanced in different ways at this stage in life, but I’m thankful for the spark that still exists in the midst of the (often exhausting) day-to-day.
Great post, friend!
Happy anniversary! 
My husband and I have been married for almost 5 years now and I still miss him as soon has he left the door to go to work, and 1 night away from him is still 1 night too much, 3 babies later we are still very much in love and we love being with each other, not that we haven’t had our share of pain and trial but we have each other and that is what matter the most!
I love this and it’s sweet to hear from someone a little farther down the road. I feel the same way.
My hubby and I will also be married for 5 years, in October, and I miss every second he isn’t here with us. We are blessed with this life that we live, and it’s day-to-day happenings are easy enough for our children and I to go along, but there are times we can’t.
We have had ups and downs, but it brings us even closer, and together we get through it all, and grow our love even more!
Loved this post, girl!
I was just reading Pride&Prejudice this morning. Love it.
We’re headed towards 11 years, and I so relate to what you’re saying. It’s a lovely thing to find comfort in the routine of life with your spouse, but also so easy to allow ourselves to become irritable about it too–so important, as you said, to treasure the simple times, and not mark the quality of our love by the romantic moments.
I’ve been reading “The Hand of God” by Alistair Begg (great book!), and have been so touched by his thoughts on this subject. In one part he says, “It is in the routines of life that real gains are made, real joy is found, and the reality of God’s provision becomes most obvious.” As we are deep in a “routine-only” phase of together moments right now, I’m doing my best to appreciate and learn this. Thanks for this post… I needed the reminder to focus on the joy of it this morning.
Ah, getting irritable instead of appreciating the moments… I’m quite familiar with that one!
I really, really like that quote you shared… I may have to check out that book.
Ha! I am also right in the middle of reading Pride and Prejudice! But for the first time, actually…
I so agree with you. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the “day-to-day” that we forget that the person we are sharing it with makes it special. Loved this post.
I had similar thoughts this past Sunday morning. I am often teaching the little ones at church (which I love) and my hubby serves as an usher on a rotating schedule. Often, it seems, we don’t get to sit in service together. We’re both there – just busy. This past Sunday, we were both “off” and got to sit together through a whole service. It was so nice to sit with my hubby and soak up God’s word together! Those little moments truly are wonderful.
Beautiful post, Anna, and a great reminder!
I loved this post! Life is too short to take even the simplest, seemingly mundane moments for granted!
Wow this was just wonderful! Thank you thank you!
LOVE THIS!
Aww … this post is beautiful!
This has got to be one of my favorite posts, Anna! It’s fun to hear married people talk so fondly about their spouse…almost an oddity in today’s world sometimes. You are two very blessed people. God bless!